In recognition of the very fine contributions to science made by young protein scientists, the Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function each year makes one to five special awards.

Traditionally, they have been referred to as the “Young Investigator Award” - but we have now renamed them Anders Early Career Awards. This is in honour of one of our great contributors to the Conference - Chair of 15 years between 1985–2000, an attendee of all but the first meeting, and Leach Lecturer in 2003 - Professor Robin Anders (read more about Robin below).

If you are an early career scientist, would you like to be considered for an Anders Early Career Award?

This prestigious award is given to up to five scientists (usually four) each year who are within 5 years of the award of their PhD (i.e. not before 2021 for the 2027 meeting, unless there are valid circumstances for a career break). It is generally expected that the PhD has been awarded but, under exceptional circumstances, applications by students at the late stages of their PhD will be considered.

Applicants should have impressive track records for this stage of their career and a good story to tell. Awardees receive a speaking slot in the Anders Early Career Award Session, which has traditionally been a very high standard and popular session, as well as a $500 prize.

Application Process

In addition to submitting an abstract, applicants must provide a one-page CV summary (as a PDF) of their track record and address additional eligibility and optional relative-to-opportunity consideration during the abstract submission process.

CV Requirements

Please submit a one-page CV that clearly includes the following (links to publications/ORCID encouraged):

• Current Position & Institution
• Education & Training (degrees, postdoc if applicable)
• Research Track Record – up to 5 key publications (provide links where possible)
• Funding – fellowships, grants, major awards received
• Community Contributions – mentoring, leadership, service and presentations
• Prizes & Awards – relevant academic/scientific recognitions
• ORCID ID

All components of the application need to be submitted by FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 2026. It is unlikely this deadline will be extended, irrespective of changes to other conference deadlines.

The selection committee will endeavour to account for the diversity of the protein science community in their award selection, including in terms of gender, ethnicity, race, culture, geography, opportunity and physical ability. We strongly encourage applications that reflect this diversity.

The Anders Early Career Awards are named in honour of Professor Robin F Anders.

Professor Robin F Anders Robin Anders graduated in Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne in 1961 and subsequently completed his PhD in the Russell Grimwade School of Biochemistry at the University of Melbourne. From 1966 to 1974 Robin lectured in biochemistry at the Papua New Guinea Medical School in Port Moresby. While in PNG Robin developed research interests in tropical diseases, with a particular interest in the chemical nature of the amyloid that is sometimes associated with infectious diseases such as leprosy and tuberculosis. After two years working on amyloid in Oslo, Norway, Robin returned to Melbourne and in 1978 joined the newly established immunoparasitology group at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Robin and David Kemp led the group that in 1983 detected the expression of recombinant malaria antigens for the first time. Robin worked closely with industry partners preparing antigens for malaria vaccine trials but has also published extensively on the structural characteristics of malaria antigens, many of which had novel structures containing extensive tandem repeat sequences. Since 2000 Robin has been based at La Trobe University where he is now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry and Genetics. Robin is also an Adjunct Professor at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences where he continues his long-term collaboration with Professor Ray Norton, with a current focus on immune recognition of an intrinsically disordered parasite surface protein. Robin has been an advisor to the World Health Organisation, the Medical Research Council in Britain and the National Institutes of Health in the USA. When Syd Leach retired in 1985 Robin took over as Chairman of the organizing committee of the Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, a position he filled until he stepped down in 2000. During this 15-year period the Lorne Conference grew to be one of the world’s major conferences on protein science, with each conference featuring many leading international figures in the field. Robin has attended every Lorne Conference except the first and has contribute oral and poster presentations on numerous occasions, commencing with a talk on amyloid at the 1977 conference. In 2003 Robin was the conference’s Leach Lecturer and recipient of the Leach Medal. In 2003 Robin was the conference's Leach Lecturer and recipient of the Leach Medal.