The Mentorship Award has been established by the SMPC to recognize a non-student SMPC member (e.g., postdoctoral fellow, staff scientist, faculty member, industry professional) who excels at mentoring others in achieving their career objectives, providing skill-based and socio-emotional support to students, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion. This award aims to recognize currently active mentors, who may be early in their careers (rather than serving as a lifetime mentorship award). The mentor should: A. help mentees develop ideas intellectually and guide them in acquiring necessary skills outside of taught courses; and B. demonstrate care for the well-being and career development of mentees. The award recipient will be highlighted at the SMPC conference in an award ceremony, and will receive free registration to the SMPC conference. They will further be given the opportunity to highlight their research and/or mentorship at a future SMPC event.

Nominations for the mentorship award should be made jointly by the mentees and the mentor; we encourage mentors interested in this opportunity to circulate this information to their mentees. Mentors should submit a 250-500 brief statement, addressing their mentoring approach and experience, including efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in this context. Additionally, at least two mentee statements per nominee are required: Mentees (current or prior trainees, at any level) should submit brief statements of 250-500 words; each statement should be written by a single individual and should not be co-signed. Mentee statements should address how the mentor fits the criteria for the award outlined above. Mentorship nominations are welcome at all post-graduate career stages (i.e., mentors should have completed their graduate training; current PhD students are not eligible for the Mentorship Award).

Nominating co-mentors for a shared award. It is possible to nominate two co-mentors to share the award. In this case, the mentors’ and students’ statements should also address why a co-award is appropriate (e.g. a history of co-mentoring students in a coordinated and intentional way). Mentees should submit separate statements for each mentor. Therefore, nominations for co-mentors should have four mentee statements (two for each mentor; each mentee should write in support of both co-mentors).

Statements by mentors and mentees should be sent (together or separately) to smpcawards@musicperception.org, with subject line “Mentorship Award - [Applicant’s name]” by the deadline.

Award recipients will be chosen among nominees for whom completed applications have been received (one mentor statement and at least two supporting mentee letters). Decisions will be made by an ad-hoc committee with diversity in interdisciplinary scope, including members of the SMPC Committees for Mentorship and of the Anti-Racism & Equity Committee, based on the submitted letters and statements. Completed applications will be kept on file for two years (i.e., nominees with completed applications initially submitted from the prior cycle will be notified to determine if they would like their materials to be considered for the current awards cycle).

Decisions will be made by an ad-hoc committee with diversity in interdisciplinary scope, including at least one member of the SMPC Committees for Mentorship and of the Anti-Racism & Equity Committee, based on the submitted letters and statements.

2024 Awardees:

• Amy Belfi

• Adena Schachner

• Dan Shanahan

2022 Awardees:

• Lindsay Warrenburg

• Reyna Gordon

• Caroline Palmer