Jacobson Promising Investigator Award

The Joan L. and Julius H. Jacobson II Promising Investigator Award (JPIA) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) was established to recognize outstanding surgeons engaging in research, advancing the art and science of surgery, and demonstrating early promise of significant contribution to the practice of surgery and the safety of surgical patients. The award, up to $30,000, is supported through a generous endowed fund administered by the ACS Foundation.

1. Candidate must be a Fellow or an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. International applicants are welcome to apply.
2. Candidate must be board certified in a surgical specialty and must have completed surgical training, including fellowship, in the last six years (2020). This does not include military, medical, or family leave.
3. Candidate must hold a faculty appointment at a research-based academic medical center or hold a military service position.
4. Candidate must have received peer-reviewed funding such as a K-series award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Veterans Administration, National Science Foundation, or U.S. Department of Defense merit review to support their research. Surgeon-scientists who are well established (for example, recipients of NIH R01 and Veterans Affairs Merit grants, or equivalent grants from other agencies) are NOT eligible.
5. Only one application per surgical department will be accepted.

6. Nomination documentation must include the following:

   1. A one-page essay to the committee explaining why the candidate should be considered for the award and describing the importance of their past and current research.

   2. Copies of the candidate’s three most significant publications as faculty.

   3. A letter of recommendation from the candidate’s department chair. Up to three additional letters of recommendation will be accepted.
   4. An NIH-formatted biographical sketch. Please reference the pre-2026 format.

Special consideration will be given to surgeons who are at the “tipping point” of their research careers with a track record indicative of early promise and potential (for example, degree program in research or K-award).

The 2026 JPIA application cycle is closed. An awardee will be notified in the summer.

Applications for the 2027 cycle will open in November 2026.

The American College of Surgeons reserves the right to forego selecting an awardee.

See a list of all past recipients.

Please contact jacobsonpia@facs.org with comments or questions.