Co-sponsored by FeMS and Agilent.

Application for the 2023 Agilent Darlene Solomon Award is now closed. Congratulations to the winner! 

Thank you for the generous support from Agilent!

• Applications open: 3rd October, 2022
• Applications closed: 2nd December, 2022
• Award notification: early-to-mid January, 2023
• Award presentation: at International Singapore Lipid Symposium (iSLS), 21st-23rd March 2023.

• Award Details:
  • Provide grant money to attend the 11th International Singapore Lipid Symposium that is co-sponsored by Agilent and/or FeMS. Application is open to scientists in the field of mass spectrometry, who identify as women.
  • The awardee is expected to attend the International Singapore Lipid Symposium (iSLS) for lipidomic-focused workshops (March 21-23, 2023).
  • The scientist will also get an opportunity to spend time at the Agilent Global Solutions Development Center in Singapore, at the state-of-the-art facility alongside a senior Agilent scientist to gain hands-on experience with Agilent’s products and workflows serving life sciences and applied market space. In addition, the awardee will get an opportunity to engage with key female leaders within Agilent to gain coaching and career advice.
  • This award is designed as an opportunity for junior scientists who can benefit from cutting-edge research in lipidomics, systems biology, or clinical research and looking to gain more exposure to the industry-leading technologies in this space.
  • Award amount: up to $5,000 USD.

Key Requirements/Eligibility to Enter Applications

1. Scientists in early career roles such as post-docs or those currently studying in the fields of in lipidomics, systems biology, or clinical research. For the purposes of this award, we consider an early career role to be one held within 10 years of receiving the highest relevant qualification in these fields (minus time for career disruptions such as pregnancy, major illness/injury or career responsibilities).
2. Must have a valid passport to obtain a visa and make travel arrangements for travel to Singapore.
3. Be willing to participate in agreed-upon PR activities e.g.: Agilent interviews on the experience.

Nomination Process

1. The application period is from October 3rd to December 2nd, 2022 (UTC-12:00)
2. Only self-nominations are accepted
3. Applications should be submitted online
   Applicants will be asked to include the following in their submission:
   • If currently studying, the level of study being undertaken and expected date of completion.
   • If employed in an early career role, proof of when their highest qualification was received. A description of any career interruptions should also be provided if qualifications were received more than 10 years ago.
   • A personal statement describing how they expect to use mass spectrometry in their career, and how this experience will help them develop in their career (250-word limit)
   • One reference letter

Agilent Award Committee: David Bradley

FeMS Award Committee: Anne Bendt, Sarah Hancock, and other FeMS Award Committee members.

About Darlene Solomon, Ph.D

Darlene Solomon is senior vice president and chief technology officer for Agilent Technologies. Her responsibilities include Agilent Research Laboratories which focuses on high impact, longer range research in support of Agilent’s sustained business growth, and Agilent’s programs in university relations, external research and venture investment. In her leadership role, she works closely with Agilent’s businesses to define the company’s technology strategy and R&D priorities. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Stanford University and a doctorate in bioinorganic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and she completed Stanford University’s Executive Development Program.

About Agilent

Agilent is a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. Now in its 20th year as an independent company delivering insight and innovation toward improving the quality of life, Agilent instruments, software, services, solutions, and people provide trusted answers to customers’ most challenging questions. The company generated revenue of $5.16 billion in fiscal 2019 and employs 16,300 people worldwide. More information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.

About FeMS

Females in Mass Spectrometry (FeMS) is a community-led initiative to create a network of support for women in the field of mass spectrometry. Our goal is to bring together, encourage, empower and facilitate visibility of women in mass spectrometry – and to create connectivity between all members of the mass spectrometry community.
We strive to engage our entire community: women in mass spectrometry and their supporters – to hear and learn from all perspectives. As a global initiative FeMS supports all related events where women working the MS field gather. More information and resources can be found at https://femalesinms.com/.

Past Recipients

Federica Fiorini is an associate researcher in metabolomics, bioinformatics and nanomaterials chemistry at the Institut de Biologie et Pathologie, CHU Grenoble Alpes. The award was presented at a virtual ceremony during the International Singapore Lipid Symposium (iSLS).

Agilent Award Committee 2022: Jennifer Gushue, Tiffany Payne, Naomi Goumillout, Sudharshana Seshadri, David Bradley
FeMS Award Committee 2022: Anne Bendt

Noemi Jiménez-Rojo is a postdoctoral fellow studying membrane biology, lipid diversity, and function at the University of Geneva. The award was presented at a virtual ceremony during the International Singapore Lipid Symposium (iSLS).

Many thanks to the FeMS Awards Committee and to the Darlene Solomon Award Committee 2021:

• David Bradley, Agilent
• Marta Sans Escofet, MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Yu Xia, Tsinghua University