"Third party" means that someone other than the nominee submits a letter explaining why the candidate is an outstanding choice for the award. The purpose is to provide an external perspective highlighting objective, broadly recognized contributions and impact in the field. This letter does not need to come from iNKT experts and can come from anyone who can meaningfully speak to the value of the candidate's work and contributions.

The nomination letter is intended to provide external recognition supporting why the candidate is eligible and should be strongly considered for the award. Its purpose is to make an objective case for the significance, visibility, and impact of the candidate's scientific contributions within the field and broader community. The reference letters serve a somewhat different role. Referees are typically individuals who know the candidate, their work, and their trajectory more directly. In addition to commenting on achievements, they are expected to provide perspective on the candidate's leadership, independence, future potential, and anticipated long-term impact on the field.

The letters do not need to come from an iNKT expert. Candidates can identify the referees best positioned to advocate for them. While the referees do not need to be iNKT researchers, having iNKT experts involved may strengthen the "relevance to iNKT research and the broader scientific community" aspect of the application.

The five selected publications do not all need to be iNKT-related. This is intentionally left to the candidate's judgment. The overall goal is to identify emerging leaders who will help advocate for and strengthen the iNKT field and community. Publications with relevance to iNKT biology and broader scientific impact may strengthen the application, but this is not an inclusion or exclusion criterion. If a candidate feels that a particularly impactful paper outside the iNKT field best represents their scientific contributions, they are absolutely welcome to include it and explain its significance in the context of the award.