Just in time for International Women's Day, the Hunter Medical Research Institute has launched a new fellowships initiative aimed at female scientists.
The scheme includes a research support grant, along with secured salary, to help sustain the recipient’s own research project.
HMRI say it could lead to further research grants, government funding and commercialisation opportunities.
Companies, foundations and individual donors are encouraged to contribute to the funding pool, which supports female fellowships over three, five or 10 years.
Female researchers often spend valuable time applying for grants, while a fellowship guarantees funding, allowing scientific leaps forward.
HMRI Director, Professor Michael Nilsson said women tend to drain out of the academic system around the mid-point of their careers, causing a lot of intellectual capital to be wasted.
"...It's particularly so for women - of course, we have exceptionally talented scientists in that bracket," he said, but they are maybe even more at risk during this period for not attracting continuous funding.
"It's quite often the career phase when children are coming and families are established.
Professor Nilsson said female HMRI researchers face significant career barriers.
"There aren't many opportunities to secure long-term funding in that vulnerable phase...so I would say maybe it's not a glass ceiling, it's actually that they're sinking, without finding ways to sustain their career. "
To donate to the fellowship fund, head to the HMRI website or contact HMRI Donor Relations on (02) 4042 1000.
