Background

• The Fellowship recognises senior virologists across Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) whose sustained excellence and leadership have advanced virology through research, clinical practice, public health, diagnostics, industry, teaching or policy.

• Election to Fellowship requires those who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and distinction in the field of virology, to have also shown a substantial and sustained commitment to the Australasian Virology Society (AVS).

• The FAVS scheme will recognise excellence in the discipline of virology to generate a community of Fellows who will enhance the goals of the AVS.

• An applicant must be at least 10 years post-PhD or other relevant degree. Since award of this degree, the applicant must be active in the virology field and made substantial contributions to virology as outlined below.

• Contributions can be assessed in different ways, according to the experience or contribution of the candidate, and include:

  • Senior virologists who have published 50 or more papers in the broad field of virology or related disciplines or who have been awarded senior NHMRC or ARC fellowships, or their equivalent, to conduct research in the broad field of virology.

  • Senior virologists who have demonstrated academic excellence in the teaching of virology; for example, by development of under-graduate and/or post-graduate curricula that positively impacts the training in virology of the next generation of virologists and/or being promoted to Associate Professor or higher level as a teaching-focussed or teaching-only academic.

  • Senior virologists who have demonstrated sustained contributions to the AVS. Examples include attendance at AVS meetings, promotion of junior researchers to attend AVS meetings, participation in committee and other duties, advocating for AVS, initiatives to raise the profile of AVS.

• An applicant must be a financial member of the AVS at the time of applying for the Fellowship. It is expected that nominees for Fellowship would have been a financial member of the AVS for a substantial period of time, and will maintain financial membership while they use the honorific.

• There are no fees associated with a FAVS application and the annual membership fee for a FAVS is the same as that of general member of the AVS.

• The AVS wishes to thank the Australian Society for Microbiology and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences for their collegiality in sharing details of their respective Fellowship processes.

Expectations and duties of FAVS

• Maintain and model the highest standards of scientific integrity, in all professional activities.

• Provide mentorship and career development support to early- and mid-career virologists (e.g., supervision, structured mentoring, workshops).

• Contribute to education and training that strengthens capacity and/or translate and communicate expert knowledge to policymakers, public health agencies, clinicians and industry.

• Serve on Society governance bodies, committees, assessment panels or working groups when reasonably requested and able, contributing to activities such as conferences, awards, policy development, outreach and public communication.

• Advocate for responsible research funding, infrastructure, workforce development and ethical research practices in virology.

• Uphold inclusive, equitable and respectful behaviours; actively support diversity in recruitment, mentoring and recognition.

How to apply for a FAVS

• There is one application round per year, with a closing date of October 31st.

• Application for the Fellowship is made on the prescribed forms available from the AVS website. These forms are the FAVS Application Form and the FAVS Referee Declaration Form.

• The FAVS Application Form lists the current eligibility and selection criteria for application and must be completed in full.

• The FAVS Referee Declaration Form is to be completed by a current AVS member who has personal knowledge of the virology work of the applicant and their standing in the Australasian virology community.

• Both forms are to be submitted together by the applicant to the AVS Fellowship subcommittee electronically as outlined on the FAVS Application Form.

• The AVS Fellowship subcommittee may request additional information from an applicant during the assessment process.

• Please direct queries to: FAVS@avs.org.au

Outcome

The AVS Fellowship subcommittee will report all results of all FAVS examinations to the AVS Committee of Management. Upon confirmation by the AVS Committee of Management, new Fellows will be notified of their success and their names entered in a Registrar of Fellows. Successful candidates will be presented with a testamur of Fellowship and their names will be listed on the AVS website.