The Thompson Institute research awards recognise students and employees who exhibit excellence in their fields.

2024 Awards

Research excellence

Recognising overall research excellence in multiple facets, demonstrating multiple outcomes particularly related to translational, impactful or program-building aspects.

Winner: Thomas Pace

For simulteaneously achieving high-quality research papers, post-graduate teaching, HDR supervision, community engagement, and coordination of the SYNAPSE ECR/HDR group.

Finalist: Bonnie Quigley

For simultaneously achieving the establishment of the National PTSD Research Centre laboratory, high-quality research papers, and active membership of the Thompson Institute Research Committee.

Best debut paper

Recognising debut first-author full-length peer-reviewed journal articles of notable impact.

Winner: Ciara Treacy

For 'The LEISURE Study: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol for a Multi-Modal Lifestyle Intervention Study to Reduce Dementia Risk in Healthy Older Adults, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2023)'

Finalist: Laura Schonberg

For 'Absence of BOLD adaptation in chronic fatigue syndrome revealed by task functional MRI, Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (2024)'

Best paper (open)

Recognising first-author full-length peer-reviewed journal articles with high impact (eg citations, high field-weighted citation impact, Almetrics, media coverage etc).

Winner: Rosiel Elwyn

For 'A lived experience response to the proposed diagnosis of terminal anorexia nervosa: learning from iatrogenic harm, ambivalence and enduring hope, Journal of Eating Disorders (2023)'

Finalist: Dr Jacob Levenstein

For 'Sex differences in brain volumes and psychological distress: The first hundred brains cohort of the longitudinal adolescent brain study, NeuroImage: Reports (2023)'

Collaborative research

Recognising any new or recent collaborative research between the nominee and researchers from other schools/disciplines at UniSC or other universities or with government, industry, and community.

Winner: Dr Bonnie Quigley

For leading the establishment of a new PC2 laboratory at the National PTSD Research Centre that benefits research projects across academic disciplines.

Finalist: Dr Michelle Kennedy

For the 'Adolescent Disorders Adjustment Prevalence in Transition to High School' study which requires collabration between academia, schools, and government.

Engagement in research

Recognising community or other external stakeholder engagement that has directly resulted in recruitment, data collection, or dissemination of results.

Winner: Anangsha Patak

For extensive presentations to key stakeholder groups and at key events that have collected resulted in a high level of engagement in our research

Finalist: Trish Howard

For a wide range of promotional efforts that successfully bridge the gap between science and the public

Professional contributions (service to the field)

Recognising the significant contributions to 'the field' of research and science, such as committee membership, active participation in conference organisations, journal editorial duties, chairing symposia at conferences etc.

Winner: Amanda Boyes

For co-founding the SYNAPSE higher degree and early career researcher group and her membership of the international Flux Society Trainee Commitee.

Finalist: Claire Saint-Smith

For wide-spread support of research, including membership on numerous commitees

Best communication

Recognising conference, community or discipline-based presentations or media coverage.

Winner: Taliah Prince

For sharing her high impact research on multiple platforms, including the 3MT competition, conferences and media, via clear, impactful communication

Finalist: Kali Gray

For significant contributions to communicating Thompson Institute's science to educate the public.

Resilience award

Recognising resilience in the face of the demands of research life

Winner: Chelsea Hennessy

Finalist: Kassie Bromley