IoPPN Awards for budding scientists
For the third year running the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London will be offering a programme of Awards for Young People in Science.
The Awards aim to encourage young people (aged 15-18) from schools in the local area to stay in science and maths education by offering them a placement within a research team at the IoPPN, as well as ongoing mentoring following the placement.
Dr Margaret Heslin, a Research Worker in the Health Service and Population Research (HSPR) Department at the IoPPN, who started the CEMPH Award in 2013, said: ‘Educational attainment and aspirations are lower in schools from deprived areas, meaning fewer education and career opportunities for these young people. As many areas surrounding the IoPPN are deprived, the awards try to counter this by offering exciting placement opportunities alongside senior and junior academics from across the Institute.’
This year four research centres are taking part: the Centre for Economics of Mental and Physical Health (CEMPH), the Section on Women’s Mental Health (WMH), the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Dementia Unit.
The awards are as follows:
CEMPH Award for Young Economists 2015 (facilitated by Dr Margaret Heslin)
WMH Youth Award in Health Research and Science Communication 2015 (Emma Molyneaux)
SGDP Youth Award in Psychiatric Genetics, Psychology & Neuroscience 2015 (Dr Freya Rumball and Punit Shah)
BRC Youth Award in Chemistry, Biology & Psychological Health 2015 (Dr Stephani Hatch)
HERON-BRC Award in Sociology, Psychology & Health 2015 (Dr Stephani Hatch)
BRC Award in Maths, Computer Science and Health 2015 (Dr Stephani Hatch)
Professor Richard Brown, Training & Capacity Lead for the NIHR BRC/U, which is offering three of the Awards, said: ‘I am delighted to be able to support this initiative. Training and developing the skilled researchers needed to deliver the future of biomedical research is a central aim of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit. I would love it if a winner of one of these awards finds themselves a research leader 15 years from now, and looks back on this opportunity as the key first step on their research career.'
The winners of all six Awards will receive a year’s mentoring and two days work experience at the relevant research centre. They will be given the opportunity to meet with academics and explore what their jobs involve, as well as discuss their education and career paths; evaluate previous research; work on simulated research data; and present research to an academic audience. The winners will also receive certificates of achievement and vouchers to help with their studies.
Applications are now open - visit the relevant link above to apply.
Find out more about last year’s winners on the King’s website. For further information please contact Dr Margaret Heslin.