The AFS Genetics Section would like to congratulate Dr. Scott Pavey, the first recipient of our inaugural Early Career Award. The goal of the Award is to promote innovative and particularly applicable genetics research, increase interest in fisheries genetics careers, and enhance professional connections among fisheries geneticists. Scott is a Canada Research Chair and Assistant Professor at University of New Brunswick and was thoughtfully nominated by Dr. Louis Bernatchez, who emphasized his bright future as an “advocate and ambassador of AFS”. Louis profiled Scott’s “use of population genetics and genomics applied to fundamental as well as management and conservation oriented questions in ecology and evolution of fishes”. Building on his early experience as a fisheries biologist in Alaska, Scott has researched topics ranging from Pacific salmon evolutionary ecology and physiological genomics to the genomic underpinning of eel life histories and responses to contaminants. He has published broadly in top-tier journals as well publications targeting an applied conservation and management-oriented audience, and the general public. Scott has an obvious passion for and dedication to teaching and mentoring and will continue to be an inspiration to those interested in pursuing a career in fisheries genetics. Please join us in congratulating Scott!