Chalmers Medal

The Medal opened for applications and nominations on 2 February 2024. The deadline to enter has been extended and is now Friday 19th April 2024 at 17:00 GMT. 

The Chalmers Medal recognises researchers in tropical medicine or global health who demonstrate evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators, and other forms of capacity building. 

Eligibility and nominations

  • Nominations are annual and will next open on the 2nd of February 2024. 
  • Nominees should be researchers in tropical medicine or international health from anywhere in the world, who obtained their last relevant qualification between 15 and 20 years ago, allowing for career breaks 
  • Nominations must show evidence of mentoring of junior investigators, and evidence of providing professional development to junior investigators.
  • Nominations should come from RSTMH members and Fellows ONLY
  • Nominees should be RSTMH members or Fellows ONLY
  • Self-nominations must be accompanied by a supporting statement from an RSTMH members or Fellow
  • For any enquiries regarding this award, please contact Nisreen [dot] Hamad [at] rstmh [dot] org

Apply/ Nominate now

2023 Chalmers Medal recipient: Professor Faith Hope Among’in Osier

The winner of this year’s Chalmers Medal is Professor Faith Hope Among’in Osier, who was nominated by Professor Kevin Marsh. 

The Chalmers Medal recognises researchers in tropical medicine or global health who demonstrate evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators, and other forms of capacity building. 

Professor Osier trained as a paediatrician in Kenya, specialized in immunology in Liverpool, and obtained a PhD from the Open University. She is Chair of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London where she also serves as the Co-Director of the Institute of Infection.  

I am thoroughly delighted to receive this award and acknowledge the support of all my colleagues, research funders and host institutions, without whom this would not have been possible. This award raises the profile of female African scientists in global health and will inspire others to be the change we want to see.”

Professor Faith Hope Among’in Osier

History and prize

The Chalmers Medal

Dr Albert John Chalmers, MD, FRCS, DPH was born in Manchester in 1870 and began his distinguished tropical career in Ghana where he worked from 1897 to 1901.

He spent the following ten years in Sri Lanka before becoming a Holt Fellow of University College, Liverpool. From 1913 to 1920 he was Director of the Wellcome Research Laboratories in the Sudan. He died in Calcutta on 5 April 1920.

In 1921, Mrs Chalmers, his widow gave £500 to RSTMH in memory of her husband. The RSTMH Council decided to devote this money to the foundation of the Chalmers Memorial Medal.

The Chalmers Medal recognises researchers in tropical medicine or global health who demonstrate evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators, and other forms of capacity building.

These skills are in line with Dr Chalmers’ own values of supporting the work of younger researchers. Dr Chalmers was known for being ready with help and encouragement to those early in their careers.

Recipients recieve a medal, which is in silver gilt, and bears a likeness of Dr Chalmers and the motto Zonae torridae tutamen on one side, and the other side is a representation of Anopheles gambiae above a spray of the cinchona plant and encircled by the name of the Society.