Elliot Meskis Award for an Exceptional Postdoctoral Fellow

The Elliot Meskis Award for an Exceptional Postdoctoral Fellow honors the achievements and potential of remarkable postdocs specializing in Dravet syndrome. Recipients are awarded $2,500 to support their career advancement. This annual award is presented as part of the DSF Research Grant cycle, granted to one of the postdoctoral fellowships selected as awardees for that year. This award was established in 2024 by an anonymous donor, in honor of Elliot Meskis, the son of Mary Anne Meskis, a founding member and the Executive Director of DSF. The award donor will remain anonymous.

Nominee Eligibility Criteria

The postdoctoral fellow selected for this award will have shown a strong commitment to critical thinking, rigorous science, innovation and a passion for advancing our understanding or treatment of Dravet syndrome. They will possess a consistent track record of research performance and professional development, highlighted by notable achievements such as publications, grants, or awards.

Selection Process

Each year, the donor will choose one DSF postdoctoral awardee to receive this honor. The DSF Scientific Advisory Board will independently select eligible candidates from the applicant pool each year. The chosen fellow will have demonstrated a strong history of critical thinking and a passion for continuous learning in neuroscience. Additionally, they will have shown a commitment to supporting others in both the Dravet community and the wider scientific community.

Award Conditions

This award can be applied toward professional development activities, such as attending a conference, receiving training in a specific methodology, attending a course, or engaging in any other research-related activities that advance the proposed research. It may also be utilized for purchasing a laptop or other equipment to aid in postdoctoral research. After one year, the recipient will be required to submit a brief statement detailing how the award was used and how it contributed to their career development.