It was La Trobe University's strength in basic and applied research that made Abhishek Awasthi, an overseas student from Himachal Pradesh in India, enrol in the two year Master of Biotechnology and BioInformatics course.
Now in his final semester, Awasthi is aiming to pursue doctoral studies at the University, which has just begun building an A$350 million world-class La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science (LIMS) and the AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience to take science research,
education and training to a new high.
"Acting as a cutting edge scientific research and development hub, LIMS will provide undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral scientists the opportunity to not only pursue research, but also successfully translate the findings into commercial products for the treatment of cancer, malaria and auto-immune disease amongst others," says Professor Nick Hoogenraad, Head, School of Molecular Sciences and LIMS' Executive Director.
While new ways of understanding cancer will be a significant focus of the newly established A$97.9 million LIMS, the institute will also be the central point for research programmes to do with protein structure and function, genetics, medical chemistry and parasitology among others.
The Institute has been established with the aim of increasing employment opportunities for early to mid-career researchers, as was the Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellows programme.
"They need to learn how to run their own laboratories, train doctoral students and manage research budgets", said Professor Hoogenraad. Five members of LIMS obtained the prestigious ARC Future Fellowships valued at about A$150,000 per annum each.
The new facilities, to be completed by 2012 via a public-private partnership, will significantly enhance La Trobe's leadership in science, attracting 700 more researchers, and through its outreach programme inspiring school students to pursue careers in science.
"This is a real leap forward. The A$230 million AgriBio will attract leading scientists, providing researchers and students with access to the most advanced technologies. Initial research will focus on soil management and developing new genotypes of varieties of crops and pasture plants that will better adapt to changing climate and water use," says Associate Professor Peter W G Sale at the Department of Agricultural Science.
"Finding sustainable solutions to improve productivity, fight disease and reduce environmental impact will be a win for countries across the world. Our job-ready graduates will be able to make a difference in their own countries as well", adds Associate Professor Sale.
From 2009 undergraduate students will have access to the 'AgriBio option' on completion of their studies and Honours and postgraduate students will have the opportunity to train in a first-rate facility, one of the best bioscience facilities in the world, and collaborate with world-leading scientists.
The AgriBio will bring the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, the state's largest agricultural R&D organisation, together with La Trobe to strengthen Victoria's international reputation for agricultural research and diagnostics.
High quality and high impact research has been an integral part of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, winning its students and staff many an accolade over the past four decades.
LIMS and the AgriBio will open avenues for future joint projects with institutions and research facilities across the world. "The new facilities will make LaTrobe the place to come and study.
It will open new avenues for collaborative research with international institutions, providing our students an edge in getting high quality industry placements", says Associate Professor Brian Usher, Associate Dean (International) Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering. |
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