Burnet Prize

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Burnet Prize is awarded annually to early-career scientists at the institute who have produced pioneering research.

The Burnet Prize was established in 1987 through a bequest of Sir Macfarlane Burnet and is presented at the annual general meeting. The award includes a specially-commissioned bronze commemorative plaque created by Melbourne sculptor Michael Meszaros and a cash prize of $2000.

A number of past recipients have gone on to great success at the institute, and include institute director Professor Doug Hilton and a number of current division heads including Professor Alan Cowman, Professor Andreas Strasser and Professor Warren Alexander.

Other Burnet Prize winners have moved to lead other institutes such as Professor Brendan Crabb, director of the Burnet Institute, and Professor Anne Kelso, director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza.