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Information for applicants

The Bertha Condron FeMS Inspiration Award is given to female mass spectrometrists showing great potential for a productive, exciting career. In 2023, this award will be given to an “unsung hero” of mass spectrometry, someone who is working in a support role in the field (i.e., at the technician or lab assistant level).

Bertha Condron (1911-1988) was born in an era when few opportunities for education and career were afforded to women. Despite hardship, she dedicated decades of her life to charity work and was an inspirational role model to her children and grandchildren.

This award is given in Bertha’s name to honor her and the many females in history whose stories inspire the success of future generations.

Award amount: $500 USD

Key dates round

● Award open 29-05-2023
● Award close 26-06-2023
● Announcement Early August 2023

Key requirements & eligibility
This award is open to women working in a support role within the field of mass spectrometry (i.e., at the technician or lab assistant level). Applicants can be self-nominated or nominated
on behalf of another person. Only a single nomination per applicant can be received.

Selection criteria
The nomination should meet one or more of the following selection criteria:
● A high and continued level of service to the discipline of mass spectrometry
● Development of a new tool or novel application that provides tangible value to their workplace/discipline
● Demonstrated leadership excellence within their institution/workplace

Nomination process
Applications will be submitted online and consist of the following:

1. A cover letter detailing the achievements of the nominee, including their current position and how they meet the selection criteria (max 2 pages)
2. If self-nominated, a reference letter in support of the nominee (max 1 page).
   

  Only a single nomination can be received per applicant. The nominator should contact the nominee prior to submitting their application to ensure that only one nomination is being submitted on their behalf. Applications that do not adhere to the page limits will not be considered for the award.

Click here to apply!

Application submission tips
When addressing selection criteria try to avoid broad statements and instead provide specific examples including impact. Consider using the CAR approach – context, action and result.

Assessment process
● Applications for the Bertha Condron award will be assessed by the FeMS awards committee. Current committee members include:

○ Thusi Rupasinghe, Sciex, Australia (Co-chair)
○ Sarah Hancock, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Australia (Co-chair)
○ Caroline Géhin, University of Manchester, UK
○ Maia Kelly, in transition (USA)
○ Stacy Malaker, Yale University, USA
○ Yasaman Jami, Pfizer, Massachusetts, USA
○ Karolina Sulek, Steno Diabetes Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
○ Lisa David, in transition, USA
○ Chelsea Lin, University of Washington, USA
○ Mohammed AlHigaylan, University of Toronto Canada
○ Silvia Radenkovic, Mayo Clinic USA

● Assessors must declare any potential conflicts of interest to the FeMS awards committee during the assessment process. Where a conflict of interest is apparent the assessor will not review that application.

● If a large number of applications are received other FeMS committee members & members of our scientific and industry advisory boards may be asked to assess applications. Current FeMS committee members and both scientific and industry advisory board members can be viewed on the FeMS website.

Past Recipients

Marta Sans is a CPRIT TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center, recently having completing her graduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin. During her time at UT Austin, Marta rose to be an outstanding leader in the Eberlin lab. She mastered the skills necessary to tackle challenging experimental obstacles and perform research with excellence. She has also taught, trained and mentored many other students.

Marta’s translational research is motivated towards the development of novel mass spectrometry technologies to improve and expedite detection and diagnosis of human cancer. In particular, Marta has been developing and applying ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging techniques to investigate metabolic signatures of ovarian cancers, with the ultimate goal of translating these technologies to the clinic for routine use.