ASI Women’s Initiative Awards
ASI is committed to equity, diversy and inclusion. We offer a range of awards to enhance the career opportunities for women or primary carers in immunology.
2021 Carers Award - COVID supportNo longer available |
Branch Meeting
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Annual Meeting
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Women's Initiative Travel AwardAvailable in 2022 |
Margaret Baird AwardAvailable in 2022 |
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For: | All genders | All genders | All genders | Women* | All genders |
Priority given to: | Carers of children, dependents, elderly. Women returning from a career disruption such as parental leave | Carers of children, dependents, elderly | Carers of children, dependents, elderly | Women* returning from a career disruption such as parental leave | |
Value (AUD): | Up to $1000 | Up to $500 | Up to $1000 | Up to $1000 | Up to $5000 for travel-related costs. Includes $500 as personal award. |
Purpose: | Fund formal or informal carer support for those impacted most by COVID restrictions. | ASI Branch Meeting attendance | ASI Annual Scientific Meeting attendance | ASI Annual Scientific Meeting or non-ASI Meeting attendance | Delivering lectures across Australia and New Zealand |
Covers: | Additional childcare or caring expenses. | Additional childcare or caring expenses. Travel and accommodation expenses for child/ren or dependent/s, and travel companion. |
Additional childcare or caring expenses. Travel and accommodation expenses for child/ren or dependent/s, and travel companion. |
Additional childcare or caring expenses. Travel and accommodation expenses for child/ren or dependent/s, and travel companion. |
Travel and personal expenses. |
*Award is inclusive of cis and trans women and femme/feminine identifying genderqueer and non-binary folks.
2021 ASI Carer Awards - COVID support No longer available
ASI is acutely aware of the pressure that COVID-19 restrictions have placed on carers, limiting access to care support from both formal and informal mechanisms. To support members of our community whose carer responsibilities have impacted or will impact on their career progression, we invite applications to the 2020 ASI Carer Awards- COVID support. We have created these awards by repurposing the funds originally committed to the ASI Branch Meeting Carer's Awards, ASI Annual Meeting Carer's Awards, and the Women's Initiative Travel Awards for 2020.
The purpose of the 2020 ASI Carer Awards - COVID support is to provide financial support to fund formal or informal carer support. Applicants can apply for up to $1000 and the exact use of the award money is determined by the awardee but must directly support caring for dependents. Please note that the Career Advancement Awards - Tier 2 could also be used to support caring costs up to $3000 for PhD students and post-docs.
ASI Carer Grants:
ASI Branch Meeting or ASI Annual Meetings Available in 2022
ASI strongly promote equity and diversity and we encourage the attendance of carers at ASI Branch and Annual Meetings. We acknowledge the challenges associated with attending meetings for carers- they may need to make alternative arrangements and can incur additional costs. To help offset the costs of childcare and support other caring costs either at home or at our meetings, we offer ASI Branch Meeting Carer Awards (up to AUD500 each) and ASI Annual Meeting Carer Awards (up to AUD1000 each) for people of all genders with caring responsibilites.
The funds can be used in whatever way is best for the recipient’s personal circumstances, for example, to fund a companion to attend the conference or fund additional days of formal childcare. We intend for this award to assist talented ASI researchers to disseminate their findings and build career connections at a conference they might have otherwise found difficult to attend. Please note that we provide childcare facilities at our Annual Meeting.
Apply for ASI Branch or Annual Meeting Carer Grants
Women's Initiative Travel Awards Available in 2022
ASI recognises that attendance at the Annual Meeting is important for the professional development of the women of ASI but there may be additional challenges associated with attending meetings for women who are carers- they may need to make alternative arrangements and can incur additional costs. The Women’s Initiative Travel Awards provide financial assistance to support women who have carer responsibilities to participate in the Annual Meetings and pursue their professional development. In 2020, we have extended these Travel Awards to include non-ASI meetings as well.
ASI are offering Travel Awards (up to AUD1000 each) to facilitate the attendance of our Annual Scientific Meeting or other meeting, by women with parental responsibilities. This will allow recipients to attend and present their research at these meetings by contributing to childcare costs while the recipient is attending the conference. The funds can be used in whatever way is best for the recipient’s personal circumstances, for example, to fund a companion to attend the conference or fund additional days of formal childcare while they are away from home. We intend for this award to assist talented ASI researchers to disseminate their findings and build career connections at a conference they might have otherwise found difficult to attend. Please note that we provide childcare facilities at our Annual Meeting.
Apply for the Women's Initiative Travel Awards
Margaret Baird Lectureship Award Available in 2022
Margaret Baird was a New Zealand immunologist who passed away in 2016. Margaret was known for her work on dendritic cells, but also as a mentor and supporter of women in science. She prepared multiple reports and analyses on the status of women in academia and in science and was a role model for several generations of postgraduate students. Margaret’s door was always open and her distinctive laugh lives long in the halls of the University of Otago. Margaret was an active member of ASI and was awarded the Derek Rowley Medal in 2013 for her service to the society.
The Margaret Baird Women in Immunology Award is an annual visiting lectureship award in honour of Margaret. It aims to provide an early-mid career immunologist (and ASI member) a career opportunity in teaching. The lectureship would involve a series of guest lectures across New Zealand and Australia, focused on the applicants research, but also including perspectives on equity and balance in science careers. While open to people of all genders, all applicants would need to demonstrate a leadership role in supporting and mentoring women in immunology.