Talented early career scientists at The Pirbright Institute are celebrating new horizons.
Researchers Dr Tim Harvey-Samuel and Dr Christine Reitmayer were supported by Pirbright to transition from Senior Postdoctoral positions to their first independent positions at Keele University.
Their experience led Pirbright to introduce Strategic Career Development Awards (SCDAs), designed to assist early career researchers to advance their own strategically important science projects whilst honing their competitiveness for Fellowship schemes or lectureship positions.
The Institute’s first recipients are Dr Priscilla Tng, a specialist in the African Swine Fever Vaccinology group, and Dr Vishi Reddy, an avian immunology researcher who is also about to move in to a post at Keele.
Dr Tng said: “I am both delighted and grateful for the SCDA, which offers me the chance to delve into my research interest - host interactions with the African swine fever virus (ASFV) at the tissue and organ level. The insights garnered on host responses to ASFV will help shape future control strategies.”
Dr Reddy said: “I was very pleased to be the recipient of funding that really helped me to progress my career. I joined Pirbright as a Postdoctoral Scientist in 2016, and this award enabled me to expand my own research on avian viruses and provided outside organisations with clear evidence of my potential.”
Professor John Hammond, Director of Research at The Pirbright Institute, said: “We’re delighted to help further the careers of highly talented scientists through our Strategic Career Development Awards. These three-year awards – part of our career development pathway – help researchers initiate and drive their own research programmes, providing support during the often-challenging period in a scientific career between postdoc and independent scientist.
“With targeted mentorship, training and support, the focus is on progressing and developing towards independence. The SCDA can be used to consolidate or extend previous work when it fills a strategic scientific need for the Institute and helps to generate preliminary data for publications and follow-on external funding applications. By recognising talent early, we hope this award will help retain and develop skilled scientists within the UK academic research community.”
Pirbright’s innovative fundamental and applied bioscience contributes to global food security and health, improving quality of life for animals and people.
The Institute is committed to training and career development, as well as equality and diversity, creating a welcoming environment for all prospective employees.
For further information on Pirbright careers, visit our current vacancies webpage.