Microbiology Society launches its first fundraising initiative

06 May 2021

Our members have a unique depth and breadth of knowledge about microbiology. The Society’s role is to help unlock and harness the potential of that knowledge. At the Society we hear feedback that our members can face barriers to career progression for a variety of reasons. To help, we are fundraising for a new grant, giving our members access to specialist support to help unlock their potential.

Everyone faces a career challenge at some stage – even knowing which career step to take next can be difficult to navigate. We may suffer from imposter syndrome or lack confidence. We may face a deep-rooted and fundamental problem like discrimination; we may need support to overcome a change in circumstances or we may just need someone to point us in the right direction.

Overcoming these issues requires a variety of routes to the right support. It may be in the form of a careers coach, resilience expert or mentor, or it may be a career development package. Whatever form it takes, it will be tailored to the grant recipient and unique to their needs.

At the Society, we want to provide a new grant opportunity for this unique level of bespoke support – known as the Unlocking Potential Grant.

To do this we need the help of our community. We are fundraising to allow us to open this important new grant stream. It is only with your support that we will be able to provide this level of bespoke support. In doing so, we will help not only to sustain microbiology but develop future leaders, who might in turn one day provide solutions to global challenges.

To find out more about the grant and to donate to the campaign which will fund it, go to microbiologysociety.org/UnlockingPotentialFund.

Watch our President, Professor Judith Armitage FRS, talking about the project and some of the challenges she has faced during her career.