This is a reminder that the deadline to submit a paper for the Section on Risk Analysis Student Paper Competition is this Saturday, November 15. See the information below on how to submit a paper.
ASA Section on Risk Analysis
2026 Student Paper Competition
The Section on Risk Analysis of the American Statistical Association is soliciting entries for a student paper competition for the 2026 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM). Up to three awards carrying a cash prize of $600 each will be awarded. This competition is open to all full or part-time graduate and undergraduate students, attending an accredited academic program. The student must be a member of the Section on Risk Analysis or should join the section at the time of the paper submission. The contribution may be a theoretical development or may cover any of the numerous applications of risk analysis, including environmental risk, financial risk, the risk to engineering structures, health risks, risks to defense and national security, etc. Papers that have been accepted for publication are not eligible for the competition. Winners must present their work in a JSM 2026 session sponsored by the Section on Risk Analysis.
Entrants should submit the following:
- A list of authors and contact information (the student must be the first author).
- A blinded version of the manuscript, which excludes author information or other identifying information (PDF-only).
- A reference letter from a faculty member familiar with the submitted work, stating the student status of the applicant and the publication status of the manuscript. The letter should be written on department letterhead (PDF-only).
Manuscript format: The manuscript must include an abstract and can be up to 20 pages double spaced (excluding tables, figures, and references) in 12-point font. Tables, figures, a statement on the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), and the references are to be listed at the end.
Statement on the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI): Each manuscript submission must include a statement explaining what, if any, AI tools were used in the development of the manuscript and how they were used. The text of the manuscript submitted must be written by the student without the use of AI. The use of AI to develop the paper, such as assisting in a literature search, is permissible.
Manuscripts should be submitted via a web-form https://forms.gle/C7dwuPpksCEgQiPC7. All entries must arrive by 11:59 PM EST on November 15, 2025. Manuscripts will be judged by the Student Paper Award Committee consisting of section officers. Evaluation criteria include relevance to the mission of the Section on Risk Analysis, generalizability to a variety of risk analysis applications, novelty, statistical rigor, significance, and quality of presentation. The result will be announced by January 15, 2026. The winners will be required to submit their abstract to JSM by February 1, 2026.
Please direct questions to Dr. Christopher Sroka, Chair of the Student Paper Award Committee, via email: csroka@nmsu.edu.
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Christopher Sroka
Associate Professor
New Mexico State University
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