Nutritional Research Achievement Award

Nutrition is key to an athlete’s performance. The Nutritional Research Achievement Award is given annually to recognize a nutritionist for their breakthroughs and contributions in field of nutritional research for athletes.

Nutritional Research Achievement Award Eligibility

Each nominee will be asked to fill out a criteria sheet that details career accomplishments and contributions to the personal training industry.

The criteria sheet assigns points to a variety of professional achievements, letters of recommendation, volunteer involvement with the NSCA, and other activities related to the personal training industry.

NSCA Members in good standing may nominate other NSCA Members or themselves.

Nominations are open August-November

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Be a current NSCA Member
Nominee is active member and contributor to NSCA
Cover letter, resume or CV, and criteria worksheet received
Has publication record in areas of nutrition (sports nutrition, ergogenic aids, etc.)
Award not previously received

Additional requirements listed in the General Awards Criteria, include but not limited to, two years of consecutive membership*, be nominated by a member in good standing and nominees will be sent a criteria sheet to fill out that must be returned before the required deadline. 

*Consecutive membership is counted back from the date the award is to be conferred.

How Awardees are Selected for Nutritional Research Achievement Award

Gathering Nominations
Nominations are gathered August–November each year. Any nomination received before the established deadline will be accepted for review of eligibility. Nominees will be notified of their nomination along with a request to complete the award criteria sheet.

Eligibility Verification and Points Tally
NSCA Headquarters will verify eligibility and minimum category requirements have been met. The overall points for each nominees will be tallied, and qualified nominees will be notified. The Awards Subcommittee of the NSCA Research Committee (RC) will select the top three nominees.

Voting by Industry Leadership
1. The top three nominees based on overall points will be sent to the Awards Subcommittee Chair, who will then produce a summary of each candidate that will include a brief description of the accomplishments of each candidate in the areas listed in the Awards Criteria Sheet (Publications in NSCA & Applied Exercise and Sport Science Publications, Presentations at NSCA and other Conventions, Certification/Education and Research-related service).
2. The summaries of the nominees will be sent to the entire RC and past award winners for a vote of the top awardee for each award. If a current member of the RC is nominated, they will be recused from the voting process and all correspondence of that particular award, but are still eligible for nomination and award. If a current member of the RC is also a past winner they shall vote only as an RC member.
3. Voting will occur in a weighted manner with 40% contributed by past winners of the award and 60% weight given by RC members. As such, the total weight of the past winners (40%) will be divided by the number of past winners who agree to participate in the voting, and the resulting percent will contribute the weight of each past winners vote. Similarly, the total weight of the RC members (60%) will be divided by the number of Committee members (7), and the resulting percent (approximately 8.57%) will contribute the weight of each Committee member to the voting. The sum of the vote percentages from past winners and Committee members will determine the award winner. The chair of the Awards subcommittee will keep record of the entire voting process and will then forward the selected winners for each award to the Board of Directors. If there is a tie, two names for the award will be forwarded to the Board of Directors recommended for dual recipients.

Awardee Notification
1. The Subcommittee Chair will notify the Board of Directors of the selected recipient(s).
2. The NSCA Headquarters will notify the recipient of the award, send regret notifications, create a Press Release announcement of the winner, and verify attendance at the National Conference awards banquet.

If there are no qualifying nominees, the award will not be given.

Award Timeline

August 1 - nominations open

November 30 – nominations close and nominees are contacted to submit award requirements

January – nominees are required to have all materials submitted and NSCA staff will evaluate that eligibility requirements have been met before submitting to the Committee, SIG, or Task Force.

February – Committee, SIG, or Task Force should vote and decide the winner and will submit the winners name to the National Office.

March – notifications to nominees will be sent by the National Office and press announcements will be coordinated

July – Award conferred at the National Conference Awards Banquet

Past Nutritional Research Achievement Recipients

Congratulations 2024 Nutritional Research Achievement Award Winner!

Katie R. Hirsch, PhD

Katie R. Hirsch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health. Her research focuses on exercise and nutritional strategies to strengthen and sustain body composition, metabolic health, and exercise performance across the lifespan, with an emphasis on female physiology and women’s health. She contributes to nutrition research in the areas of nutrient timing, protein and essential amino acid supplementation, and ergogenic aids and is passionate about translating science into practical application. Dr. Hirsch completed postdoctoral training in protein metabolism at the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, earned her PhD in Human Movement Science and Master’s in Exercise Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science at Truman State University. She is also a Certified Sports Nutritionist with the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

Read the Press Release
2024 Nutritional Research Achievement Winner

2023 Nutritional Research Achievement Awardee

2023 Winner

David Church, PhD, CSCS

2022 Nutritional Research Achievement Awardee

2022 Winner

2022 - Adam M. Gonzalez, PhD, CSCS,*D

2021 Nutritional Research Achievement Awardee

2021 Winner

Grant Tinsley, PhD, CSCS,*D

2020 - Andrew Jagim, PhD, CSCS,*D
2019 - Bill I. Campbell, PhD, CSCS
2017 - Michael Ormsbee, PhD, CSCS, FACSM, FISSN
2016 - Chad M. Kerksick, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
2015 - Colin Wilborn, PhD, ATC, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, FISSN
2014 - Abbie Smith-Ryan, PhD, CSCS,*D, FISSN
2013 - Joshua Hingst, RD, CSCS, CSCCa, USAW
2012 - Marie A. Spano, MS, CSCS
2011 - Joel T. Cramer, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA
2010 - Richard B. Kreider, PhD
2009 - Nicholas A. Ratamess Jr, PhD, CSCS,*D
2008 - Jeffery R. Stout, PhD, CSCS,*D
2007 - Andrew C. Fry, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA
2006 - Michael H. Stone, PhD
2005 - Jose Antonio, PhD, CSCS
2004 - Joan M. Eckerson, PhD, CSCS
2003 - Jeff Volek, PhD, CSCS,*D

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