The Australian Society for Microbiology

NATIONAL

ASM Frank Fenner Award

The purpose of this award is to recognise distinguished contributions in any area of Australian research in microbiology by scientists in a formative stage of their career, rather than to reward senior scientists for a lifetime of achievement.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

be a member of the ASM of at least two (2) years standing at time of application
have been engaged in research at postdoctoral level or equivalent for less than or equal to fifteen years or the equivalent of less than or equal to fifteen years of fulltime research since acquiring their postdoctoral degree in cases of significant career interruption.

Application Requirements

Applications must include

a curriculum vitae (including a list of publications)
a one page summary of contribution to research in Microbiology
the names and addresses (including email addresses) of two (2) referees

Conditions of the Award

Applicants need to show that their area of research excellence was work done substantially in Australia or, for those applicants recently returned from overseas, is ongoing work in Australia that will enhance the nation's international reputation in microbiology.

The recipient is required to present the Fenner Lecture at the ASM Annual Scientific Meeting.

Assessment

The award will be made on merit. The award committee will consist of the ASM President, Immediate Past President or President Elect and two (2) other Past Presidents.

Award

The award consists of

a bronze plaque given at the ASM Awards Ceremony at the Annual Scientific Meeting
a $1,000 cash prize
full ASM Annual Scientific Meeting registration
return economy flights
up to 6 nights accommodation

Application Process

Download an application form here

Applications should be sent to the National Office Manager, Michelle Jackson (michelle@theasm.com.au)

Closing Date for applications: 31 March of any year

Acknowledgement: An acknowledgement will be emailed within 5 business days of receiving your application - if this has not been received, please contact Michelle Jackson at the ASM National Office - Tel: 03 9867 8699.

ASM David White Excellence in Teaching Award

Applications are invited for the David White Excellence in Teaching Award to recognise excellence in the teaching of, and/or innovation in the teaching of microbiology in Australia.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be a member of the ASM of at least two (2) years standing at the time of application

Application Requirements

Applications must include

a curriculum vitae (including a list of relevant publications)
a one page summary of contribution to education in Microbiology
the names and addresses (including email addresses) of two (2) referees, one preferably a current or former student

Conditions of the Award

The recipient is required to present a paper or participate in a workshop on teaching of Microbiology at the ASM Annual Scientific Meeting.

Award

The award consists of

a bronze plaque given at the ASM Awards Ceremony at the Annual Scientific Meeting
a $1,000 cash prize
full ASM Annual Scientific Meeting registration

Assessment

The award will be made on merit and will be determined by the Executive Committee and a nominee of the Education Special Interest Group.

Application Process

Download an application form here

Applications should be sent to the National Office Manager, Michelle Jackson (michelle@theasm.com.au)

Closing Date for applications: 30 October of any year

ASM Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award recognises outstanding service of, or contributions by, individuals or organisations to the Society.

Distinguished Service Awards will be announced at the ASM Annual General Meeting and the ASM Annual Scientific Meeting.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must be members of the ASM

Nomination Requirements

Individual ASM members, Committees or Branches, may nominate individual ASM members or organisations for a Distinguished Service Award.

A person or organisation shall not be considered for a Distinguished Service Award unless the National Office has received from the proposers:

a nomination for Distinguished Service Award signed by the proposer and a seconder each of whom shall be a Member or Fellow of the Society; and
a statement summarising the nominee's major contribution to the Society

Nominations should be sent to the National Office Manager, Michelle Jackson (michelle@theasm.com.au)

Conditions of the Award

No more than ten Distinguished Service Awards shall be awarded in any one year.

Assessment

The Executive Committee will review the nominations received and place those considered acceptable and of sufficient merit in priority order.

The Executive Committee will present a summary report on nominations received and the names of up to ten recommended awardees to National Council.

Persons or organisations nominated for Distinguished Service Awards who were considered by the Executive Committee to be acceptable and of sufficient merit but who, due to award number limits, were not recommended to Council in that year, will be automatically included in the nominations for the next year. This process shall be repeated for a maximum of three years. At the end of this three year period, a fresh nomination will be required if consideration is to be continued.

Closing Date for nominations: 30 November of any year

ASM Foundation Travel Grant

The Society's Foundation Travel Grant sponsors Australian Microbiologists, especially those in the formative stages of their careers, to undertake professional development in appropriate laboratories in Australia or New Zealand.

The Grant provides funding to assist in financing:

short postgraduate refresher courses in Australia on aspects of microbiology;
visits by international or Australian specialist microbiologists to and within Australia for specific purposes which would benefit many members;
visits by Australian specialist microbiologists to international symposia or advanced courses with the prime object of the knowledge gained being disseminated to other Australian microbiologists upon return of the specialist;
visits by Australian specialist microbiologists overseas on "Lecture Exchange Programs" with other learned societies;
ASM scholarships for postgraduate training of members;
Other purposes recommended by the Foundation Committee and deemed by National Council to be consistent with the aims of the Foundation.

The Foundation Travel Grant normally provides from several hundred to a maximum of $2,000 per scholarship. Applicants who have secured significant support (ca. 50%) from other sources will be assessed more favourably than those who have not.

Applications should be sent to the National Office Manager, Michelle Jackson (michelle@theasm.com.au).

Closing dates for applications: 31 July and 31 January of any year

ASM Honorary Life Membership

Honorary Life status is the highest membership recognition given by the Society and carries with it all the rights and privileges of a Member or Fellow together with exemption from payment of the annual membership subscription.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must be members of the ASM

Nomination Requirements

A person shall not be considered for election as an Honorary Life Member unless the following information is provided:

a nomination signed by (one) 1 proposer, (one) 1 seconder and 10 other signatories each of whom shall be a Member or Fellow of the Society
a complete curriculum vitae together with a condensed summary and photograph suitable for publication in Microbiology Australia
a statement summarising the nominee's major contributions to the discipline and/or practice of microbiology to the Society or to both, together with information attesting to the high personal and professional standards of conduct of the candidate
a bibliography of scientific publication and/or contributions to the relevant area of microbiology

Conditions of the Award

National Council may elect a person as a Honorary Life Member who, in its opinion, has rendered distinguished service to the science of microbiology to the Society or both.

No more than 3 Honorary Life Members shall be elected in any one year.

Assessment

All nominations will be reviewed and assessed by the Honours Subcommittee. National Council shall consider this Subcommittee's recommendations usually at second Council's meeting in the year.

Closing date for nominations: 30 June of any year

ASM Teachers' Travel Award

The aim of this award is to encourage ASM members involved in teaching microbiology at the tertiary level to attend the annual scientific meeting of the Australian Society for Microbiology.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must

be a member of the ASM of twelve (12) months standing at the time of application
be employed fulltime, part time or sessionally

Application Requirements

Applications must include

a curriculum vitae
a letter of recommendation from the applicants Head of the Department confirming involvement in and commitment to a teaching program
the names and addresses (including email addresses) of two (2) referees
a brief synopsis of the applicants area of interest in education

Conditions of the Award

The synopsis would provide the basis for a poster presentation or participation in a session organised by the Education Special Interest Group at the ASM Annual Scientific Meeting.

Award

The award consists of up to $1,000 in travel expenses for the recipient to attend the ASM Annual Scientific Meeting.

Assessment

The award will be made on merit and will be determined by the Executive Committee and a nominee of the Education Special Interest Group.

Application Process

Download an application form here

Applications should be sent to the National Office Manager, Michelle Jackson (michelle@theasm.com.au)

Closing date for applications: 31 March of any year

ASM Vic Skerman Student Prize

This ASM sponsored prize is awarded annually to a student member of the Society who has contributed, while enrolled as a Student Member of the ASM, the best review article to the Society's journal for the period 1 July to 30 June in any year.

The prize consists of $500 and a certificate, and will be awarded at the Society's Annual Scientific Meeting.

The applicant must submit a 50 word summary of their CV with their application.

Applications should be sent to the National Office Manager, Michelle Jackson (michelle@theasm.com.au).

Closing date for applications: 31 March of any year

ASM Research Trust Awards

The Research Trust aims to promote excellence in microbiology by supporting younger microbiologists for specified research projects leading to career advancement or Australian microbiologists returning from overseas studies to assist them to re-establish their careers in Australia.

The purpose of the Trust is to do either or both of the following:

fund a person to undertake scientific research in microbiology and related fields in Australia; and/or
fund a person employed by another body to undertake scientific research in those areas that may prove to be of value to Australia.

The Trust also has the power to:

make known to persons interested in microbiology or allied sciences the results of the research;
make generally available the benefits of any patents or other rights acquired by the Society from the research;
encourage the discovery of, and investigate and make known the nature and merits of, processes and inventions which may be beneficial for persons engaged in scientific research in microbiology or any related field;
collect and disseminate information regarding facilities for research in microbiology and allied sciences.

The Research Trust funds the following awards:

Research Trust Fellowship
Burnet-Hayes Postgraduate Development Award
Millis-Colwell Postgraduate Development Award

ASM Research Trust Fellowship

The conditions of award of the ASM Research Trust Fellowship are currently under review by the Research Trust Committee. More information will be available soon.

Previous recipients of the award are listed below:

1996 - Gavin Recchia
1997 - David Nichols
1998 - Dr Brett Neilan
1999 - Christine Yeates
1999 - John Stenos
2000 - Samantha Mead
2000 - Janelle Brown
2001 - Brendan Burns
2002 - Martin Ostrowski
2003 - Michelle Moffitt

Burnet - Hayes Award

Applications are invited from the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) members for the Burnet - Hayes Award. This award allows for the reciprocal exchange of one member each year from each of the Australian Society for Microbiology and the Society for General Microbiology in the United Kingdom (SGM) to visit a research laboratory in that country and to attend the National Conference of the other society.

In regards the award for 2010, applicants from Australia must have negotiated an agreement to visit the research laboratory of a UK scientist in the period immediately before or immediately after the National Meeting of the SGM to be held in Edinburgh from March 29 to April 1, 2010. Applicants will be invited to submit an Abstract to make a presentation (oral or poster) at the National Meeting of the SGM and offer of the grant will be conditional on the SGM accepting the submitted Abstract. The ASM will pay for return economy airfares between Australia and the UK and any necessary internal connecting flights as well as a per diem living allowance for up to 14 days. The total amount of the grant will be up to a maximum limit of $6,500.

The award will be made on merit and will be determined by the Research Trust Committee. To be eligible, applicants must be student members of The Australian Society for Microbiology, be enrolled in a full time PhD program at an Australian University and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Applications must provide a brief CV and a maximum one page synopsis of their research. This synopsis should include details of the research activities that will be conducted at the laboratory to be visited, the applicant's stage of PhD candidature and tentative submission date. The successful applicant will also need to provide evidence of an active or emerging research collaboration between the student's supervisor and that of the research group to be visited in the UK. Such evidence may include recent or current joint grants, joint publications or a statement from the PhD supervisor that joint research opportunities are emerging. In any event, the application must include an invitation from the UK host institution agreeing to a visit at a suitable time.

Applications should be submitted electronically to the ASM National Office by COB November 30 2009.

The email address for submission of applications is: michelle@theasm.com.au. The subject line should say "Burnet - Hayes Award".

All applications will be acknowledged. If you do not get an acknowledgement within 3 working days of submission please call Michelle Jackson, National Office Manager on 03 9867 8699.

Millis - Colwell Award

Applications are invited from the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM Aus) members for the Millis - Colwell Award. This award allows for the reciprocal exchange of one member each year from each of the Australian Society for Microbiology and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM USA) to visit a research laboratory in that country and to attend a National Conference of the other society.

In regards the award for 2010, applicants from Australia must have negotiated an agreement to visit a research laboratory of a US scientist in the period immediately before or immediately after the General meeting of the ASM (USA) to be held in San Diego, California from May 23 to May 27, 2010.

Applicants will be invited to submit an Abstract to make a presentation (oral or poster) at the General Meeting of the ASM (USA) and offer of the grant will be conditional on the ASM (USA) accepting the submitted Abstract. The ASM (USA) will waive the normal meeting registration fee for the successful applicant. The ASM (Aus) will pay for return economy airfares between Australia and the USA and any necessary internal connecting flights as well as a per diem living allowance for up to 14 days. The total amount of the grant will be up to a maximum limit of $6,500.

The award will be made on merit and will be determined by the Research Trust Committee. To be eligible, applicants must be members of the Australian Society for Microbiology, be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident and have completed a PhD within the past 5 years or be enrolled in a full time PhD program at an Australian University.

Applicants must provide a brief CV and a maximum one page synopsis of their research. This synopsis should include details of the research that will be conducted at the laboratory to be visited, the applicant's stage of PhD candidature and tentative submission date.

The successful applicant will also need to provide evidence of an active or emerging research collaboration with the research group to be visited in the USA. Such evidence may include recent or current joint grants, joint publications or a statement from the applicants supervisor that joint research opportunities are emerging. In any event, the application must include an invitation from the USA host institution agreeing to a visit at a suitable time.

Applications should be submitted electronically to the ASM National Office by COB November 30, 2009.

The email address for submission of applications is: michelle@theasm.com.au. The subject line should say "Millis - Colwell Award".

All applications will be acknowledged. If you do not get an acknowledgement within 3 working days of submission please call Michelle Jackson, National Office Manager on 03 9867 8699.

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