Media Release
September 17 2008
UniSA promotes tomorrow’s women leaders in science
The
University of South Australia has just presented two new Postdoctoral
Fellowships for Women to support the development of early career
researchers with outstanding potential.
Announcing the inaugural recipients UniSA Pro Vice Chancellor Strategy and Planning, Professor Hilary Winchester says the aim of the Fellowships is to encourage women to continue to develop careers as researchers at UniSA’s key research institutes and centres.
“Investment in quality research and the quality researchers who undertake research is pivotal for both the University and the State,” Prof Winchester said.
“Women make up more than 50 per cent of the student population at UniSA and it is vital that we encourage our brightest and best to continue on to postgraduate studies and then make it possible for them to further their research in South Australia.
“These kinds of opportunities can make the difference between talented people staying in South Australia or leaving the state for better opportunities elsewhere.”
State Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education and Science and the Information Economy, Paul Caica, says the Fellowships are an important step forward for women in science in SA.
“We want to do all we can to harness the talents of high potential South Australians and to encourage the development of important local heroes and role models in education and science,” Minister Caica said.
“These UniSA Fellowships are a significant support to women in science and research and help to boost the intellectual capital of the state, by attracting and retaining great talent in SA.
“It also works in concert with other initiatives for SA including the foundation of the Australian Science Media Centre in Adelaide and our aim to develop a special Hypatia Centre to promote the interests of and opportunities for women in science in this state.”
The initiative gives career researchers an opportunity to undertake research and to focus on developing their research expertise at a critical point in their careers.
One fellowship is targeted at Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) researchers; the other to the broad research spectrum.
The two fellowships recipients are:
•
Dr Spomenka Simovic from the Ian Wark Research Institute awarded the
UniSA Hypatia Postdoctoral Fellowship for Women for female early career
researchers with outstanding potential to undertake research in the
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or medical areas. Dr
Simovic will be working on developing techniques to ensure the improved
absorption of drugs into the body for the treatment of a range of
serious illnesses include HIV-Aids, auto-immune conditions, and cancer.
• Dr Siobhan Banks who will commence with the Centre for Sleep Research in the next few months was awarded the UniSA Postdoctoral Fellowship for Women for female early career researchers with outstanding potential to undertake research which is aligned with the research mission of the University funded Research Institutes and Research Centres. Her work will examine relationships between diabetes and sleep.
The fellowships build on the UniSA's existing Hypatia Scholarships
for mathematically talented women aimed at girls completing year 12 and
the Hypatia fellowship demonstrates the University's strong and ongoing
commitment to supporting women in science at all stages of their
education.
Contacts for interview
- Minister Caica's office - Emma Cox mobile 0438 777 454
Media contact
-
Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673
email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au