6. Conditions of Entry. Entrants agree to be bound by these rules and all decisions of BioLegend and BioLegend’s Contest judges, whose decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to the Contest. By submitting an entry, participants grant to BioLegend, its agents and others working on their behalf the right to use the winner's name for advertising and marketing purposes, without additional compensation, unless otherwise prohibited by law. Further, with your entry, you may be asked to consent to receive promotional or marketing material and information from BioLegend or its affiliates. You may opt out of receiving such information, which will not affect your chances of winning. All entries become the property of BioLegend and will not be acknowledged or returned. BioLegend shall not be responsible for any submission errors or for lost, late or misdirected mail (including e-mail), or telecommunication or computer hardware or software failures. If, for any reason, the fairness or integrity of the Contest becomes compromised, BioLegend reserves the right to terminate or modify the Contest, and to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process or the administration of the Contest.
7. Judging. Each application will be evaluated and scored based on the following “Criteria”:

• Quality and clarity of the narrative
• Explanation of the breakthrough and how it was achieved
• Significance and originality of the research
• Effective communication
• Creativity and engagement

Using the aforementioned Criteria, BioLegend judges will evaluate the entries based on the Criteria and determine in their sole judgment and authority whether there are any winners from those that satisfy the Criteria. There will be no more than four winners.The final result will be announced on or about mid-March.Each entrant determined as a potential winner must comply with the terms and conditions set forth in these rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all such requirements. If an entrant does not provide the data required at entry, that entrant’s entry will be ineligible. If you're selected as a potential winner, we’ll get in touch with you by email or phone. To confirm your win, we’ll ask you to complete and return a short set of documents (an eligibility form, a liability release, and, where allowed, a publicity release) within 14 days of when we first contact you.

If we don’t hear back from you within that time, if the documents aren’t returned, or if we’re unable to reach you after reasonable attempts, we reserve the right to deem the prize forfeited and to offer it to another eligible participant. We also reserve the right to post the name of the Prize winner for thirty (30) days after the date of drawing on BioLegend’s website.

8. Prizes. There will be no more than four winners total. A $500 prize will be awarded to each winner be used for conference-related expenses (each, a “Prize”). Each prize is nontransferable and must be accepted as awarded. To the extent permitted by law, all taxes, fees and surcharges imposed on the Prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. The award may only be used to defray the costs of attending the applicable conference/meeting, including travel, conference fees, etc. BioLegend may require proof you attended the conference before any award will be given.
9. Publicity of the Winner. The winner(s), by accepting the Prize, except where legally prohibited, grants permission to BioLegend and its designees to use winner's name, address (city and state), picture/portrait, likeness and/or voice, and Prize information for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without further consideration, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide in perpetuity, without notice or review or approval.
10. Disclaimer. This Contest may be advertised on social media, however, this promotion is in no way BioLegend, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any social media platform (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, etc.). By participating in any activities on social media relating to this Contest, entrants agree to comply with the terms of use of such social media platform.
11. Privacy. By submitting an application or accepting an award, you are consenting to the use of your name, the name of your institution, and the name of the scientific conference you attended by BioLegend (or other affiliates of BioLegend, Inc.). You also agree that BioLegend may use your response to the application questions online or otherwise used in BioLegend’s promotional materials, including social media, without any additional compensation to you. Your information will be used consistent with BioLegend’s privacy policy, available here.
12. General Conditions; Release; Limitation of Liability.  BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST AND/OR ACCEPTING THE PRIZE, ENTRANTS AGREE TO RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS BIOLEGEND, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, AGENTS, ADVERTISING OR PROMOTION AGENCIES, AND ALL OF BIOLEGEND'S OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS AND ASSIGNS, FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY INJURIES, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST AND AWARDING, ACCEPTANCE, RECEIPT, POSSESSION, USE AND/OR MISUSE OF THE PRIZE.  ENTRANTS ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND CAUSED OR CLAIMED TO BE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY PROMOTION OR PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY, OR FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE.

If for any reason the promotion is not capable of running as planned, including due to tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, human error or any other causes beyond the control of BioLegend that affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the promotion, BioLegend reserves the right in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion and award the Prize from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation or termination. BioLegend assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, defect, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, BIOLEGEND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

No responsibility or liability is assumed by BioLegend for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the website in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the internet or the website; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Contest. BioLegend is not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of the prize or these rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the website.Use of website is at user’s own risk. BioLegend makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning any Prize (or portion thereof), and disclaims any implied warranty. BioLegend is not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Contest, use of the website or the download of any information from the website. BioLegend is not liable in the event that any portion of the Contest or Prize is cancelled due to weather, fire, strike, acts of war or terrorism, or any other condition beyond their control.

All trademarks represented herein are marks of their respective owners.

13. Governing Law; Disputes.  All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these rules or the rights and obligations of participants and BioLegend in connection with the Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions. Any legal claims arising out of or related to the Contest or these rules must be brought in Federal or State Courts located in Boston, Massachusetts. If any provisions of these rules are held to be invalid or unenforceable, all remaining provisions hereof will remain in full force and effect.