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Professor Grigoris Amoutzias has been a faculty member at the University of Thessaly, Greece, since 2010, working on the evolution and comparative genomics of bacteria and viruses and more. Professor Amoutzias chose to support the Unlocking Potential Fund by donating in order to help our most promising scientists during the current challenging times.

Though not a member himself, Professor Amoutzias learned about the Unlocking Potential Fund through his PhD supervisor, lifelong mentor, and active Microbiology Society Member, Professor Stephen G. Oliver.

Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott, President of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) and former President of the Microbiology Society, chose to donate to the Unlocking Potential Fund to support early career microbiologists overcome personal circumstances and become more active in their community.

Lindsay Hall has been a member of the Society since 2003. Lindsay chose to donate to the Unlocking Potential Fund because she wants to help early and mid-career microbiologists during these difficult times when opportunities are reduced, and researchers are needing more support.

This year, the Microbiology Society launched its first fundraising initiative for early and mid-career members who may require support for a variety of reasons, in order to help them to progress and to reach their full career potential. So far, the fund has generated nearly £6,000.

Craig Watkins is a longstanding member. He knows how difficult the early stages of a science career can be and how the uncertainty of short-term contracts, along with dealing with the realities of everyday life, can be tough. This is why Craig chose to donate to the Unlocking Potential Fund.

Dr Martin Cole joined the Society in the 1961. He has always been a keen advocate of microbiology research as a profession and would like to support those in the early stages of their careers to help them progress which is why he donated to the Unlocking Potential Fund.

“Along with music, science was the passion of my father's life, in particular microbiology. It satisfied his appetite for intellectual discovery and contributing to social progress. He would have been delighted to know his bequest to the Microbiology Society is supporting talented young scientists, just as he was helped in various ways at the start of his career.”