Call for Nominations: BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2026
The BBA (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta) journals are pleased to announce the biennial BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry and Biophysics initiative. This program aims to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and promising potential of early career researchers who are making significant contributions to the fields of biochemistry and biophysics.
Eligibility: Researchers within 10 years of completing their PhD (career breaks are taken into account) who have demonstrated innovative research with the potential to influence future directions in the field.
Selection and Publication: Selected participants will be invited to contribute a mini-review on their research topic, which will be published across the most relevant BBA journals and compiled into a dedicated issue, highlighting the emerging leaders shaping the future of biochemistry and biophysics.
Paper type: Mini-reviews are succinct, focused updates of the literature related to a question of current interest in the scientific community (typically from the last 2–3 years). Subjects covered in mini-reviews are generally narrower, either in scope or depth, than those covered in full-length reviews. They should highlight/analyze/discuss recent and important findings and include the author’s viewpoint on how the subject relates to the current state of the field. The author’s personal assessment and interpretation of the data and their indication of controversies, shortcomings, and gaps in the present state of knowledge are highly desirable, but should be presented as such. Views of possible future developments and relevance and applicability to other fields or disciplines are encouraged. Mini-reviews are usually 2,000 to 4,000 words in length (excluding references and figure legends) and include up to 50 references (should include titles) and no more than 1–3 figures/illustrations. The number of co-authors of review articles is limited to 3.
Prize and more: All invited submissions that are eventually accepted will be published in the BBA Rising Stars special issue. The author of the best contribution in each journal will be named a 2026 Rising star and receive a prize of US$500, as well as an invitation to join the Editorial Board of the journal in which their winning contribution was published.
Important dates:
Nomination deadline: December 1st, 2025
Submission deadline: April 1st, 2026
Publication estimate: July 31st, 2026
Winners announced: October 2026
We invite nominations from institutions, colleagues, and researchers themselves. To submit your nomination, please use this link.
Join us in celebrating the next generation of scientific leaders!