Award applications

The Genetics Society of AustralAsia supports the following annual awards:

Please consider applying yourself, and nominate or encourage eligible students and colleagues to apply for one of these awards.

  • The D.G Catcheside Prize
    Awarded to the top doctoral student in the field of genetics 
    (for a PhD thesis that passed examination during 2023)

Important notes:

  • In any given year, applications are allowed for only one award.
  • Applicants should not register to the conference before their application outcome is known. Registration fees (and conference dinner if applicable) will be covered for successful applicants, while unsuccessful applicants will have guaranteed access to early bird registration fees.
  • * Career interruptions (these may include parental leave, carer’s leave, medical leave etc.) will be considered in exercising these time year limits.


Closing date for applications

Applications for The Genetics Society of AustralAsia MJD White Medal, the Ross Crozier Medal, the Alan Wilton Award, the D.G Catcheside Prize, the the Spencer Smith-White Travel Award and the the Philip Batterham Conference Prize are currently open.

The closing date for the above awards is 28th February 2025 at midnight AEDT.

Applications for the Summer Internship for INdigenous peoples in Genomics (SING) Alumni GSA Conference Prize and the GSA Undergraduate Student Conference Awards will open in early 2025.


How to apply

All applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au

Please see below for specific details of each award, eligibility requirements, and to download the relevant application cover sheet.

The Committee reserves the right not to offer any specific award in a given year

​​MJD White Medal

The MJD White Medal was established in 2009 by the Genetics Society of AustralAsia to recognise outstanding contributions to the field of genetics research by Australasian scientists. The medal commemorates Michael White who proposed the formation of the Genetics Society of Australia in 1953. This award is intended to recognise excellence in genetic research and may be awarded for a lifetime’s contribution to genetic research or for work by a mid-career scientist either leading to a paradigm shift in genetics or for a large body of work that is recognised as of major significance in a specific field of genetics.

The medal is awarded to one scientist at the Genetics Society of AustralAsia’s annual meeting. It is accepted by delivering the MJD White Lecture at the meeting.

The award consists of:

  • the MJD White Medal
  • the opportunity to present the MJD White lecture at the conference
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)
  • where international travel from the normal place of work is required to attend the meeting, the Society may contribute to travel costs
  • Lifetime GSA membership

Nominations for the MJD White Medal should come from a member of GSA. Nominations should include:

  • the MJD White Medal application cover sheet – download the coversheet here
  • a letter of support from the nominator
  • the nominee’s CV
  • a one-page summary of the nominee’s most significant contributions to genetics

Nominations must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au with “MJD White Medal” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

​​Ross Crozier Medal

The Ross Crozier Medal was established by the Genetics Society of AustralAsia to recognise outstanding contributions to the field of genetics research by mid-career Australasian scientists. The medal commemorates Ross Crozier, an evolutionary geneticist who was a past President and an avid lobbyist for the Society. The award is intended to assist the recipient in advancement of their career and will be awarded for work completed within the period five to 15 years from graduating with a PhD. Career interruptions will be taken into account in exercising the 15 year limit.

The award is normally made to one scientist at the Genetics Society of AustralAsia’s annual meeting and is accepted by delivering the Ross Crozier Lecture at the meeting.

The award consists of:

  • the Ross Crozier Medal
  • the opportunity to present the Ross Crozier lecture at the conference
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)

Self-nominations and nominations on behalf of others are both permitted and will be considered equally.

Applications should include:

  • the Ross Crozier Medal application cover sheet – download the coversheet here
  • the applicant’s CV
  • a one page summary of the applicant’s most significant contributions to genetics

Applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au with “Ross Crozier Medal” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

Alan Wilton Award​​

The Alan Wilton award was established by the Genetics Society of AustralAsia in honour of the late Associate Professor Alan Wilton, to recognise outstanding contributions to the field of genetics research by Australasian scientists early in their career. The award is intended to assist the recipient in advancement of their career and will be awarded for work completed within five years of graduating as a PhD. Career interruptions will be taken into account in exercising this five year limit.

The award is normally made to one scientist at the Genetics Society of AustralAsia’s annual meeting and is accepted by delivering a lecture at the meeting.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • the opportunity to present an invited talk at the conference
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)

Self-nominations and nominations on behalf of others are both permitted and will be considered equally.

Applications should include:

  • the Alan Wilton Award application cover sheet – download the coversheet here
  • the applicant’s CV
  • a one page summary of the applicant’s most significant contributions to genetics

Applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au with “Wilton Award” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

​​D.G. Catcheside Prize

The D. G. Catcheside Prize has been established to honour the memory of the late Professor David Guthrie Catcheside (1907-1994) by recognising the achievements of the top Australasian doctoral student in the field of genetics.

Professor Catcheside was an eminent geneticist who carried out research on mutation, cytogenetics, biochemical genetics and the genetics of recombination in plants and fungi. He was recruited from Cambridge University to spearhead a strategic plan to introduce fundamental genetics research into Australia. He established Australia’s first Department of Genetics at the University of Adelaide in 1952. Professor Catcheside proposed that the Research School of Biological Sciences (RSBS) be established at the Australian National University and served as its first Director. Professor Catcheside was a founding member of the Australian Academy of Science and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (London). Professor Catcheside was renowned as an outstanding mentor of postgraduate students. Many of his former students now hold positions of leadership in the Australian and international genetics research communities. This prize is a most fitting way to mark this legacy and to encourage excellence in postgraduate scholarship.

The prize is made available by a generous bequest to the Genetics Society of AustralAsia from Professor Catcheside’s family. A detailed description of the scientific contributions of Professor Catcheside can be found at the Australian Academy of Science website.

The D. G. Catcheside prize will be awarded to one individual on an annual basis. The prize will be open to entrants whose doctoral thesis has passed examination in the calendar year prior to the award (e.g. applicants should have passed examination in 2024 to be eligible for the 2025 award). A panel of three adjudicators will be responsible for selecting the winner.

The rules of the award are as follows:

  1. The prize will be awarded for research that has led to the award of a doctoral degree by an Australasian university.
  2. The doctoral research must be substantially in the field of genetics. The adjudication panel retains the right to determine whether a particular thesis is in the field of genetics. For the purposes of this prize ‘genetics’ is defined as ‘a discipline that uses inherited variation, either natural or induced, to solve biological problems.’
  3. In reaching their decision the adjudicators will consider a supervisor’s citation pertaining to the significance of the research (maximum length of two pages), and the thesis Examiners’ Reports. In exceptional cases where two applications are considered equal on the basis of the first two criteria, the thesis itself will be considered.
  4. Membership of the Genetics Society of AustralAsia is not required and will not be one of the criteria considered by the adjudicators in selecting a prize winner. However, the prize winner will be offered the opportunity to present their doctoral research at the Genetics Society of AustralAsia Conference following the award.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • the opportunity to present an invited talk at the conference
  • a prize valued at AU$2,000
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)
  • one year’s membership of GSA

Self-nominations and nominations on behalf of others are both permitted and will be considered equally.

Applications should include:

  • the D.G. Catcheside Prize application cover sheet – download the coversheet here
  • a citation outlining the significance of the research (maximum two pages) from the applicant’s PhD supervisor (in cases of joint supervision, only one citation should be submitted).
  • evidence that the thesis was passed by an Australasian university in the calendar year prior to the year of the conference
  • copies of the thesis examiners’ reports

Applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au with “Catcheside Prize” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

Summer Internship for INdigenous peoples in Genomics (SING) Alumni Conference Prize

These awards provide the opportunity for recent SING alumni who have attended SING Australia or SING Aotearoa within the last three years to attend the annual GSA Conference.

The GSA committee will award up to two Australia and two Aotearoa Alumni prizes in a given year. These prizes mirror the kaupapa / aim of the SING Aotearoa and SING Australia programmes, which are designed to develop and support the next generation of Indigenous researchers and professionals to ensure that future genomic research is ethical and inclusive.

The award consists of:

  • A prize certificate.
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)
  • One year of GSA membership.
  • Airfares and conference accommodation.

Applications should include:

  • the completed cover sheet – available when applications open
  • an outline of the applicant’s background, interest in the field of genetics and why they would like to attend the GSA conference (no more than 1 page).
  • the applicant’s CV (no more than 2 pages).

Applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to gsa@asnevents.net.au with “SING Alumni Conference Prize” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

Spencer Smith-White Travel Award

The Spencer Smith-White Travel Prize is granted annually to assist PhD students who are members of GSA to attend the annual conference. The GSA committee may elect to offer more than one award in a given year.

Spencer ‘Spinny’ Smith-White was a founding member of the Genetics Society of AustralAsia. Spinny was a Professor of Genetics at School of Biological Sciences at Sydney University. His work was in the field of cytogenetics. Spinny was a strong supporter of the Society and student participation in it.

The rules of the award are as follows:

  1. The Prize is awarded annually
  2. The GSA Committee will serve as the adjudication panel that awards the prize
  3. The applicant must be a current financial member of GSA when the application is lodged
  4. The applicant must be a currently enrolled PhD candidate at the time of the GSA conference for which the application is lodged
  5. Applicants must present their work at the GSA conference in the year that they apply. Both oral and poster presentations are acceptable. The presentation must substantially consist of the student’s own work and the contribution of others must be clearly acknowledged.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • the opportunity to present a talk or poster at the conference
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)

Self-nominations and nominations on behalf of others are both permitted and will be considered equally.

Applications should include:

  • the Smith-White Travel Award application cover sheet – download the coversheet here
  • the applicant’s CV (no more than 2 pages)
  • a copy of the submitted abstract for the GSA Conference
  • a one page summary of the applicant’s PhD research
  • a written reference from one referee, preferably the applicant’s PhD supervisor or an academic familiar with the PhD project, to be emailed directly to GSA@asnevents.net.au – this must be received by the award closing date

Applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au by the closing date with “Smith-White Travel Award” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

Philip Batterham Conference Prize

The Philip Batterham Conference Prize is granted annually to assist Honours and Masters students who are members of GSA to attend the annual conference. The GSA committee may elect to offer more than one award in a given year.

Phil Batterham has been a strong supporter of the Genetics Society of AustralAsia, serving as President from 2010-2012 and the Victorian Representative on the committee from 1996-2022. Phil was awarded the Genetics Society of AustralAsia MJD White Medal in 2015 for his research excellence in the field of insecticide resistance. Phil is an Emeritus Professor of Genetics at the School of BioSciences at The University of Melbourne.

The rules of the award are as follows:

  1. The Prize is awarded annually
  2. The GSA Committee will serve as the adjudication panel that awards the prize
  3. The applicant must be a current financial member of GSA when the application is lodged
  4. The applicant must be a currently enrolled or recently completed (within six months) Honours or Masters candidate when the application is lodged
  5. Applicants must present their work at the GSA conference in the year that they apply. Both oral and poster presentations are acceptable. The presentation must substantially consist of the student’s own work and the contribution of others must be clearly acknowledged.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • the opportunity to present a talk or poster at the conference
  • registration fees to attend the conference, including a dinner ticket (when the conference is not held online)
  • Self-nominations and nominations on behalf of others are both permitted and will be considered equally.

Applications should include:

  • the Philip Batterham Conference Prize application cover sheet – download the cover sheet here
  • the applicant’s CV (no more than 2 pages)
  • a copy of the submitted abstract for the GSA Conference
  • a one page summary of the applicant’s Honours or Masters research
  • a written reference from one referee, preferably the applicant’s research supervisor or an academic familiar with the project, to be emailed directly to GSA@asnevents.net.au – this must be received by the award closing date

Applications must be submitted by email by the closing date to GSA@asnevents.net.au by the closing date, with “Philip Batterham Conference Prize” in the subject line. Late applications will not be accepted.

GSA Undergraduate Student Conference Awards

These awards provide the opportunity for undergraduate genetics students to attend the annual GSA conference.

The award consists of:

  • The full cost of student registration (including social events)
  • One ticket to the Conference dinner
  • One year of GSA membership

Students will need to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree and should have completed at least one university-level course in genetics. Please note that Honours, Masters, and PhD students are not eligible for these awards.

To apply, please address the criteria listed on the coversheet – available when applications open

The following GSA awards do not require an application, and will be assessed at the annual conference

Genetics Society of AustralAsia Award for Excellence in Education

The Genetics Society of AustralAsia Award for Excellence in Education has been established by the Genetics Society of AustralAsia to recognise an individual who has made outstanding contributions to genetics education in AustralAsia.

The award is normally made to one educator presenting at the Genetics Society of AustralAsia’s annual meeting.

Recipients will have promoted greater exposure to and deeper understanding of genetics through their transformational approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire all students to learn.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • free registration to the next year’s annual GSA meeting
  • the opportunity to present an invited talk to the next year’s annual GSA meeting

The Mayo Prize for best student presentation

The prize is named for George and Jean Mayo, prominent Australian geneticists who were founding members of the first genetics department in Australia, at the University of Adelaide. Jean Mayo was also President of the Genetics Society of Australia from 1979-80.

The Mayo Prize is awarded annually for the best student talk at each year’s GSA conference.

The rules of the award are as follows:
1. The Prize is open to all students making an oral presentation at the annual conference
2. A judging panel nominated by each year’s GSA conference committee will award the prize
3. An application is not required: all eligible students who present a talk at the conference will be considered for this award.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • free registration to the next year’s annual GSA meeting

The Jenny Graves Prize for best student lightning presentation

The prize is named for Jenny Graves, a prominent Australian geneticist who has made seminal contributions to the understanding of vertebrate genome organisation and evolution. Jenny Graves served as President of the GSA from 1995–97 and received the inaugural MJD White Medal in 2009 from the GSA. She was elected a Fellow of the Australasian Academy of Science in 1999 and was the first woman to win the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science solo.

The Jenny Graves Prize is awarded annually for the best student lightning talk at each year’s GSA conference.

The rules of the award are as follows:
1. The Prize is open to all students making a lightning presentation at the annual conference
2. A judging panel nominated by each year’s GSA conference committee will award the prize
3. An application is not required: all eligible students who present a talk at the conference will be considered for this award.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • free registration to the next year’s annual GSA meeting

The Sidney James Prize for best student poster

The prize is named for Sidney James, who was for many years the sole geneticist at UWA, working on plant population cytogenetics in the Botany School. Sid passed away in 1998. Several articles appeared later that summarise his important contributions to Australasian genetics (James 2000 Aust J Bot 48, 341-347; Bussell et al., 2002 Evolution 56, 1296-1302).

The Sidney James Prize is awarded annually for the best student poster at each year’s GSA conference.

The rules of the award are as follows:
1. The Prize is open to all students making a poster presentation at the annual conference
2. A judging panel nominated by each year’s GSA conference committee will award the prize
3. An application is not required: all eligible students who present a poster at the conference will be considered for this award.

The award consists of:

  • a certificate
  • free registration to the next year’s annual GSA meeting