In Memory of Denise P. Barlow
© Lisl Spurny-Schwarzmüller (watercolour portrait) / Klaus Pichler
On 21 October 2023, we marked the sixth anniversary of the passing of Denise P. Barlow, a trailblazing molecular biologist who left a lasting impact on the scientific community in Austria and internationally. Based in Vienna, Denise was affiliated with four leading research institutions: the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), where she served as a group leader; the Max Perutz Labs, where she held a professorship; the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), which provided her with laboratory space; and CeMM, where she was a principal investigator for a decade.
The Barlow Award for Best Thesis on Biological Mechanisms
To celebrate her legacy and promote academic excellence, these four institutes established the Denise P. Barlow Award, an annual prize that honors outstanding PhD theses in molecular biology and related fields. This prestigious academic award is designed to support early-career researchers during the critical transition from PhD to postdoctoral research.
Awarded once a year, the Denise P. Barlow Award includes a €5,000 financial prize and a certificate featuring the winner’s name, the prize title, and a portrait of Denise. The award acknowledges exceptional doctoral work conducted at IMP, IMBA, Max Perutz Labs, or CeMM, spanning topics such as cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, and computational biology. A key criterion is the thesis' contribution to understanding novel biological mechanisms—an area close to Denise Barlow’s heart.
Details about past awardees and application calls are published on the official Denise P. Barlow Award website.
Award Committee and Selection Process
The selection committee comprises seven experts: the scientific directors of each participating institute and three additional specialists representing diverse scientific disciplines. Candidates must have completed their PhD at one of the four institutions and submitted their thesis.
Each institute may nominate up to two candidates per cycle. Submissions must include:
- A nomination letter or form from the student's principal investigator
- The candidate’s CV
- The complete PhD thesis
- Up to two associated publications or manuscripts (unless already included in the thesis)
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation emphasizes the candidate’s overall PhD performance, the depth of insights provided by the research, and the originality of the contributions. The award particularly values work that offers novel insights into biological mechanisms, aligning with the scientific legacy of Denise P. Barlow.
Application Timeline
Nomination deadline: 31 May 2025
PhD students from IMP, Max Perutz Labs, IMBA, and CeMM are eligible to apply if they have submitted their PhD thesis between 1 January and 31 December 2024.
For applications and inquiries, please contact: application[at]barlow-award.at
