Robin B. Gasser Award for early career academics

Next submission deadline: 30 June 2024

Purpose

• SSTMP aims to promote and facilitate interactions between colleagues, peers and/or partners; communicate scientific achievements; and create professional development opportunities.
• This call is particularly addressed to recent doctoral graduates and early career postdoctoral fellows who are aspiring for an academic career in an advanced area of Parasitology.
• This award provides funding assistance for SSTMP members to undertake relevant travel and research. This may include exchanges between laboratories (up to a year) and professional training courses (including the Concepts in Parasitology Course of the Australian Society for Parasitology).
• This award scheme does not support travel to attend conferences per se, but awardees are encouraged to actively take part (i.e. attend) in the Annual Conference of the Australian Society for Parasitology and become members of the Swiss Australian Academic Network.
• Through the Robin B. Gasser Award, SSTMP provides funds towards travel, accommodation and subsistence covering a max. of CHF 4,500.
• It is expected that the collaborating laboratories will cover the costs for the research itself.

Submission guidelines

1. Applicants must be current members of SSTMP and current employees or students in a Swiss institution engaged in Parasitology research and education.
2. Students must be full-time postgraduate students who have been enrolled in a recognised Swiss University, whose candidature has been confirmed and whose programme is at an advanced stage.
3. Applicants need approval from their supervisor(s) and institution in Switzerland as well as the host supervisor(s) or mentor(s) and institutions in Australia for their planned travel and must adhere to the respective institutions’ travel policies.
4. Applications for funding must be received by the award committee prior to the applicant commencing the travel.
5. Applicants must submit a document clearly defining the plan and the purpose of the travel, together with a convincing justification of the benefits to the individual, their project, their future pathway in the discipline of Parasitology, and to the SSTMP.
6. Applications must be submitted by completing the application form together with all requested supporting documentation, and will be assessed by an award committee – established by the SSTMP board.
7. In each round, the selection committee will select the most meritorious application by an eligible Early Career Academic (ECA).
8. Check SSTMP website for application deadlines.
9. Applicants must list the actual or estimated costs, including travel and/or accommodation. Research maintenance costs, bench fees and institutional overheads or other costs will not be funded.
10. The amount of assistance to be provided will depend on the number of worthy applications received each year, with due regard to the budget limitations of the fund and previous history of funding of any individual. Awards will be max. CHF 4,500.
11. Applicants need to complete the exchange/training before they are awarded SSTMP grant money. Payment will be made upon receipt of a tax invoice or receipts. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to keep records (including all relevant receipts) of the expenses paid from the SSTMP grant.
12. If the awarded exchange or training does not occur, then the SSTMP grant will be rescinded, and any funds that have already been paid will have to be paid back to the Society.
13. SSTMP is not responsible for costs incurred due to disruption of travel due to an outbreak of an epidemic/pandemic or similar disaster or where governmental travel restrictions apply due to an epidemic/pandemic, political unrest or other reason(s). The SSTMP grant cannot be used for costs resulting from such restrictions. For example, the SSTMP grant cannot be used for travel insurance costs, health costs, cost of cancellation, re-booking or extension of travel, additional accommodation, extra meals or for the costs of mandatory quarantine.
14. Applicants are strongly encouraged to also seek funds from other sources, such as the Swiss National Science Foundation, wherever possible, to complement the Robin B. Gasser Award. While the SSTMP will provide funds towards travel, accommodation and subsistence, it is expected that the collaborating laboratories will cover the costs for the research itself.
15. Successful applicants are expected to promote the SSTMP during their activities; this includes using the SSTMP logo on presentations, and acknowledging the SSTMP support in any publications or talks resulting from the funded activity. Logos and wording to acknowledge the SSTMP support will be supplied to awardees.
16. Successful applicants are under an obligation to report back to the SSTMP, with a written report to the SSTMP Secretary, within one month of completion of the proposed program. The written report will contain: (i) name of researcher; (ii) outcomes linked to the program (e.g., publications, reports, new collaborations or new lines of enquiry resulting from the program, grant applications, new skills developed, prospects for employment, grant or fellowship applications submitted, etc.); (iii) a brief financial report (including receipts). The length of this report should not exceed two pages. The information may be used on the SSTMP website and newsletter. Failure to provide a report within one month of completion of the approved exchange/training programme will result in an obligation to pay back the award funds to SSTMP.