Antonio Giraldez Assistant Professor, Yale University, US
Giovanni Frazzetto Society in Science Branco Weiss Research Fellow, BIOS [London School of Economics], UK

The EMBL Alumni Association Board is delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural John Kendrew Young Scientist Award. The extremely high standard of applications for this award made the task of selecting a single winner at the Alumni Association Board meeting on 23rd October 2007 extremely difficult! After careful consideration, the Board unanimously decided to select joint winners.

Antonio Giraldez was selected for his major contributions to science in studying microRNAs, both as a postdoctoral fellow and as a Assistant Professor at Yale University.

Giovanni Frazzetto was selected for his inspirational and creative achievements, incorporating societal needs in his research as a "Society in Science" Branco Weiss fellow at the BIOS Centre [London School of Economics and Political Sciences]; establishing the European Neuroscience and Society Network [ENSN]; and creating a science-art exhibition in neuroscience.

Antonio and Giovanni were both former PhD students of the EMBL International PhD Programme, and the Board recognises their remarkable performances since leaving EMBL as well as their complementary achievements in research and science communication. Both will receive their awards and present a public lecture describing their work on labday at EMBL Heidelberg, Tuesday 10th June 2008.

More information on the candidates can be found in the EMBL Alumni Association Members' Directory.

We would like to congratulate both winners together with the other applicants who made our task of selection so difficult!

Angus Lamond
Chair, Alumni Association
Professor of Biochemistry
University of Dundee, UK

More information on the John Kendrew Young Scientist Award