Geraldine Dietz Fox Young Investigator Award
This award recognizes accomplishment and promise in research related to otolaryngology in an area(s) represented at the Annual ARO MidWinter Meeting. Candidates should have a graduate degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) and be no more than 7 years beyond residency or postdoctoral training at the time of nomination. Only 1 letter of support is required; it may have multiple signatories.
Congratulations to Our 2025Dr. Melissa Caras Geraldine Dietz Fox Young Investigator Awardee
Awarded for her contributions to the understanding of
mechanisms underlying auditory perception and learning.

Dr. Melissa Caras
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences,
by courtesy University of Maryland
Submit a Nomination
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Geraldine Dietz Fox Young Investigator Award
The Association for Research in Otolaryngology will start accepting nominations for the Geraldine Dietz Fox Young Investigator Award on June 17, 2025.
ABOUT THE ARO YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
This award recognizes accomplishment and promise in research related to otolaryngology in an area(s) represented at the annual ARO meeting. Candidates should have a graduate degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent), show accomplishment and promise in research related to otolaryngology, and be no more than 7 years beyond residency or postdoctoral training at the time of nomination. The awardee will be asked to give a scientific talk during the Young Investigator Luncheon at the 2026 MidWinter Meeting.
REMINDER: ARO membership is not required for nominators or nominees.
Nomination Requirements:
(Please read carefully before submitting.)
Nominations should include the following:
A letter of nomination that includes a description of the research contributions and potential
Nominee’s CV
One additional letter of support, which can have more than one signature if desired
Nominations are meticulously selected by the ARO Award Committee and then submitted to the ARO Council for approval. A nominee’s package will be considered for up to 3 years in sequence; the package can be updated for the second and third years. Nominations submitted in previous years without meeting the new standards should be resubmitted, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation.