Awards Nominations

The Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association (ChABSA) is dedicated to recognizing excellence and lifelong contributions in the field of biosafety. Each year, we honor outstanding individuals through two prestigious awards: the Biosafety Professional of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Both awards are presented during the Annual Scientific Symposium, highlighting the accomplishments of professionals who have made a significant impact in advancing biosafety practices and inspiring their peers.

We encourage you to participate by nominating a colleague—or even yourself—who exemplifies leadership, service, and accomplishment in biosafety. Nominations for both awards are now closed.

Recognize and celebrate the exceptional biosafety professionals shaping the future of our field!

Biosafety Professional of the Year

The Chesapeake Biological Safety Association (ChABSA) is proud to offer the association’s “Biosafety Professional of the Year Award”. The award will be presented at the Annual Scientific Symposium and the recipient will be recognized with 1 year of association dues and complimentary technical seminars for the following season.

You are encouraged to nominate an individual you feel is worthy (you can self-nominate also) of this recognition. Nominations are now closed.

The judging criteria is as follows:

• The nomination form must be completed in its entirety.  Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
• The nomination form must be received (not post marked) by March 15, 2025.
• The nominee must be a member of ChABSA in the past year.
• The time period described is the nominee’s work over the past 3 years only!
• Each criteria has a point value assigned to it and will be scored accordingly.
• The decision of the selection committee will be final.
• Nominees cannot be on the selection committee.
• There will be a board member liaison for the committee.  This does NOT exclude them from being nominated.
• The award will be presented at the Annual Scientific Symposium. The individual selected will receive a one year membership and complimentary attendance at technical seminars that is valid for the following season.

This is a great way to recognize your fellow biosafety professional!  Please take a moment consider who among your colleagues has served, inspired and accomplished within the field of biosafety! 

Lifetime Achievement Award 

A nominee is eligible for this award based on their achievements and activities over the full duration of their career. This qualification criteria differs from the Biosafety Professional of the Year Award which covers only the past three years.

A nominee does not need to have worked directly as a biosafety professional, but must demonstrate a long-standing commitment to biosafety that has resulted in significant advancement in the field.

The judging criteria is as follows:

• The nomination form must be completed in its entirety.  Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
• All nominations and supporting material must be received by March 15, 2025.
• Nominees do not have to be ChABSA members in good standing, but as criteria include lifetime contributions to ChABSA, a strong connection to the association is required.
• Each criterion has a point value assigned to it and will be scored accordingly.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award is not intended to be an annual award. Nominations must meet a threshold of 40 out of 50 points to be considered. If no nominations meet this threshold, the award will not be given out this year.
• The selection committee will forward their decision to the council for final approval. The council has the right to disapprove the committee’s decision by majority vote (for reasons such as the lack of a strong connection to ChABSA), but cannot otherwise change the recipient of the award.
• Nominees cannot be members of the selection committee.
• The selection committee will be chaired by the ChABSA Past President. Another council member will assume the chairperson’s responsibilities if the Past President is recused.
• The award will be presented at the Annual Scientific Symposium. The individual selected will receive a commemorative plaque as well as one year of membership and complimentary attendance for technical seminars in the following ChABSA operating year.