The Graduate School Alumni Society (GSAS) Early Career Award recognizes Penn State alumni who have demonstrated exceptional success in their chosen field within the first ten years after obtaining their graduate degree. This can be demonstrated in a number of ways. Examples include, but are not limited to, demonstrated leadership, substantive contributions in one's field, or national/international recognition for one's contributions.

Past recipients of the Early Career Award can be found below:

2023

• Jennifer Nyland, Ph.D. '12, Neuroscience

2022

• Xiaoyun Ding. Ph.D. ’13, engineering science and mechanics

2021

• Sounak Gupta, Ph.D. '10, Molecular Medicine

2019

• Bin Luo, Ph.D. '10, Astronomy and Astrophysics

2018

• Gavin P. Hayes, Ph.D. '07, Geosciences

2017

• Matthew S. Hall, Ph.D. '07, Sociology

2016

• Yiling Chen, Ph.D. '05, Information Sciences and Technology

2015

• Maria Emelianenko, Ph.D. '05, Mathematics
• Bret D. Lehmer, Ph.D. '07, Astronomy and Astrophysics

2013-14

• Sindura B. Ganapathi, Ph.D. '10, Pharmacology
• Yuebing Zheng, Ph.D. '10, Engineering Science and Mechanics