Awards

The Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT) offers four awards each year. Three of these awards require abstract submissions through the abstract portal, 1) AGT Student Research Award, 2) Vicki Hopwood Best Poster Award, and 3) Helen Lawce Best Platform Award. The additional award bestowed by AGT is the Outstanding Achievement Award. Candidate nominations are accepted for this honor. FGT also offers a number of awards, scholarship, and grant opportunities.

Information on submitting a poster abstracts and nominations forms for the 2025 Joint Annual Meeting will be posted in January 2025.

Review guidleines and requirements from 2024 below.

AGT Student Research Award
AGT members enrolled in an approved program in the field of laboratory medicine, with a genetic topic of focus, are invited to submit abstracts for the Student Research Award. This award is presented to the recipient at each year’s Joint Annual Meeting of the Association of Genetic Technologists and its partners. The entries are submitted via the Abstract Submission Portal, for evaluation by a panel of Association members. The winner is selected by this panel based on a scored evaluation of the submitted abstracts. All other qualifying participants are invited to present a poster at the annual meeting. Abstract submission guidelines can be found here. Abstract submission deadline is March 20, 2024.

ELIGIBILITY:AGT Student Research Award

  • Individuals enrolled in an approved graduate or undergraduate program in the field of laboratory medicine, with a genetic topic of focus, are eligible to submit abstracts for award consideration.
  • Applicants MUST be enrolled as a student at the time of abstract submission. Applicants must be active members of the Association of Genetic Technologists by the abstract submission deadline. Information regarding AGT membership is available from your program director or the AGT Executive Office.
  • The applicants applying for the student award are required to be the submitting author (presenting author) on the abstract and must atttend the Joint Annual Meeting in-person.

CRITERIA:

  • A purpose for the experiment or investigation where the scientific merit or contribution is stated.
  • A hypothesis, which may be incorporated into the purpose, but should be appropriate for the purpose.
  • The scientific methods that are appropriate to the investigation, concise and organized.
  • The data resulting from the investigation/experiment should be concise, specific and organized.
  • The interpretation should be consistent with the data.
  • The conclusions should be consistent with the data and interpretation. They may be intertwined with the interpretation, but should include the need for further investigation or suggest how other variables may influence the results or further elucidate the hypothesis addressed.
  • References should be used when appropriate.

THE AWARD:

  • The winner will be awarded up to $1,500 in defined expenses to attend the AGT Annual Meeting.
  • The recipient will be invited to present his/her research in a platform presentation.
Vicki Hopwood Best Poster Award
AGT members submitting an abstract for the Joint Annual Meeting and accepted for poster presentation are eligible for the Vicki Hopwood Best Poster content if they meet the award criteria described below. This award is presented to the recipient at each year’s Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Association of Genetic Technologists and its partners. Poster abstracts are submitted via the Abstract Submission Portal, for evaluation by a panel of Association members. If accepted, the submitter will be invited to present a poster at JAM. The winner of this award is voted on by AGT members registered for the annual meeting. Abstract submission guidelines can be found here. Abstract submission deadline is March 20, 2024. 

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Award candidates must be active members of the Association of Genetic Technologists by the abstract submission deadline. Information regarding AGT membership is available from your program director or the AGT Executive Office.
  • The award recipient must be the submitting author (presenting author) on the abstract, attend the JAM in-person, and be available for poster questions.

CRITERIA:

AGT members vote on the “Best” poster according to the following criteria:

  • Interesting and informative topic
  • Clear and concise data
  • Best illustrations
  • Clinical/laboratory correlation
  • Cutting-edge technology
Helen Lawce Best Platform Award
AGT members submitting an abstract for the Joint Annual Meeting are eligible for the Helen Lawce Best Platform content if they meet the award criteria described below. This award is presented to the recipient at each year’s Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Association of Genetic Technologists and its partners. Poster abstracts are submitted via the Abstract Submission Portal, for evaluation by a panel of Association members. The top scoring abstracts are invited to present a 10-15 minute oral presentation at the JAM. The winner of this award is voted on by AGT members registered for the annual meeting. Abstract submission guidelines can be found here. Abstract submission deadline is March 20, 2024.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Award candidates must be active members of the Association of Genetic Technologists by the abstract submission deadline. Information regarding AGT membership is available from your program director or the AGT Executive Office.
  • The award recipient must be the submitting author (presenting author) on the abstract, attend the JAM in-person, and the person giving the oral presentation.

CRITERIA:

AGT members vote on the “Best” poster according to the following criteria:

  • Interesting and informative topic
  • Clinical / laboratory correlation
  • Cutting-edge technology

AGT Outstanding Achievement Award

The Outstanding Achievement Award was created to recognize those who are committed to furthering the field of genetics as demonstrated by their work, attitude and AGT activities. If you have a colleague who performs above and beyond the call of duty, nominate him or her for the AGT Outstanding Achievement Award. Nominations deadline is March 31, 2024.

Requirements:

  1. The nominee works as or has worked as a genetic technologist (this does not include post-doctoral fellowships).
  2. Current membership in AGT.
  3. Current certification in cytogenetics, molecular genetics or biochemical genetics.
  4. A letter from the nominee stating accomplishments and contributions to the field of genetic technology with reference to the award criteria. The letter should state specifically how the nominee’s expertise and contributions have furthered genetic technology.
  5. Two letters of support from individuals familiar with the nominee’s accomplishments.
  6. Copies of relevant publications authored by the candidate (maximum of five).
  7. A current resume.

FGT Awards, Scholarship, and Grant Options

FGT offers a number of award, scholarship, and grant opportunities to educators, technologists, and students. Submit applications by May 3, 2024 for consideration.