The University of Queensland (UQ), IDP Education Australia and the Queensland Government have joined forces to launch a prestigious biotechnology scholarship for an Indian student.
The 2006 Australian of the Year, cervical cancer vaccine inventor Professor Ian Frazer, represented UQ at the scholarship launch in Hyderabad, India, last night (Tuesday, March 7).
UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development), Professor Trevor Grigg, said UQ was a leader in biotechnology discovery and a driving force in Australian research, innovation and commercialisation.
“The biotechnology scholarship is part of a series of IDP Peace Scholarships, which originated at the Australian International Education Conference in 2001," Professor Grigg said.
“The UQ scholarship will reward new talent from India and also lead to greater investment in our growing biotechnology partnership with India.
“The successful student will receive a full scholarship to UQ’s new Master of Biotechnology or Master of Molecular Biology program, plus a generous living allowance.
“The scholarship will cover three semesters, beginning in either July 2006 or February 2007."
The scholarship will be open to students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
UQ has university-wide linkages with these premier Indian institutes and in January 2006 hosted the JNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor B Battacharya, to discuss further links.
“The scholar will benefit from UQ’s leading facilities including the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Queensland Brain Institute, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the new Clinical Research Centre and the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research," Professor Grigg said.
“The scholar will have opportunities to study alongside distinguished researchers and lecturers.
“Professor Frazer has demonstrated the extraordinary capabilities of UQ researchers. His work led to the development of a vaccine for cervical cancer, which is expected to begin to become available in mid-2006.
“This scholarship is just one of the ways in which UQ is increasing its international research collaboration and offering new opportunities for students from India and other nations."
The scholarship was launched at the Australia-India Biotechnology Conference in Hyderabad.
For more information about the Peace Scholarship Trust including how to apply for a scholarship or make a donation go to http://www.idp.com/globalpeace/
For more information on UQ visit www.uq.edu.au
Media inquiries: Monique Barnes (+61 73365 7951 or m.barnes2@uq.edu.au).
