The 2024 Early Career Scientist of the Year was awarded to 2 joint winners. The category recognises outstanding scientists who have completed their highest degree within the past 5 years and demonstrated excellence in a field of science, scientific research or technological advancement.
In the 23rd year of the Premier's Science Awards we celebrate the work of Dr Pamela Laird and Dr Neil Robinson as our Early Career Scientist of the Year winners.
Dr Pamela Laird
Telethon Kids Institute
Dr Pamela Laird is a Clinician-Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute and Perth Children’s Hospital focused on reducing chronic respiratory disease burden in Aboriginal children. Her research has provided: world-first data on the prevalence of the life-shortening, ‘orphan disease’ of bronchiectasis; addressed significant health-service and health-outcome gaps for Aboriginal children in regional and remote Western Australia – where barriers to access are serious; and dramatically improved awareness, healthcare-seeking and follow-up for bronchiectasis and its precursor, chronic wet cough.
In close partnership with Aboriginal medical services and leaders, Dr Laird has contributed to national guidelines and created accessible resources that, with her research, have already helped save more than 1,000 little lungs.
Dr Neil Robinson
The University of Western Australia
Dr Neil Robinson holds a Forrest Fellowship at The University of Western Australia and a Strategic Research Fellowship within the Future Energy Exports CRC. An interdisciplinary chemist, engineer and materials scientist, he is considered one of Australia’s most innovative energy researchers.
Dr Robinson’s multi-award-winning work focuses on the development of next-generation materials and measurement systems to solve global issues in sustainability and decarbonization; these include new catalysts to produce low-carbon fuels, novel measurement techniques to optimise environmentally friendly engineering cements, and material design strategies to enable the efficient and large-scale transport of hydrogen. This research has the potential to make WA a world-leader in clean energy technology.
Dr Robinson is further recognised internationally for his sustained contributions to outreach, engagement and communication training, and was named an Energy Influencer of the Year in 2023.
