The Society awards annually an Early Career Researcher Award. The requirements of candidates for this award are:

1. Candidates are within seven (7) years from earning their terminal degree (typically a doctoral degree).
2. Candidates hold a permanent position in the academy, governmental lab, or industry. Post-doctoral fellows are ineligible.
3. Candidates have made significant contributions to Thermal/Fluids Engineering.

Other preferred characteristics of the candidates are:

• ASTFE membership for at least two years.
• Active participation in ASTFE.
• Demonstrated potential for significant and independent long term contributions to Thermal/Fluids Engineering.

Nominations for the Early Career Researcher Award may be made at any time during the calendar year. For the consideration of a nomination by the Honors and Awards Council, the documentation package must be received by the Society before September 30 of the year prior to the award year. The nomination letter and all supporting documents should be combined into a single pdf and sent to honors-and-awards. Letters should be addressed to the ASTFE Honors and Awards Council, American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers, 50 North Street, Danbury, CT 06810, USA.

2025

Akanksha Menon

Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

For outstanding contributions to the fields of thermal-fluid sciences, functional materials, and renewable energy to develop decarbonized and efficient technologies for clean energy and water.

2023

Yi Zheng

Affiliation: Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Affilitated Faculty, Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University

For outstanding contributions to the field of Thermal and Fluids Engineering.