Prizes, scholarships and awards
The Charles Perkins Centre was established in 2012 with the support of a significant philanthropic giftÌý–ÌýJeune Fille EndormieÌý–Ìýan artwork by Pablo Picasso, donated anonymously. Since its inception, the Centre has built a robust philanthropy program providing strategic support to researchers, students and professional staff through a range of prizes, scholarships, and awards.
The Centre and this program plays a vital role in enabling our distinctive multidisciplinary collaborations, addressing some of the most pressing health challenges of our time. Listed below are some of the benefits available to Charles Perkins Centre members.
Jennie Mackenzie Research Fund
In 2022, the Charles Perkins Centre received a from our long-time supporter and friend, Jennie Mackenzie, a keenÌýpatron of our EMCRs. The was established to support mission-centric, multidisciplinary, and collaborative projects led by members of the Charles Perkins Centre.
Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarships
The Charles Perkins Centre Summer Scholarships program is open to all University of Sydney undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, from any area of study and with any level of research experience. Our Summer Research Scholarships provide an exclusive opportunity for students to undertake paid research with leading academics in our world-class facilities. Successful candidates will develop research skills, gain experience and contribute to finding real-world solutions through eight weeks of paid research.
- News | Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarships 2024
- News |ÌýCharles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarships 2023
- News | Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarships 2022
- News | Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Sholarships 2021
- Q&A | CPC Summer Research Scholarships: Q&Q with Zoe Zhang
- Q&A | CPC Summer Research Scholarships: Q&A with Matthew Shu
Summer Research Scholarships 2026
Closes | 5pm Monday 22 September 2025
The Professor Stephen J Simpson Prize for Research Communication
The (The Simpson Prize) was established in 2025 in recognition of our Inaugural Academic Director Professor Stephen J Simpson AC FRS FAA. The Simpson Prize recognises excellence in science writing and communicating complex research to non-academic audiences by two Charles Perkins Centre early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). The Simpson Prize is awarded to two 1500-word essays on topics related to our mission, with each prize valued at $2,500.
Closed for 2025Ìý
Charles Perkins Centre Professional Staff Prize
The Charles Perkins Centre Professional Staff Prize recognises the outstanding achievements and contributions of our members. The Ìýcelebrates professional staff for their outstanding support and contribution across research, education, clinical, technical, and administrative activities.
Charles Perkins Centre Interdisciplinary Publication Excellence Prize
The Charles Perkins Centre recognises the outstanding achievements and contributions of our members. Two prizes are awarded that each celebrates an interdisciplinary researchÌýpublication led by our researchers.
Ian Garthwaite Memorial Prize
Dr Ian Garthwaite was a highly respected scientist and a foundational staff member of the Charles Perkins Centre, having joined as the first CPC Laboratory Services Manager (Research) in 2013. Ian’s commitment to his team and the researchers at the Charles Perkins Centre was crucial to the successful operation of the building, vital to the establishment of our research culture, and underpinned the growth and success of our community. The recognises the commitment and achievements of a technical support services (TSS) staff member who has worked for the Centre.
Charles Perkins Centre Catchlove Sylvan Mid-Career Researcher Fellowship
The Charles Perkins Centre Mid-Career Researcher Fellowship, funded by the Centre’s long-time friends and supporters Dr Barry Catchlove and Professor Louise Sylvan, supports the Centre’s best mid-career researchers remain in academia in the face of a crisis in research funding. This competitive scheme, designed to deliver the strategic needs of individual high-achieving researchers, is augmented by mentoring and support from senior CPC researchers.
Closed for 2025
Len Storlien Award
The Charles Perkins Centre was established in 2023 by our Biology Domain in memory of Professor Len Storlien, who worked closely with the Charles Perkins Centre’s community of academics and researchers in various roles as supervisor, colleague and mentor at different times over many decades. The Biology Domain supports the Charles Perkins Centre’s early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) through its seminar series with a monthly session given entirely by EMCRs. This hones research skills as well as presentation skills.
- News | Len Storlien Award 2024 RecipientsÌý
- News | Len Storlien Award 2023 Recipients
If you have any questions not covered above, please contact our Research Program team.