Margaret Baird Women in Immunology Award

 

ASI Margaret Baird
Women in Immunology Award

Established in 2019 in memory of Margaret Baird

Application round: 
June 3rd - 24th 2024
for lectureship undertaken Jan - Dec 2025

Background:

This award was established in 2019 in memory of Professor Margaret Baird, 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 Derrick Rowley Medal in 2013 for her service to the society.

Purpose (2024 Application Round):

The award will provide an early-mid career immunologist (and ASI member) with an advancement opportunity in teaching through the funding of a trans-Tasman lectureship.  This lectureship will involve a series of guest lectures across New Zealand and Australia, focusing on the applicant’s research, but also including perspectives on equity and balance in science careers.  While not limited to women applicants, all applicants will need to demonstrate a leadership role in supporting and mentoring women in immunology.

The awardee will be invited to deliver an online scientific seminar on International Women’s Day, focusing on the applicant’s research, but also including perspectives on equity and balance in science careers. 
The awardee is also expected to give at least 2 lectures in each of New Zealand and Australia (and not in the applicant’s home state or region). The visits and hosts are to be coordinated with branch councillors or their nominees, in much the same way as the current ASI Visiting Speaker Program. The lectureship itinerary does not have to be pre arranged for the application and ASI will permit flexible hybrid options. The lectures should be given within the calendar year following receiving the award.  

Eligibility:

  • All ASI members are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants must have been full (not interim) Ordinary or Student members of ASI in the year preceding the application
  • Applicants must have paid their membership subscription before 1st April of the year of application
  • Awardees are required to maintain their membership during the year the lectures funded by the award are being undertaken.

Application procedure:

  1. Click here to download the Margaret Baird Award application form.
  2. Include a C.V. (max 2 pages)
  3. Include evidence of prior support/mentoring to women in immunology
  4. Include an outline of the lectureship itinerary including locations (note that it is not a requirement that these visits have been pre-arranged with the hosting location)
  5. Include a description of how this lectureship opportunity will advance your career and inspire female immunologists.
  6. Combine the files into a single pdf and save your file as "LASTNAME_YYYY_Margaret Baird”.
  7. Log in to your member profile and click on 'Applications'. 

Assessment Criteria:

  • Degree to which funds and recognition by ASI will make a major difference to career advancement.
  • Preference will apply to outstanding individuals not already recognised by awards of this stature, taking into account the prior achievements relative to opportunity (CV), evidence of their support and mentoring of women in immunology. 

The selection of the awardee will be made by the ASI Executive committee (or their delegates). The committee reserves the right not to make an award.

Value:

AUD 5000 for costs associated with airfares (trans-Tasman), accommodation, internal travel and transfers, and dinners with hosts.

This includes AUD 500 as a personal award.

Successful Recipients- how to claim your ASI Award: 

Please log in to your member profile to submit your Newsletter contribution, receipts to support your claim, and to initiate the reimbursement process.

Applicants must be willing to contribute to the ASI Newsletter about how the award has been used in the year the lectureship is undertaken.
An award ceremony with a formal presentation of the award will be part of the closing ceremony at the ASI Annual Scientific Meeting.

Please email the EDI Coordinator before January 31st regarding your online seminar topic for International Women's Day, March 8th.

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