Norman Aldridge Training Award
The Norman Aldridge Training Award was created in memory of the contributions made by Professor Norman Aldridge to toxicology and continues to be supported by his family. It is awarded to a BTS Member in the early stages of their career to advance their training and research in toxicology by attending training courses, conferences and visiting laboratories or research centres (either within the UK or aboard) for the purpose of scientific collaboration or learning new practical skills in toxicology.
Awards will be made to support the following activities:
- Collaboration with another institution in order to learn a new practical skill or computer based technique in toxicology.
- Attendance to in-person workshops such as those offered through the Skills Gap Initiative.
- Providing additional support where required to enable UK summer vacation students to gain scientific skills and experience.
A successful candidate will be keen to build their knowledge and/or research and/or technical understanding by attending training and educational programmes and/or collaborating with scientists in other institutions and have a clear objective for the need for training and/or collaboration.
Annually on a competitive basis
Awards will be made throughout the year on a competitive basis to support the following activities:
- Collaboration with another institution in order to learn a new practical skill or computer based technique in toxicology. One award: up to £1500. Applications must be received by the 30th November and up to 4 months prior to the visit.
- Attendance to in-person workshops such as those offered through the Skills Gap Initiative. Two awards made per annum of up to £300. Applications must be made at least three months prior to the start date of the course.
- Providing additional support to enable UK summer vacation students who have been awarded a scholarship (please see https://www.thebts.org/awards-bursaries/vacation-scholarships/) to gain scientific skills and experience. Up to two awards per annum of up to £500. Applications must be made at the same time as the Summer Scholarship.
Applications for these awards should be made using the online application form on the BTS website here: https://www.thebts.org/awards-bursaries/.
Awards will normally cover travel and/or accommodation and /or consumables (e.g. lab consumables or software licences). Reimbursement of the award is retrospective on receipt of a reflective report of no more than 300 words to be published on the BTS website and the relevant invoices and travel receipts in-line with BTS travel policy.
- BTS member for at least 1 year prior to application date
- Applicant must be a member of the BTS in the early stages of their career*, which is defined by the criteria for the BTS Network for Early Stage Toxicologists community (NEST)
- Maximum of 1 award per individual
- Open to all BTS members within ten years since last degree, independent of age or place of employment
*The eligibility criteria are that the applicant has no more than 10 years postdoctoral or 14 years postgraduate experience at the time of application, and must have been a BTS member for at least one year prior to the application.
- Online application at least 3 months prior to visit.
- Cover letter outlining reasons for applying and collaboration objective (250 words).
- Full CV including details of relevant career breaks.
- Summary of no more than 250 words of the reason for applying as follows depending on what criteria is being considered:
- Collaborations: A brief summary of work to be conducted at host institution(s).
- Training: A brief summary of why the need for training where applicable.
- Summer Scholarship: A brief summary for the reasons additional funding to support the placement needed in addition to the Scholarship.
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- Brief letter(s) of support from Head(s) of Department(s) of host institution(s) or the Course Organiser for Training
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- Details of application(s) for additional funding sources have been sourced where applicable.
- Application submitted vis the BTS Secretariat at bts@execbs.com
- Officers will review and make recommendation for ratification by the Executive Committee.
- Successful applicant notified by the General Secretary at least 1 month prior to the visit and /or training course and/or Summer Vacation Placement.
About Prof Norman Aldridge OBE (1919-1996)
Head of MRC Biochemical Mechanisms Section
Professor Norman Aldridge was the founding Chair of the BTS. His interest in toxicology was sparked at an early age, working as 16 year old technician in a dye works. During World War II, he studied the effects of chemical warfare agents at the U.K. Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, whilst studying for his bachelor’s degree. In 1947, he moved to the Medical Research Council’s Toxicology Unit in Carshalton, Surrey, in order to help identify and manage the risks posed by the burgeoning post war chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Over the next 40 years he went on to study the mechanism of a wide variety of toxicants, notably organophosphorous insecticides (the subject of his PhD thesis), and many of his research insights continue to protect millions of lives to this day. He collaborated with scientists around the world aiming to train, encourage, and liberate his students. He relished scientific debate, revelling in helping his students and visiting researchers to interpret their experimental data. How apt to remember him than a travel award to aid early career researchers to broaden their horizons, gaining experience and mentorship through scientific collaboration.
You can read more about Norman’s life and work in his obituary in the Independent 1996, and Tox Sci 2001, 59 1, 3–4.
- 2011 Dr Ian Copple
- 2021 Ms Ishita Virmani
