FEMS-Jensen Award
The FEMS-Jensen Award was established to support Early Career Scientists and microbiologists in particular. It is named after the Danish soil microbiologist Dr Hans Laurits Jensen (1898-1977). The award was initiated through a donation by the UK-microbiologist Dr John R. Norris CBE, an Editor of Methods in Microbiology and a former FEMS Treasurer.
Dr Jensen was a tutor of Dr Norris and many other soil microbiologists. He was one the 20th Century’s foremost scientists and teachers in the fields of symbiotic and non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation, soil microbiological activity, and the taxonomy of Actinomycetes, Azotobacter, mycobacteria and coryneform bacteria, as well as being a pioneer in microbial degradation of pesticides. Dr Jensen was active in England and Australia, as well as in his native Denmark.
Objective
The award is intended to recognize academic achievement and superior research accomplishments showing significant potential to develop an outstanding research career. The award honours Dr Hans Laurits Jensen for helping young scientists in establishing their scientific career.
Award
The award comprises a fellowship for spending at least half a year in an outstanding research laboratory chosen by the student. The maximum award amounts to EUR 10,000.
Eligibility
Outstanding European students of microbiology at the final stages of their PhD studies, or those who received their PhD-degree less than three years from the application deadline may apply.
Frequency
The award will, in principle, be given once every two years. The awardee will be announced during the FEMS Congress.
Application
Interested candidates are asked to submit their application to the Convenor of the Awards Board (FEMS President) via the FEMS Business Office.
Downloadable documents
Deadline
The deadline for the receipt of applications is 1 March of the year preceding the FEMS Congress year (e.g. 2020, 2022….).
Previous FEMS-Jensen Awardees
FEMS-Jensen Awardee 2019
Dr Sarah Zecchin
Research project: Exploring the diversity and arsenic bioremediation potential of microbial
communities living in an acid mine drainage-affected mountain stream
Home institute: Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milano, Italy
Host institute: Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Watch our interview with Dr Sarah Zecchin at FEMS2019
FEMS-Jensen Awardee 2013
Dr Francesca Turroni
Research project: Evaluation of the bifidobacterial microbe-host crosstalk
Home Institute: Department of Life Sciences, GenProbio srl., University of Palma, Italy
Host Institute: Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland
FEMS-Jensen Awardee 2010
Dr Aviram Rasouly
Research Project: Defining the genetic basis of intracellular signaling regulating the expression of virulence factors by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Home Institute: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Host Institute: The Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
FEMS-Jensen Awardee 2005
Dr María-Luisa del Rio-González
Research Project: The role of chemokine receptors in B-cell migration in response to a thymus independent antigen
Home Institute: Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar (Murcia), Spain
Host Institute: Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover, Germany
AMR three ways: healthcare crisis, major concepts and the relevance of biofilms
Worldwide, infections are resuming their role as highly effective killing diseases, as current treatments are failing to respond to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this minireview, the impact of AMR in healthcare systems and the major bacteria behind it are highlighted. Ecological aspects of AMR evolution and the complexity of its molecular mechanisms are explained. Major concepts, such as intrinsic, acquired and adaptive resistance, as well as tolerance and heteroresistance, are also clarified. More importantly, the problematic of biofilms and their role in AMR, namely their main resistance and tolerance mechanisms, are elucidated. Finally, some of the most promising anti-biofilm strategies being investigated are reviewed.
