Prize Lecture winners 2019
06 November 2018
The Microbiology Society is pleased to announce the winners of our 2019 Prizes, which will be awarded at our Annual Conference, to be held from 8–11 April at the ICC Belfast, UK. The winners will also present their lectures at the Annual Conference.
The Microbiology Society’s Prizes recognise excellence and are awarded to those making significant contributions in the field of microbiology, based on nominations received from the membership.
Prize Medal
The 2019 Microbiology Society Prize Medal is awarded to Professor Jennifer Doudna ForMemRS, from the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Doudna is best known for her fundamental work on CRISPR–Cas systems – used by bacteria and archaea as adaptive immunity against foreign genetic elements.
The Prize Medal is awarded to an outstanding microbiologist who is a global leader in their field and whose work has had a far-reaching impact beyond the discipline of microbiology. The recipient is awarded their engraved medal and £1,000 at the Society’s Annual Conference.
Marjory Stephenson Prize
The 2019 Marjory Stephenson Prize is awarded to Professor Gordon Dougan FRS, from the University of Cambridge. Professor Dougan has made contributions to the field of microbiology throughout his career, thanks to his use of pioneering technologies to solve microbial problems. With work spanning vaccine development and genome sequencing he has made a lasting contribution to the understanding of some of world’s most problematic pathogens.
He said of the award “I am honoured to be invited to present this year’s Marjory Stephenson Lecture. One of the things I have enjoyed most during my career has been the opportunity to help young scientists and clinicians develop their careers in the field and beyond. I will use this lecture to highlight the work of some of these individuals.”
The Marjory Stephenson Prize is named after Society founding member and former President Marjory Stephenson. The Prize is awarded to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the discipline of microbiology. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
Fleming Prize
The 2019 Fleming Prize is awarded to Associate Professor Peter Fineran from the University of Otago, New Zealand. His research aims to understand the interactions between mobile genetic elements, such as bacteriophages and plasmids, and their bacterial hosts. His main focus is on bacterial defence mechanisms, particularly the CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems and innate abortive infection/toxin-antitoxin systems.
He said of the award: “I was really delighted and honoured to get the news that I will receive the Fleming Prize. I am now based in NZ, but I undertook my PhD and post-doc training in the UK. I would like to thank the Microbiology Society for the award and particularly the University of Otago for their support. Research is a such team effort, so I want to acknowledge many talented lab members and collaborators – past and present.”
The Fleming Prize is named after Sir Alexander Fleming, founder and first President of the Microbiology Society, then named the Society for General Microbiology (1945–1947), and is awarded to an early career researcher who has achieved an outstanding research record. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
Peter Wildy Prize
The 2019 Peter Wildy Prize is awarded to Professor Laura Bowater from the University of East Anglia. Laura is a committed science communicator who has engaged with a wide variety of audiences using different media and activities to raise awareness about the role of microbiology in today's society. Laura is especially committed to raising public awareness of the growing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance.
She said of the award: “I am absolutely delighted to have been successfully nominated for the Peter Wildy award. To be recognised by my peers for the work that I have undertaken to raise awareness of microbiology and antimicrobial resistance, is a huge and unexpected, honour. I would like to thank my friends and colleagues from the University of East Anglia, the Microbiology Society and the wider microbiology community for all their encouragement and support.”
The Peter Wildy Prize is named after distinguished virologist and much-loved teacher Peter Wildy, who was president of the Society from 1978 to 1981, and is awarded for outstanding contributions to microbiology education or the communication of microbiology to the public. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
The Microbiology Society’s Annual Conference 2019 will be held at the ICC Belfast, UK, from Monday 8 April – Thursday 11 April. To view our extensive programme and register, please visit the event’s website. To find out more about our Prize Lectures, visit the Prize Lectures page.
