Otago immunologist honoured

A former staff member of the Malaghan Institute, Dr Roslyn Kemp, has been named this year’s winner of the prestigious Association for Women in the Sciences (AWIS) Miriam Dell Award, for her work inspiring female immunologists across Australasia. Dr Kemp, a senior lecturer in the University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, was recognised with the Award for her work with students and for furthering the goals of the Women’s Initiative of the Australasian Society for Immunology.

The award was first introduced in 2013, in honour of the pioneering advocacy of Dame Miriam Dell. She became New Zealand’s National President of the Council of Women in 1970 and went on to represent and advocate for women on the international stage including New Zealand’s delegation at all three of the U.N. Conferences for the Decade of Women, and then Council member, President and then Coordinator of the International Council for Women Development Project Program until her retirement.

The Miriam Dell Award recipients are chosen for their outstanding mentoring efforts to retain females in science, mathematics or technology. Dr Kemp started work at the Malaghan Institute in the late 1990s, as a PhD student in Franca Ronchese’s group, and like many former staff remains part of our close extended family. 

“I am very proud of what Ros has achieved as a scientist, and as a teacher and a mentor,” says Franca, “Ros has established a successful programme of research on colorectal cancer, is a caring mentor for her students and a great role model for all female scientists. Her energy and warmth are inspirational.”