Professor Susan Dodds, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Industry Engagement commented that the quality of the applications was of an exceptionally high standard.
“There was a very strong field of applicants this year and I would like to congratulate both Amy and Sarah for their excellent fellowship proposals. It’s wonderful to be able to award two fellowships to support the ongoing development of their research, which I am sure will have a lasting impact,” Professor Dodds said.
“La Trobe is proud to offer these fellowships to support our researchers, often women, to regain momentum after they have had significant career interruptions due to caring responsibilities. It’s so important to support future research leaders who visibly balance their professional and personal commitments. It is an important signal to the next generation considering academic careers that La Trobe supports diverse academics to bring their full selves to their career,” commented Professor Dodds.
Dr Amy Pennay and Dr Sarah Annesley will commence their Fellowships in March and July respectively.
Dr Amy Pennay
Dr Amy Pennay is a Senior Research Fellow based at the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) and is the Strategic Lead of the 'Intersections of drinking cultures, health and policy' program. She is particularly interested in how social and cultural factors influence drinking practices and health outcomes, with her most recent work examining youth drinking culture and the social determinants which drive behaviour.
Dr Sarah Annesley
Dr Sarah Annesley is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology. Sarah’s research focuses on understanding mitochondrial function in health and disease, with a particularly focus on the neurological diseases Parkinson's Disease (PD) and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). In recent years she has started to investigate Long-COVID and the similarities in the onset and symptomology with ME/CFS.
About the Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellowship
The fellowship is named in honour of Tracey Banivanua Mar, a much-esteemed member of the Department of Archaeology and History who sadly passed away in 2017, cutting short a stellar academic career.
The Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellowship was established in 2018 as part of the SAGE Athena Swan initiative and is a part-time or full-time research only position for up to three years, to enable eligible researchers to develop or re-establish their careers where they have been interrupted or delayed by child bearing, child rearing or other care giving duties.
By providing funding at a critical time in the careers of high potential academic staff, the Fellowship aims to reduce the impact of career breaks and/or intense care giving responsibilities on research productivity.
To find out more about the Fellowship please contact athenaswan@latrobe.edu.au.
