Inspiration and Resilience Award
The Inspiration and Resilience Award recognises outstanding early- or mid-career researchers whose scientific excellence has been achieved in the face of significant resource constraints or personal adversity.
Presented annually, candidates must demonstrate exceptional promise, resilience, and scientific advancement in any field related to the molecular biosciences. This may include newly established group leaders or researchers in the early stages of their first independent position at institutions with limited infrastructure or access to research facilities and specialised equipment, as well as individuals whose career progression or research achievements reflect the successful overcoming of significant personal challenges.
The Award is open to early- or mid-career researchers of all nationalities, and the research may be carried out anywhere in the world. Nominations of researchers based in, or whose work has had a significant impact in, low- and middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank) are especially encouraged.
Before starting an initial nomination, please familiarise yourself with the form questions and word counts.
The recipient is given:
- A grant to attend a relevant event or training course
- A trophy
- The opportunity to present at a Society event or webinar
- An invitation to submit an article to one of our journals, with any fees waived
- The opportunity to be a guest editor of a themed issue of a Biochemical Society Journal, published by Portland Press
- The opportunity to join a Research Area or The Biochemist Editorial Board as a representative and help shape the Society’s content
Eligibility criteria:
- Awarded annually
- Awarded to an outstanding individual who has achieved remarkable advances in any field related to the molecular biosciences considering significant resource constraints or personal adversity
- Nominees must demonstrate exceptional promise and resilience
- Nominees must demonstrate commitment to build, support, and nurture future talent
- Nominees would typically be early to mid-career
- Open to all nationalities, and the research may be carried out anywhere in the world
- This award is only open to individuals
Please note that career breaks are taken into consideration for the Inspiration and Resilience Award. A career break is considered as any period of time where the candidate is out of work, for reasons including, but not limited to, redundancy, maternity leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave or adoption leave, extended leave to perform a carer role, long-term illness, disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and/or as a consequence of relocation. If the candidate has taken a career break for maternity leave or shared parental leave, eligibility for the Inspiration and Resilience Award will be extended by 12 months per child.
If you have any queries regarding the eligibility criteria for an award, please contact the Awards Team.
The Awards Committee will consider the following aspects of all nominations for the Inspiration and Resilience Award as appropriate:
- Originality of research
- Impact of research
- Resilience in overcoming challenges e.g., through limited or underfunded infrastructure, reduced or unequal access to research facilities/specialised equipment, or significant personal/familial/societal challenges.
- Quality of outputs – publications and/or patents and/or software
- Commitment to build, support, and nurture future talent e.g., mentorship
- Other indicators of esteem demonstrated by the nominator
Contact us
For further information please get in touch with the Awards department.
