The Mabel Fitzgerald Prize Lecture for Diversity in Physiology
This annual lecture celebrates excellence in physiological research from scientists from underrepresented backgrounds.
Nominations for the 2026 Mabel Fitzgerald Prize Lecture for Diversity in Physiology have now closed.
Who can be nominated?
- The person or team must belong to a minority group that is underrepresented in the field of physiology. Minority groups may include but are not limited to geographical location*, racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic minorities.
- All physiologists are eligible, but the nomination should describe how the work of the nominee has changed our understanding of physiology
- You can nominate another person but not yourself
*If consideration for this prize is because of geographical area of work, the candidate must be affiliated with an institution located in a geographical area that is underrepresented in physiology, specifically outside of high-income countries. This includes institutions from low-, low middle- and middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, regions with limited access to resources, and areas where access to educational opportunities in physiology is limited.
What is the award?
- £750 award
- Lecture is delivered online
- Publication in Experimental Physiology, subject to Editorial Board agreement
How can I nominate?
Nominations open from 1 October to 30 November
What are the selection criteria?
The Prize Lecture Award Panel base their evaluations on the overall quality of relevant contributions and achievements by nominees, in relation to the selection criteria listed below. The selection committee will consider the following aspects of nominations for this prize and nominators should include the following information:
- What their citation count or h-index is
- A description of how the body of work of the nominee has changed our understanding of physiology (150 words)
- A description of the impact the nominee’s work has had inside and outside academia (150 words)
- Details of any career breaks and/or challenges that may have been overcome (150 words)
- Details on how the nominee fulfills the criterion as being from an underrepresented background (150 words)
Guidelines for nominators
- Nominations open 1 October
- Nominations close 30 November
- Anyone can nominate for this prize
- Nominees may NOT nominate themselves
- The prize is open to nominees based in the UK and Internationally
- There are no career stage restrictions associated with this prize
- We will not consider nominations of deceased individuals
- Nominees can only be considered for one of our prizes in any given year. In a case where a nominee is nominated for more than one prize independently, it is at the discretion of the Prize Lecture Award Panel which prize they will be considered for.
- Trustees of The Physiological Society are not eligible to be nominated
- When nominating previous prize winners, please remember that a person cannot be awarded twice for substantially the same body of work.
- Nominees should only be nominated once for this prize in any given prize cycle. In cases where we receive more than one nomination for the same nominee, only one nomination will go forward to the panel.
Previous winners
This is a new prize lecture.