Applications are now being called for election to the status of ‘Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology’, 2024.
This is a prestigious award that enhances the standing of both recipient and the Society, and has been created to recognise the high standing of certain SRB members in the reproductive biology community.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with the ‘Specifications for Fellows of the Society for Reproductive Biology’ and applications should follow the format detailed below. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF to tessa.lord@newcastle.edu.au by close of business on Friday 24 May 2024. No late applications will be considered. If you do not receive an acknowledgment that your application has been safely received within two working days of submission, contact Tessa Lord. All applications are reviewed by six senior SRB members and successful applicants will be announced and profiled via social media in 2024. Fellows will also be further recognised and presented to the society at the Conference Dinner during the Annual Meeting.
For all enquiries, contact:
Tessa Lord, Tessa.Lord@newcastle.edu.au
Brett Nixon, Brett.Nixon@newcastle.edu.au
Applicants should demonstrate their high standing in the reproductive biology community by responding to the following criteria:
1. Internationally recognized leader in one or more dimensions of reproductive biology
2. A minimum of 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals in the broad field of reproductive biology (or fewer, high profile and high impact publications, or strong commercial research-based application of reproductive biology)
3. Significant success in gaining competitive funds to support research
4. Financial membership of the Society for Reproductive Biology for at least the last five years. Please note only long-term members of SRB itself are considered for Fellows, joint membership via SSR or SRF or membership of societies we share conferences with, such as ESA, APEG, NZSE are not considered in the 5-year rule.
5. Substantial contribution to the broad field of reproductive biology in Australia/New Zealand
6. PhD or equivalent degree obtained at least 16 years ago (unless outstanding exceptions can be demonstrated)
Applications are to include the following components, in the order listed:
Brief cover letter summarizing the application (maximum one page)
Statement addressing the selection criteria (maximum three pages)
List of most important publications and brief description/metrics confirming impact of findings (maximum two pages)
Names and email addresses of three referees who can attest to the applicant’s standing relative to criteria described above
Biography (maximum 100 words) to be uploaded to the SRB website if application is successful
Photo for use on SRB website if application is successful
Applications from gender and culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged
Specification for Fellows of the Society for Reproductive Biology.
Rationale:
As scientists, we are being increasingly assessed in multiple ways for our productivity, our level of peer esteem and our contributions to our discipline. The creation of the status of Fellow of the Society of Reproductive Biology, along with the publication of the criteria, will enable the Society to assist its members in demonstrating their standing in reproductive biology and will also provide motivation for members to continue their association with the Society. This is intended to be a prestigious award that enhances the standing of both recipient and the Society.
Purpose:
This is an opportunity for the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB) to provide an acknowledgement, to certain of its members, of their high standing in the reproductive biology community, as determined by their peers.
To allow members to demonstrate their affiliation with their/our professional body (SRB) and to leverage that affiliation for their benefit.
To provide motivation for mid-career and more senior researchers to retain/seek membership of the Society.
Criteria for the status of Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology
Applicants must demonstrate that they have amassed a significant portfolio of contributions to reproductive biology. This portfolio will be evidenced by the following:
Fellows will be internationally recognised leaders in one or more dimensions of reproductive biology and this will be demonstrated by factors such as invitations to present at international conferences, leadership roles in international and national reproductive biology organisations, and similar contributions.
Apart from in exceptional circumstances, applicants will have no less than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals in the broad field of reproductive biology. (Exceptional circumstances, are not limited to, but might include, a smaller number of high profile or high impact publications or where an applicant can demonstrate a particularly strong role in the teaching and a slightly reduced number of publications, or a strong commercial research-based application of reproductive biology, with a slightly reduced number of publications).
Applicants will be able to demonstrate that they have been able to attract significant funding for their research.
Applicants must be financial member of the Society for Reproductive Biology of no less than five years standing. In order to retain the status of Fellow, the Fellow must remain a financial member of the Society for Reproductive Biology.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate a substantial contribution to the broad field of reproductive biology in our region, including the mentoring and training of reproductive biologists in Australia and New Zealand or in our neighbouring countries.
Except in special circumstances, those members applying for the status of Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology will hold a PhD or equivalent research degree. Members will usually become eligible to apply for the status of Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology 16 or more years after completing their PhD or equivalent senior tertiary degree.
There will be no monetary award associated with the status of Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology.
Assessment process
Applications for election to the status of Fellow of the Society of Reproductive Biology shall be considered annually and must be lodged with the Fellowship Committee by the 14th of June (31st of July for 2020) or the last working day preceding the 14th of June
Members who are in good financial standing and who have been financial members of the Society for Reproductive Biology for at least five years shall be able to apply for status as a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology.
The Council of the Society for Reproductive Biology shall appoint a Fellowship Committee to assess applications from members to become Fellows of the Society. The Fellowship Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, who will be a member of the Council of the Society, and of five additional senior members of the Society.
Applicants will present to the Fellowship Committee a portfolio of evidence demonstrating that they meet the specified criteria.
Upon application from a member for Fellowship status, supported by the relevant documentation, the Fellowship Committee will seek references from a member (or Fellow) of the Society for Reproductive Biology and from a person of high standing in the international scientific community with an interest and expertise in the specific research field(s) of the Fellow. These referees shall be asked to attest to the international standing of the applicant in the field. The applicant may suggest potential referees, as well as identifying researchers who would be unsuitable as referees (with justification), although the Fellowship Committee shall not be bound by the recommendations of the applicant.
At least one week prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, the Chair of the Fellowship Committee shall advise the Secretary and President of the Society for Reproductive Biology of the outcome of applications for the status of Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology.
If the Fellowship Committee assesses the member as meeting the criteria specified for Fellowship of the Society for Reproductive Biology, the President of the Society for Reproductive Biology shall announce the name(s) of the successful applicant(s) to the Society at the annual conference dinner. The names of Fellows will be recorded, retrospectively, in the minutes of the Annual General Meeting and published on the Society’s Website.
Those members who by recommendation of the Fellowship Committee attain the status of Fellow of the Society of Reproductive Biology shall be entitled, while they remain financial or Life-time members of the Society, to use the title Fellow of the Society of Reproductive Biology and the initials FSRB, to denote their status.
2023 Guidelines for Nominating Life Members of the Society for Reproductive Biology
The Society for Reproductive Biology acknowledges the enormous contribution that individuals have made to the field of reproductive biology throughout their distinguished careers by awarding them Life Membership to the Society. This category of membership is for those members who are retired or about to retire.
The SRB Council is requesting members to nominate senior members for consideration of Life Membership. Nominees must demonstrate that they have made:
1. Significant contributions to the Society over a substantial period of time, and
2. Major contributions to the Science of our Discipline, and
3. Major contributions to our Discipline in other ways.
Nomination may be made by any current member of SRB, to be seconded by another current SRB member, and accepted by the nominee.
Nomination is to be formalised via submission of the following:
(i) 'Nomination for Life Membership of the Society for Reproductive Biology' form
(ii) One paragraph (200 word) statement addressing the eligibility criteria
(iii) At least two additional supporting letters
(iv) Up-to-date CV of the nominee
(v) 100-150 word biography and photo (for inclusion on the SRB Website if successful).
All materials are to be provided in PDF format as a single document and sent to Tessa Lord (Tessa.Lord@newcastle.edu.au) by 5 pm, Friday 22nd September 2023. No late applications will be considered.
Nominations will be accepted annually and the decision to award Life Membership will be made by the Council. Successful candidates will be announced and profiled via social media in 2024. Life members will also be further recognised and presented to the society at the Conference Dinner during the Annual Meeting in 2023.
For all enquiries, contact:
Tessa Lord (Tessa.Lord@newcastle.edu.au)