The SWSA Early Career Award recognizes individuals with exceptional contributions to the Semantic Web field, up to eight years after their PhD.

Definition of Early Career Researcher

SWSA defines an Early Career Researcher as a researcher up to eight years after their PhD.

  • EDI considerations are applied to the year count.
  • Parental leave is considered a stop to the clock.
  • Consideration is given to other career breaks or non-traditional career paths.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered, applicants must:

  • meet the Early Career Researcher definition above;
  • have at least one ISWC or ESWC publication in their publication record;
  • demonstrate service in ISWC or ESWC, including PC membership, organizational roles, or comparable contributions.

Evaluation criteria

SWSA recognizes:

  • high-impact research in the Semantic Web area;
  • clear independence and leadership;
  • originality;
  • technical depth;
  • long-term impact potential.

Applications are evaluated through:

  • top-tier conference and journal publications in the Semantic Web field;
  • influence on the research community, measured by, but not restricted to, citations, software uptake, and related indicators;
  • service and visibility, such as PC memberships, keynotes, artifacts, and tools.

Prize

The winner for 2026 will be announced at ISWC 2026.

The award includes a certificate and a 1000 euros payment. A free registration to ISWC 2026 will also be covered.

Application procedure

Applications are by self-nomination.

Ideally, applicants should include two letters of support from senior members of the community. At least one letter should be from someone who has not closely worked with the applicant but can assess and value the quality of their work.

The deadline is 30 June 2026 AoE. The winner will be notified at the beginning of August 2026.

Submit your application on EasyChair.

Applicants should provide all relevant information helpful to evaluate their case. The application form has three sections covering the three pillars of the evaluation: top-tier conference and journal publications, influence on the research community, and service and visibility. The EasyChair form will guide candidates with details and artifacts requested in each section.