SDNS Solicits Entries for Student Paper Competition

The ASA Section for Statistics in Defense and National Security (SDNS) is soliciting entries for their 2020 Joint Statistical Meetings student researcher paper competition. Each year, the section offers the winning author a certificate and $1,000 to defray the costs of attending and presenting their work at an ASA-sponsored conference.

This competition is open to all undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers who are, at most, two years beyond their terminal degree. The author must be a member of SDNS or join the section at the time of their paper submission. The contribution may be a theoretical development or cover any of the numerous applications related to defense and national security. Papers that have been accepted for publication are not eligible for the competition. The winner will have the opportunity to present her/his paper in a JSM session sponsored by SDNS.

Authors must submit the following:

  • A list of authors and contact information (the contestant must be the first author).
  • A double-spaced manuscript in two versions: a regular manuscript with author information and a blinded manuscript without author information or other identifying information (such as references). Both versions should include an abstract.
  • A reference letter from a faculty member familiar with the submitted work, stating the status of the applicant and the publication status of the manuscript.

Entries should be sent to Nicholas Clark, chair of the paper award committee, via email. The email should include the two versions of the completed manuscript as attachments in PDF format. All entries must arrive by December, 15, 2019. Include the words “Best Paper Award” in the subject line of the email. Manuscripts will be judged based on relevance and interest of the subject matter, the quality of writing, and, of course, the quality of the research. Results will be announced by January 15, 2020.