Sam Taylor-Alexander Early Career Researcher Prize for Ethics and Engagement within Anthropology
Samuel Taylor-Alexander (1986-2019) was an anthropologist of science and medicine from Tāmaki Makaurau. Sam trained in social anthropology at the University of Auckland, did his PhD (2012) at the Australia National University, and was a visiting fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Building on twelve months of ethnographic research in a Mexico City hospital, his doctoral work explored the medical aspirations and forms of nation-making at stake in Mexican reconstructive surgery. A subsequent book, On Face Transplantation, explored how face transplant surgery mobilised distinct national imaginaries to generate both medical outcomes for patients, and broader political changes. After graduating Sam worked as a teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh’s Mason Institute for Life Sciences and the Law, and a Research Fellow in Monash University’s Health and Biofutures Programme. Throughout his career, Sam was recognised for his collegiality; for taking time to support students and junior scholars; and for his intellectual enthusiasm and love of ideas.
This award is inspired by these qualities. The decision to create this award for students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) with no requirements for how prize money is spent is in recognition of Sam’s passion for social and distributive justice.
Past recipients
2024: Revena Trnka and Rebekah Senanayake. This year the award panel made the exceptional decision to award two prizes.
Revena Trnka’s referee described them as an inspiring and generous tutor, whose ethic of care and commitment to accessibility reaches beyond the university, into the context of community theatre. Revena’s research also materialises inclusive and accessible design through thoughtful methodological choices and their own scholarly conduct.
Rebekah Senanayake holds the respect of her peers, students, and departmental colleagues alike. Her referee commended her devotion to her students, and her role in welcoming and connecting newcomers to her department. She has also built her politics into her research practice through the use of decolonising and indigenous ethics frameworks.
2023: Imogen Spray. The award recognises Imogen's deep care for her cohort and participants, and her attunement to questions of equity, social justice and solidarity in her research, tutoring, and wider life.
2021: Tarapuhi Vaeau. Tarapuhi’s nominators celebrated her intellectual generosity; her ability to both support and hold accountable the people around her; her commitment to a more ethical and inclusive pedagogy; and a pursuit of radical accessibility. Her work manifests through the Tātoutātou collective, policy engagements, her professional work, and the MahiTahi initiative.
2020: Hannah Gibson.
2019: Mythily Meher.
2024 Call for nominations
We invite nominations of Students and Early Career Anthropologists (ECR) from around Aotearoa for the Sam Taylor-Alexander ECR Prize for Ethics and Engagement within Anthropology.
The prize aims to recognise the ‘everyday ethical’ labour and engagement that is continually practiced in, and essential to, the academy, and in doing so, to foster a culture of allyship, social justice, and generosity within Aotearoa/New Zealand anthropology. We invite nominations of students and ECRs on non-permanent and/or short-term contracts who demonstrate a spirit of intellectual generosity, social justice, academic kindness, and solidarity. These may be evident in a nominee’s personal conduct, research focus, teaching practice, or activities beyond the university.
Value
$1000, to be used however the recipient sees fit.
Eligibility
The prize is open to:
Students undertaking postgraduate studies in Anthropology at any university in Aotearoa; and
Early Career Researchers (ECRs), here defined as someone carrying out teaching or research in anthropology without the security of a permanent employment contract (including postdoctoral research, research associates, research assistants, tutors, teaching fellows, assistant lecturers, or lecturers on short term contracts)
ASAA/NZ membership is not required, but on acceptance of this award recipients are encouraged to become paying members.
Procedure
Nominations will be accepted from the applicants themselves, their peers (i.e. their study cohort or colleagues), or by a faculty member.
To nominate a person, please download and complete the nomination form (below) and submit it along with the nominee’s CV and a supporting letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
Those wishing to submit a nomination are advised to give faculty members a good amount of notice to write their letter (ideally no less than a fortnight), and to provide the nomination materials (CV and form) to assist them with letter writing.
Submit application material to courtney.addison@vuw.ac.nz by October 25, 2024.
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of 2-3 people and a decision announced at the annual conference. Attendance at the conference, though encouraged, is not required in order to receive this award.
