Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women

The Melbourne Medical School’s Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women is an initiative supporting early and mid-career women in academia.

About the scheme

Launched in 2019, the Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women scheme (SGOW) aims to support high-performing early and mid-career women in academia in advancing their careers towards senior academic and leadership roles. 

Offered biennially, the scheme supports recipients over a two year period to undertake activities intended to increase their academic capability, productivity and profile with the intention of progressing their careers.

This scheme is administered by the Melbourne Medical School and generously supported by our health service partners. Questions regarding this scheme can be directed to the MMS Research Support Team: mms-research@unimelb.edu.au.

2023 Round

The 2023 round of the scheme is currently open. Eligible applicants will be able to apply for grants between $20,000 and $30,000 per annum, for up to two years (maximum award value: $60,000). At least eight grants will be available and the funding period will commence on 1 January 2024.

Applications close on Thursday 17 August at 5pm.

More information on application and eligibility requirements can be found in the SGOW 2023 Guidelines.

2023 Application form

Information Session

The MMS Research Support team ran an information session for prospective applicants on Friday 14 July from 10am to 10:30am via Zoom. The recording of this session can be viewed below

Watch the recording

Any additional questions not answered in this session can be directed to the MMS Research Support Team: mms-research@unimelb.edu.au.

Key dates

Monday 10 July

Round opens via Smartygrants at 9am

Friday 14 July

Online information session for applicants.
Register Here

Thursday 17 August

Applications close 5pm

Early November

Expected notifications of outcomes

1 January 2024

Funding period commences

Grant Recipients

  • 2019

    For more detailed profiles of our recipients please see the 2019 SGOW recipients page.

    Dr Katie Ayers

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
    Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)

    Associate Professor Penelope Bryant

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
    Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)

    Dr Lisa Cheshire

    Department of Medical Education, Melbourne Medical School

    Associate Professor Kate Drummond

    Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Amy Gray

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Amanda Gwee

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School

    Associate Professor Natalie Hannan

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Yasmin Jayasinghe

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne Medical School

  • 2021

    For more detailed profiles of our recipients please see the 2021 SGOW recipients page.

    Associate Professor Lauren Ayton

    Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Ada Cheung

    Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Maria Di Biase

    Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Leonie Griffiths

    Department of Medical Education, Melbourne Medical School
    Northern Health

    Dr Gabrielle Haeusler

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
    Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)

    Dr Sarah Hanieh

    Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School

    Dr Jess Heerde

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
    Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)

    Associate Professor Lisa Hui

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne Medical School
    Northern Health

    Dr Rachel McQuade

    Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
    Western Health

    Dr Jing Wang

    Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School 
    Murhdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)