Degrees Awarded 2001

PhD Degree

A Bhatnagar PhD The association of I-Ag7, the class II MHC molecules of the non-obese diabetic mouse with CLIP A Berntson PhD Biophysical characterization of the photoreceptor synapse S Cuff PhD The role of the ectromelia virus protein P28 in viral pathogenesis A Delaney PhD The central amygdala: an electrophysiological study M Harris PhD Function and membrane targeting of the multidrug resistance associated Protein 2 A Hurne PhD Mode of action of epidithio-2,5-piperazinediones

New PhD, Dr Janine Young

R Lim PhD
Synaptic transmission in the central auditory system

A Manderson PhD
The role of complement in B cell activation

E O’Neill PhD
Aspects of B-cell antigen presentation

PR Paalangara PhD
Development of the capacity of the gut-associated immune system of perinatal lambs to respond to parasitic antigens

M Regner PhD
Immunodominance and cross-reactivity of cytotoxic T cells in flavivirus infection

A Reynolds PhD
Molecular mechanisms regulating the retrograde axonal transport of neurotrophic factors

C Stocks PhD
A study of the mechanism and role of coordinated cleavages by signal peptidase and viral NS2B-3 protease at the C-prm junction:- the structural protein region of the flavivirus protein

D Thurbon PhD
Active and passive membrane properties of motoneurones

A Wyndham PhD
Functional and sequence characterisation of a yeast deubiquitinating enzyme UBP6

J Young PhD
Regulation of allergic airways disease by CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes

Photo: Dr Chris Schyvens (left) and Director, Prof Judith Whitworth (2nd from right) with new graduates: (From left) Miles Andrews - Hons I and University Medal; Dr Noorjahan Alitheen - PhD; Matthew Taylor, Masters - M Phil.

Masters Degree

M Taylor MPhil
Parkinson’s disease and xenobiotic metabolism

Honours Degree

MC Andrews BSc (Hons 1 and University Medal)
The role of nitric oxide in glucocorticoid-induced hypertension

AM Catanzariti BSc (Hons 1 and University Medal)
Development of an efficient system for the expression, purification and cleavage of ubiquiting fusion proteins

D Eichner BSc (Hons)
Transfection of JAWS II dendritic cell line with a panel of recombinant fowlpox viruses expressing cytokines and costimulatory molecules

AJ Murfett BSc (Hons)
The effect of vaccine vectors on dendritic cell maturation and expression of immunoregulatory molecules

V Smart BSc (Hons 1)
Characterisation of the potential role of genetically modified plants in the induction of allergic airways disease

Training Future Medical Researchers

One of the primary aims of the School is to train the medical researchers of the future. Most of our postgraduate students are carrying out research directed towards the production of a thesis for a PhD degree. However, in the last few years we have been fortunate to attract growing numbers of Honours students. We share supervision of these with the ANU Faculties. The JCSMR has agreed that the target postgraduate student load in the School should be 105 by 2003. This target was determined by the School's operating budget, anticipated new funding through the Australian Governments Research Training Scheme and staff capacity to provide high quality supervision.

 

Position of Convenor of The Medical Sciences Graduate Program
During 1999 the decision was taken that research training in JCSMR should be given more focus. A part time academic appointment was made in 2000 specifically as Convenor of the Medical Sciences Graduate Program. A submission to the University's New Plan for Growth Scheme, based on the School's research training plan has won funds for the Convenor's position to become full time for the years 2001-2003. As well as taking responsibility for research student training the position will cover student recruitment and Postdoctoral Fellow mentoring and career development.

Progress in 2001
A detailed plan for the development of research training covering the next three years has been formulated. This includes a strengthening the assessment of student progress throughout their course and the completion of a comprehensive survey of students on their PhD experience, to better plan further action. Augmentation of the supervision skills of academics is also a priority and the Convenor collaborated with CEDAM on the Supervision Training Program to enhance these skills amongst this School's academics in particular but also in a University-wide and Australia-wide scheme. The Postdoctoral Fellows particularly, are being encouraged to take on formal advisory roles and to take CEDAM courses and workshops on supervisory methods and skills. Postdoctoral Fellows are now being formally recognised for their contributions to student supervision. The student pages on the School's web site have been substantially upgraded.

PhD, MPhil, Honours, Summer Research Scholarships

PhD, MPhil
The course for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years full-time study. Applicants should be of high scholastic calibre and should have a capacity for research. Applicants normally would have or expect to have one of the following minimal qualifications: BSc (not only in biological sciences), BEng, BVSc, BAgrSc, or their equivalent (at the standard of upper second class honours at least), MBBS or MSc. In special cases, applicants with other qualifications or research experience of high order may be considered. Successful applicants whose first language is not English are required to pass an English test before admission will be confirmed. Australian Government visa regulations also require an English test for overseas students. A panel of a minimum of three, usually consisting of a main supervisor and two or more other advisers, supervises PhD students. Their progress is assessed at regular intervals and they attend seminar programs devised to give them a broad overview of current medical research as well as more specialised technical courses and more general seminars on topics such as planning and writing a thesis, giving research seminars and writing a scientific paper. Overall student welfare and training is monitored and coordinated by the Program Convenor.

Admission to a Master of Science research program (for one to two years) may be considered.

Graduate programs

As members of the ANU Graduate School, students working in the John Curtin School can elect to belong to any of the Programs of the Graduate School. Most (about 90 per cent) join the Medical Sciences Program, but there are a significant number of students in the Neurosciences Program and a few in other biologically-orientated Programs, such as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

ANU PhD Scholarship Awards
A number of Australian National University scholarships that provide a stipend (but do not cover the tuition fees payable by overseas students) are available for students taking a PhD course in the JCSMR. The School hosts each year a number of students holding Australian Postgraduate Awards. These are for Australian citizens or permanent residents. In addition, the School hosts International Postgraduate Research Scholarships for students of other nationalities for PhD research courses (these are discussed below). A scholarship is normally tenable for three years, subject to satisfactory progress. These are extendable to three and a half years. Subject to the agreement of the Head of the Division concerned, University scholarship programs may be commenced at any time during the year. A scholarship provides a basic living allowance (or stipend) which from January 2002 will be $A17,609 per annum (tax free). Grants for travel to Canberra are paid for a scholarship holder and for a dependent spouse and children if the scholar is married before taking up the award; some removal expenses may also be reimbursed. Travel and removal grants at the conclusion of the award may also be paid to scholars recruited from overseas.

Australian Government policy since January 1990 has been that overseas students (other than New Zealand citizens) will be admitted only on a full-fee paying basis. The tuition fee in 2002 for PhD courses in the JCSMR is $A17,500 per annum. Overseas applicants are encouraged to apply to their own governments and other granting agencies able to provide scholarships to cover the tuition fees. There are a limited number of Australian Government International Postgraduate Research Scholarships available.

The Eccles Scholarship is designed to attract overseas students of high calibre to pursue postgraduate research at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. The Scholarship provides for payment of the annual tuition fees for overseas students, an annual living expenses stipend set at a normal rate of the ANU PhD Scholarship, plus other benefits as provided under the award of the ANU PhD Scholarship, including travel and removal expenses.

Applications for admission or ANU Scholarships should be made on forms available from the Head, Human Resources Section, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia. There is no set closing date for applications for admission or for ANU scholarships. Applicants from overseas for Australian National University Scholarships are advised to apply at least six months before they expect to be able to take up a place, if offered. These benefits are currently under review.

Australian Postgraduate Awards
The Australian Government Department of Education Science and Training each year makes available Australian Postgraduate Awards for full-time study leading to a post-graduate degree. These awards are available to Australian citizens whether resident in Australia or overseas at the time of application and to persons from overseas who have permanent resident status. They are normally offered at the Australian National University only to applicants intending to undertake courses leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Further particulars and application forms are available from any Australian university, or any office of the Department of Education, Science and Training. Applications for these awards close on October 31 each year. The selection committee normally meets in mid-December to decide first offers of award at the ANU but selection often continues into the following January or February.

Doherty Scholarship
The Doherty Scholarship has been funded by the Australian National University Endowment for Excellence, The John Curtin School of Medical Research and the National Health Sciences Centre to facilitate the interactions between basic science in the medical research area and the clinical development of such scientific enterprise. The purpose of the Scholarship is to attract Australian students of high calibre with clinical qualifications to pursue postgraduate research for a PhD degree at the John Curtin School of Medical Research involving a clinical research project. This is a supplementary scholarship, intended to be held jointly with a stipend scholarship such as an Australian Postgraduate Award, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Award, or ANU Postgraduate Scholarship. The total value of the scholarships in 2001 was $30,000. The eligibility criteria ae being reviewed.

Zinkernagel Scholarship
JCSMR has established a named scholarship in honour of Professor Rolf Zinkernagel, who shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Professor Peter Doherty in 1996 for the work done in the JCSMR. One Zinkernagel Scholarship will be awarded annually to an overseas PhD student who is an applicant for the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). The Scholarship provides for payment of an annual living expenses stipend set at a normal rate of the ANU PhD scholarship for the duration of the IPRS award.

Medical Science Fourth Year Honours Scholarships
Eligible students may compete each year for several awards that may be offered to students with strong academic records to provide encouragement and assistance to undertake at the ANU the fourth year of a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in medically related science fields. Successful applicants must meet the normal Faculty of Science requirements for entry to fourth year Honours. Students will be enrolled in the appropriate academic area in The Faculties, but supervision will be shared with the JCSMR. The Honours research project is normally conducted in the JCSMR or in the School of Life Sciences in The Faculties.

Each scholarship has a value of $A6000, with an additional relocation allowance of $A4,000 for a student whose normal place of residence is outside Canberra. Applications close on 30 November each year.

Paul Bunyan Memorial Scholarship in Medical Sciences
This is an Honours scholarship awarded in memory of Paul Bunyan. The Scholarship provides a stipend of $6,000 per annum for one year for a Medical Science Fourth Year (Honours) student in a medical science field normally related to cancer research. First awarded in 1999.

Alexander McTaggert Memorial Scholarship
This is an Honours scholarship awarded in memory of Alexander McTaggert. The Scholarship provides a stipend of $6000 per annum for one year for a fourth year (Honours) student in medical science related to cancer research and allied fields. First awarded in 2001.

Summer Research Scholarships
Summer Research Scholarships are normally offered to currently enrolled undergraduate students from Australia and New Zealand who will have completed two to three years of a full-time undergraduate course when they take up the scholarship. The scholarships are primarily awarded to interest students in the possibility of later enrolment as a postgraduate scholar and to test the students capacity. The Summer Research Scholarships offer full board at an affiliated University College, a weekly allowance of $130 (tax exempt) and return travel to Canberra. There are approximately 25 scholarships each year.

Correspondence
All correspondence concerning postgraduate courses, admissions, PhD Scholarships, Medical Science Honours scholarships and Summer Vacation Scholarships should be addressed to The Head Human Resources Section, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia.

 

 

 

Students currently enrolled

PhD Scholars

Adams K
BSc (Hons) (Newcastle)

Alitheen N
BSc (Hons) (Malaysia)

Alsharifi M
BBioMedSci (Hons) (Monash) (from April)

Attema J
BSc BHealth Sci (Hons)

Barlow V
BSc (Hons) LLB LLM (UTS) GradDip Legal Practice (College of Law NSW)

Beard N
B App Sci (Hons) (La Trobe)

Berntson A
BA (Hons) (Minnesota) (until October)

Bhatnagar A
BSc (Bangalore) MSc (Bangalore) (until January)

Bromhead D
BSc (Hons) (jointly supervised with Botany and Zoology, ANU) (until February)

Bunce M
BSc (Hons) (Lincoln)

Cakouros J
BSc, BHealth Sci (Hons) (Adelaide)

Calanni S
BSc (Med Sci) (Syd), BSc (Hons)

Davy D
BSc (Hons)

da Zhang M
BSc (China), MSc (Wollongong)

Estcourt M
BSc (Hons) (Monash)

Farnsworth M
BSc (Wollongong) BSc (Hons) (from March)

Fisher JA
BSc (Hons)

Foong Y
BSc (UWA) BSc (Hons)

Forwood J
BSc (Hons) (James Cook)

Franklin A
BSc (Hons) (Wollongong)

Green D
BSc (Hons)

Gousseva N
BSc (Moscow)

Gustiananda M
BSc (Bandung)

Haarmann C
MSc (Heidelburg)

Haddock R
BSc (Wollongong) (Hons)

Halliday D
BSc (Townsville)

Hamilton N
BSc(Hons) (Lincoln)

Harley N
BSc (Hons) BSc (Hons)

Harris GM
BSc Grad Dip

Henderson A
BSc (Hons) (NSW)

Herbert G
BSc (Hons) (Leicester)

Hu W
MB (China) MSc (Kings College London)

Jaccoud D
BSc (Hons)

Johnson-Saliba M
BSc(Hons), MSc (Cape Town, South Africa)

Jones A
BScAgr (Hons) (Syd)

Juelich T
(Dip Biol) (Stuttgart)

Jun J
BMedSc (Hons) (Syd)

Kampa B
Dip Biology Diploma Biology (Freiburg)

Khoury R
BSc (Hons) (Adelaide)

Leck KJ
BSc (Hons)

Licon Luna RM
BVMed (UnivBaja California Mexico) MEcol (UnivBaja California Mexico)

Lim E
BTech (Hons) (Auckland)

Linnett P
BSc (Hons) BVSc (Syd)

Loy A
BSc (Hons)

Luu T
BMed Sci (Hons) (Syd)

Mackenzie J
BSc (Hons) (Lincoln NZ) (until February)

Manderson A
BSc (Hons) (Otago) (until April)

Martin S
BSc (Hons) (Otago)

Maxwell G
BAppSc (Hons) (Canb) (until January)

Melton J
BSc (Hons) (University of Auckland)

Miosge L
BSc (Hons)

Moerman K
BMedChem (Hons) (Wollongong)

MSc Scholars

Rana PM
Med Tech (Tribunal University Nepal) (From August)

Taylor M
BSc

 Honours Scholars

Andrews MC
BSc (Melb) BSc (Hons)

Eichner D
BSc

Jaya S
BSc (Hons) (Malaya) (from August)

Jumka Z
BSc (from July)

Murfett A
BAppSciBiotech (QUT)

Smart V
BSc

Woodruff A
BSc (Adelaide)

Summer Vacation Scholars - December 2001 Anggono V, Bandi HP, Brown KD, Chan M, Chung M, Davis R, Dixon C, Forbes E, Gock A, Harvey L, Hawkins E, Jang R, Kimber M, Klassen E, McEwan M, Mutch J, Ng WK, Procko C, Ramsay D, Seymour V, Smart V, Stokes P, Sutcliffe EL, Tam R, Young J. Photo: Dr Rohan Baker (center) with 2001-02 vacation scholars Andrew Gock (Wagga Wagga) and Elissa Lee Sutcliffe (Darwin)