The Australian Federation of Graduate Women Fellowship

It will next be offered in 2014 with the guidelines and application form available on this website in December 2013.

Ms Jana McCaskill has been awarded the 2012 AFGW Fellowship.

Jana was awarded a Bachelor of Science with first class Honours from The University of Queensland in 2009 for her work on the immunosuppressive properties of Koala retrovirus. Concurrently with her work towards a PHD in Medical Science, she is currently undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, mentors and tutors undergraduate science students at The University of Queensland and is involved in the CSIRO Scientists in Schools program. Jana is also engaged in committees for Women in Technology, the Australian Society of Medical Research and AusBiotech. Outside of science, she is a senior national umpire for Softball Australia.

    Jana started her PhD studies at The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute in 2010, investigating novel therapeutics for acute respiratory viral infections. The primary focus of her antiviral research is Hendra virus, a highly pathogenic virus of Queensland and New South Wales that currently has no vaccine or post exposure therapy available. This research has resulted in a potential therapeutic agent that uses an innovative approach to treat viruses, by combining direct suppression of viral replication with immune system recruitment to the site of infection. The AFGW fellowship will enable Ms McCaskill to test her novel therapy against Hendra virus in collaboration with the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory.

Who Can Apply? Women students in any branch of learning may apply.

The  AFGW Fellowship is offered every second year to women graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and are enrolled for a PhD degree by research in any Australian university. The funds are to be used for a specific project or purpose for PhD research in any field. The AFGW Fellowship is offered for the second and subsequent years of a doctoral program. First year doctoral students do not qualify.

What are the Requirements?

The AFGW Fellowship is for 6 to 12 months of work. It is intended to enhance the original research on which a postgraduate applicant is already engaged. First year doctoral students and applicants just beginning their research are not eligible.

Conditions of the Fellowship

Within six months of concluding the work undertaken under the tenure of the fellowship or grant, the recipient must submit a written report on the work accomplished.

The financial assistance given by AFGW must be acknowledged in any published material embodying the results of the work carried out