ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & AWARDS FOR THE SRB 2020 MEETING
A highlight of the SRB conference includes our prestigious awards that recognise your important contributions to reproductive biology. In 2020, while the conference may not be proceeding as planned, SRB in conjunction with our sponsors, are delighted to be able to hold some of our award sessions virtually.
The award sessions for 2020 include the David Healy New Investigator Award (sponsored by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University), the Newcastle Reproduction Emerging Research Leader Award (sponsored by the Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Sciences at the University of Newcastle) and the ANZPRA New Investigator Award (sponsored by the Australian and New Zealand Placental Research Association).
The virtual awards sessions will be held on 8, 9 and 10 September and will run for approximately 2 hours each. The deadline for applications will be the 30th of June 2020 and we encourage all eligible SRB members to apply.
Selecting your category
When submitting, you need to nominate one of the following categories:
- Assisted Reproductive Technology - Stem Cells
- Gene regulation
- Growth factors / Cytokines / Immune System
- Male Reproductive tract
- Native/Exotic species biology
- Oocyte/blastocyst/embryo
- Ovary/Follicle Development/Corpus luteum
- Pituitary/Gonadal axis
- Pregnancy/Parturition/Placenta
- Receptors/Signal transduction
- Seasonality
- Spermatogenesis / Sperm function
- Uterus/Placenta/Implantation
Presentation Types
All applications must be in abstract format and made by June 30th 2020 via the ESA - SRB portal
All awards will be showcased virtually. Details on dates and how this will occur are to follow.
Submissions must include sufficient original data for the SRB Program Organising Committee to determine the scientific merit of the study. Selection of presentations will be determined by consensus of the program organising committee, and will be of the highest standard taking into consideration scientific quality and originality, as well as session themes.
Please note the following
Applicants can be an author on multiple abstracts but presenting author on only one.
Applicants can apply for all awards for which they are eligible. However, please note that each applicant will only be PLACED into one awards competition, such that if an applicant has SELECTED multiple award categories, the judging panel will decide the best category fit based on the content and overall ranking of the abstract. Therefore, if the applicant has a strong preference for a particular award, they are advised to select that category only.
On finalisation of the program, abstracts will be posted on the SRB website in PDF format. If you wish to withhold publication of your abstract - please indicate on the abstract submission
A PDF copy of the Conference Proceedings containing the abstracts will be made available to those who register to attend the conference (hard copies will not be distributed).
2020 SRB Awards
Applications are invited for the following awards. Applicants for student and post doctoral awards will be judged initially on the basis of their submitted abstract. Applicants will be informed of the session in which they are to present when acceptances of abstracts are sent out. In order to apply, simply tick the box at the relevant question during abstract submission and submit the appropriate eligibility and declaration of authorship form to the appropriate awards committee chair.
Before you submit your abstract, please fill out the SRB Awards Declaration form
Past unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply.
For early and mid-career researchers
2020 Newcastle Reproduction Emerging Research Leader Award
To recognize an emerging and excellent contributor working in the field of Reproductive Biology who is a member of the SRB. This highly contested award is conferred to an early career researcher for the best oral presentation, with consideration of the applicant’s track record. The quality of talks is always excellent and the distinction of this award is reflected by the outstanding careers of past winners. Recipients must be more than 2 years and up to 8 years** post-receipt of their Doctorate at 30th June 2020 and if shortlisted for the final, agree to present in a virtual SRB forum in the Newcastle Reproduction Award Session. ** Time away from research will be taken into account within the time limit, based on career disruption recognised as per NH&MRC guidelines. Applicants must be an SRB member at the time of the award session.
Criteria: The successful applicant will have demonstrated a substantial contribution to research in the field of Reproductive Biology relative to opportunity. Evidence of such contribution to be considered includes:
• Peer-Reviewed Publications
• National and International Awards
• National and International Invited Presentations
• Student supervision
• Grant Awards
• Commercial and/or clinical translation
• Institutional Responsibilities
• Service to profession
Award: $1000 cash prize
Application (due by 5 pm EST 30th June 2020):
(1) Curriculum vitae of up to 2 pages and 1 page Executive Summary addressing selection criteria (sent by applicant to Committee Chair), Applications that are more than 3 pages in total will not be accepted.
(2) Two letters of reference (suggested maximum of 2 pages each; sent from referee directly to Selection Committee Chair).
(3) Three finalists will be invited to present their research at the Newcastle Reproduction Emerging Research Leader symposium at the virtual SRB symposium.
Send all documents by email to: Dr Fiona Brownfoot, University of Melbourne, Fiona.brownfoot@unimelb.edu.au
The David Healy New Investigator Award
This award is given to the best oral presentation at SRB by an Honours, MSc, MD or Ph.D. student, or an early career researcher within 2 years of receiving their PhD award on 30th of June 2020.
Sponsored by the Monash University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in honour of the late Prof. David Healy, who was the Head of the Department and a great supporter of reproductive biology research for our young investigators.
Award: The winner will receive a $1000 cash prize and will travel to the UK to attend the 2020 SRF Annual Meeting.
Applicants must be an SRB member at the time of the award session.
Applicants must use the attached form to submit a 100 word statement describing their career stage (i.e. degrees and date of award) and progress toward PhD or beyond and listing each author(s) contribution to the work to be presented. This statement must be signed by all authors and emailed to Dr Fiona Brownfoot, University of Melbourne, Fiona.brownfoot@unimelb.edu.au before the close of abstract submissions on 30th of June 2020.
ANZPRA New Investigator Award
This award is given to a presenting author who is a current ANZPRA member for the best oral by an Honours, MSc, MD or PhD. student or an early career researcher within 2 years of receiving their PhD award on June 30, 2020. The applicants research for this award must be focused on placental biology.
Applicants must be current members of the Society for Reproductive Biology and ANZPRA. A short list of applicants will be selected from the submitted abstracts to present in the dedicated ANZPRA Emerging Investigator Award session.
Award: $500 cash prize
Applicants must use the attached form to submit a 100 word statement describing their career stage (i.e. degrees and date of award) and progress toward PhD or beyond and listing each author(s) contribution to the work to be presented. This statement must be signed by all authors and emailed to Dr Fiona Brownfoot, University of Melbourne, Fiona.brownfoot@unimelb.edu.au before the close of abstract submissions on the 30th of June 2020.
ANZPRA - Australian and New Zealand Placental Research Association
Please see the ANZPRA website here.
SRB Awards not available for 2020
SRB-RFD publication of the year award
Nominations are now open for the inaugural SRB-RFD publication of the year award. If you are the first or last author of a paper published in Reproduction, Fertility and Development over the past 18 months, and are a current SRB member, then we invite you to nominate your publication for consideration for this award. Please email the SRB secretary with the full paper reference and a brief paragraph outlining the major findings of the work and how each author contributed to the paper (noting which authors are SRB members). Please see the guidelines below for further information. We look forward to receiving your nominations!
RFD-SRB Publication of the Year Guidelines
This prize shall be awarded to the best research publication by an SRB author in Reproduction, Fertility and Development each year.
Papers with an SRB member as first or last author (or both) shall qualify.
The author must have been an SRB member for at least 6 months at the time of nomination.
The award has no monetary value.
To be entered into the award papers must be nominated by the authors themselves. A call for nominations will go out in April each year, and close on the 1st of June. The prize will be awarded at the SRB annual conference. Papers must be published online by the nomination deadline to qualify in a particular award year.
To be eligible for nominations, papers published (including available as early editions online) over the preceding 18 months before the 1st June deadline shall be considered.
SRB Student Travel Grants
All students who are financial members or who have applied to be members are eligible to apply for travel grants to attend the Annual Scientific Conference. For eligibility requirements and to apply, please print out a copy of the application form and send it together with a copy of your abstract to the Treasurer by June 07
Value of Student Travel Awards:
Adelaide $250
Brisbane $250
Cairns $450
Hobart $250
Melbourne $250
Perth $600
Townsville $400
New Zealand (AUD) $450
All recipients MUST have attended the conference AND submitted an application with their abstract to the Treasurer to be eligible.
Payments will be arranged by bank transfer to the awardees account after the conclusion of the meeting. No further claims will be processed after December 1 2019.
Applications should be sent to:
Dr Jane Girling
Department of Anatomy
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
Email: SRBTreasurer@gmail.com
Phone: +64 3 479 7346
SRB Early Career Research Registration Subsidies
SRB are providing registration subsidies ($400) for early career researchers attending the next ESA/SRB Annual Scientific Meeting.
Applicants must:
• Be a current member of SRB.
• Have had your PhD thesis accepted.
• Be within 8 years post-receipt of your doctorate.
• Be attending the conference and presenting an abstract.
• Be present in person at the ECR meeting held at the conference to accept the subsidy.
All early career researchers who are financial members or who have applied to be members are eligible to apply for registration subsidies to attend the Annual Scientific Conference.
Payments will be arranged by bank transfer to the awardees account after the conclusion of the meeting. No further claims will be processed after December 1st 2019. Applications should be sent to:
Dr Jane Girling
Department of Anatomy
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
Email: SRBTreasurer@gmail.com
Phone: +64 3 479 7346
For early and mid-career researchers
The Robinson Research Institute Award for Excellence in Reproductive Biology Research - not available 2020
To recognize an excellent contributor working in the field of Reproductive Biology who is a member of the SRB. This outstanding award is conferred to an established researcher and in the past has been won some of our most outstanding leaders in reproductive biology. This award is based on the candidate’s overall research career excellence. Recipients must be less than 15 years post-receipt of their Doctorate at 17 May and agree to attend and present at the 2018 SRB annual meeting if application is successful. Time away from research will be taken into account within the time limit, based on career disruption recognised as per NH&MRC guidelines. Applicants must have been an SRB member for at least 6 months prior 17 May.
Criteria: The successful applicant will have demonstrated a substantial and sustained contribution to research in the field of Reproductive Biology. Evidence of such contribution to be considered includes:
• Peer-Reviewed Publications
• National and International Awards
• National and International Invited Presentations
• Student Completions
• Grant Awards
• Commercial and/or clinical translation
• Institutional Responsibilities
• Service to profession
Award: $3000 cash prize announced at the Society for Reproductive Biology meeting, and on SRB website and in Annual Conference Proceedings
Application :
(1) Curriculum vitae of up to 3 pages and 1 page Executive Summary addressing selection criteria (sent by applicant to Committee Chair). Applications that are more than 4 pages in total will not be accepted.
(2) Two letters of reference (suggested maximum of 2 pages each; sent from referee directly to Selection Committee Chair). Excess cv and Executive Summary pages will be discarded.
(3) Winner will be invited to present their research at the SRB RCRH symposium at the 2018 SRB Annual Meeting.
Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research 'Award for Excellence' for best ECR and MCR posters - not available 2020
Two awards are given to presenting authors who are SRB delegates for the best poster presentations in reproductive biology.
SRB early-career poster Award (students and postdocs up to 2 years on June 07)
SRB mid-career poster Award (from 2 years up to 10 years postdoc, on June 07)
Award: $500 cash prize announced at the Annual Dinner of the Society for Reproductive Biology meeting.
For PhD/MD Students (2nd year and above) and PhD/MD Graduates: Applicants must be SRB members for at least 6 months prior to June 07.
For Honours students, MSc students and 1st year PhD students: Applicants must be SRB members at the time of submission of the application.
Applicants must submit a 100 word statement describing their career stage (i.e. degrees and date of award) and progress toward PhD or beyond and listing each author(s) contribution to the work to be presented. Only applicants who are chosen for SRB poster presentations will remain eligible for these awards.
For students and new post doctoral researchers
The Oozoa Student Award - Not available for 2020
One award is given to a presenting author who is a current SRB member for the best presentation, either oral or poster, by an Honours, MSc, MD or Ph.D. student (pre-award of MSc, MD or PhD on June 1), working on gametes (oocytes or sperm).
Applicants must indicate their wish to be considered for the award and submit the declaration form indicating your career stage and declaring your contribution to the presented work.
Award: $500 cash prize announced at the Annual Dinner of the Society for Reproductive Biology meeting.
For PhD/MD Students (2nd year and above) and PhD/MD Graduates: Applicants must be SRB members for at least 6 months prior to June 07.
For Honours students, MSc students and 1st year PhD students: Applicants must be SRB members at the time of submission of the application.
Applicants must submit a 100 word statement describing their career stage (i.e. degrees and date of award) and progress toward PhD or beyond and listing each author(s) contribution to the work to be presented.