In 2026, MDPI passed the incredible milestone of publishing more than 500 Open Access journals, including nine conference proceedings journals.

As MDPI continues to advance open science and expand its portfolio of journals, Editorial Board Members (EBMs) maintain the core responsibility of ensuring high editorial standards from the outset.

A fundamental part of MDPI’s rigorous editorial process, their efforts safeguard integrity and quality across the journals they serve.

While every EBM’s contribution is highly valued, the Editor of Distinction Award provides a special recognition for individuals who have shown an exceptional dedication to their journal. Often going above and beyond, these recipients continue to bolster editorial practices and actively engage with the scholarly community.

Here, we outline the important eligibility requirements, prizes, and share some testimonials from some recent Editor of Distinction Award recipients.

Eligibility requirements

As the responsibilities of EBMs can be diverse, and differ between journals, worthy contributions may include:

• Safeguarding and enhancing the integrity and quality of the journal’s publications.
• Demonstrating editorial leadership by identifying emerging topics and leading thematic collections.
• Engaging with the journal’s scientific community through active participation in journal webinars, meetings and other collaborative activities.
• Acting as an ambassador for the journal by promoting its aim, content and impact within the academic community.
• Serving as a subject matter expert, demonstrating leadership, ethical judgement and commitment to advancing their field.

Importantly, this award excludes senior members of Editorial Boards, such as Editors-in-Chief and Section Editors-in-Chief, who instead make up the Award Evaluation Committee.

Prizes

Similar to many MDPI Awards, prizes are allocated on a journal-by-journal basis. This means that prize amounts often vary between journals, along with the overall number of recipients.

Typically, winners of the Editor of Distinction Award receive:

• A monetary prize (Often ranging from CHF 500 to 1500);
• A certificate.

In some cases, recipients may receive a discounted voucher for Article Processing Charges (APCs). This is decided by the journal, so you should refer to the respective journal homepage for more information. You can find a full list of MDPI’s journals here.

Testimonials

To further increase the visibility of early career academics, MDPI shares interviews with its recent award winners.

Below are some testimonials from recent Editor of Distinction Award winners.

“I would simply like to thank the entire technical team for their work and my colleagues on the Editorial Board for their collaboration. The trust in your team allows you to focus on your own contributions with peace of mind. We are not isolated individuals—we are part of a team.” – Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull, Winner of the Publications Editor of Distinction Award.

“For me, Geosciences is my best activity. All editorial members have excellent communication. There is a continuous approach for enhancing the journal. The communication of the journal member is characterized by politeness, understanding, and kind expressions. I love working with Geosciences.” – Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Nikolopoulos, Winner of the Geosciences Editor of Distinction Award.

MDPI’s commitment to supporting researchers

Awards allow MDPI to give back to the academic community. They increase the visibility of research, encourage open communication between scientists, and highlight their outstanding achievements.

Alongside the Editor of Distinction Award, MDPI offers multiple journal awards, such as the Best PhD Thesis Award, Travel Award, Best Paper Award, and more.

Read our article covering everything you need to know about MDPI’s awards program; alternatively, you can visit the MDPI awards webpage for more information.