Unlocking the potential of our members: awardees announced

29 September 2022

We recently launched our first fundraising initiative for members who may require support for a variety of reasons, to help them to progress and reach their full career potential.

The Unlocking Potential Grant will support the career development of promising early and mid-career microbiologists through the development of their transferrable skills. In addition to mentoring support and expansion of leadership skills, we would like to offer coaching to the recipients of the grant to support their needs, primarily focused on resilience and empowerment.

We are delighted to announce the members of the very first Unlocking Potential cohort:

• Anne Wyllie (Yale University, USA)
• Donal McGee (AlgaeCytes Ltd, UK)
• Helen Brown (Cardiff University, UK)
• Ioly Kotta-Loizou (Imperial College London, UK)
• Jing Cui (University College London, UK)
• Kirsty Jones (Staffordshire University, UK)
• Sariqa Wagley (University of Exeter, UK)
• Sophie Nixon (University of Manchester, UK)
• Tamar Schwartz (University College London, UK)
• Victorien Dougnon (University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin)

We will be sharing the journeys of some of our recipients over the coming months on our blog.

“This is wonderful news – thank you all so much. I am very excited about the opportunities this presents – both for my own personal/professional development, but the opportunities discussed during the interview and being able to be involved with the broader programming surrounding this initiative.”
- Anne Wyllie

“I read this at the weekend, and it has brought me much Joy. I am looking forward to hearing from the career consultant and excited for doing this bit of self-work. I really think I will benefit from it.”
- Sariqa Wagley

“I am very excited to be offered this opportunity and I am looking forward to meeting with the careers consultant.”
- Ioly Kotta-Loizou

To donate to the Unlocking Potential Fund to support early- and mid-career microbiologists like these, please visit microbiologysociety.org/unlockingpotentialfund.