Alexandra Gason
Former PhD student at MCRI
After completing a Bachelor of Science, Honours in biochemistry, Alexandra realised that laboratory research was not for her. She wanted to be able to use laboratory research to help benefit the community, and so commenced a PhD in genetics education. Alexandra's PhD research focused on educational alternatives and attitudes towards genetic screening program in schools.
You've finished your PhD, what do you do now?
I now work for the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra, where I am a review officer with the statistical clearing house. My role is to review, analyse and improve survey methodology of Government initiated surveys.
What's the toughest part of research?
Remaining focused
What's the most satisfying part?
Knowing that members of the community may benefit from your work
What's your advice to other students?
Make more of the opportunities that come your way, no matter how trivial they may seem at the time
What are you proudest of?
I'm proud that I was able to change disciplines, from a laboratory focus, to complete my PhD in a new field of research. I'm also proud that my research has informed and enabled practical outcomes of genetic screening in schools
List 3 personality traits that enhance your research work
Stubborn, interested, committed
Who is your role model?
I generally admire people who are happy, considerate and driven to achieve their goals
What do you aspire to?
Live a fulfilling, meaningful and happy life
What are your personal interests?
Anything to do with sport, travel, games and adventure
Kelly Howard
Neurosciences
Kelly is conducting her PhD through the department of psychology at The University of Melbourne, at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. She has a Bachelor of Science and initially intended to major in genetics, but discovered that her strengths lay more in psychology and neuroanatomy than in the laboratory. She is currently in her third year of postgraduate studies and is about to start writing her thesis.
What's your background?
After completing honours I took a year off to travel and then came back to Melbourne and worked as a research assistant in the Psychology Department at the Royal Children's Hospital. During that year I became very interested in developmental neuropsychology and commenced a PhD with Professor Vicki Anderson and Dr Peter Anderson in the field of premature birth.
What do you do?
I look at the neural pathways that lead to cognitive and behavioural problems in children who are born very prematurely. My project is part of a larger study being undertaken by the Victorian Infant Brain Studies team at the Royal Children's and the Royal Women's Hospitals. As part of this study, 210 very preterm infants and 50 healthy full term infants were studied at birth and underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 40 weeks gestation, to study their neurodevelopment. At 24 months these children returned to the Royal Children's Hospital for a comprehensive medical and neurodevelopmental assessment.
The 'bigger picture' of what you do?
The public health ramifications of very preterm birth are profound. Infants born earlier than 32 weeks gestation now represent about 2 per cent of all live births in Australia, which translates to about 4000 births per year. These children are at risk for a wide range of cognitive, motor and behavioural problems later in life, including learning disabilities and ADHD. However, many of these infants do not develop any problems later on and it is very difficult to predict which infants are most at risk. Our study hopes that using MRI during the neonatal period may help clinicians better understand the nature of brain injury, to help us predict which infants are at most risk for later neurodevelopmental problems.
Why did you decide to do postgraduate study?
To keep me off the streets! Actually, I decided to do a PhD, because I was enjoying working in research and wanted to continue working in the area.
What's the toughest part?
I think that reviewing the literature is particularly challenging. There is a lot to consider and at times it can be very confusing.
What's the most satisfying part?
I like working with the children and talking to families about their experiences. I also like working as part of a larger research team.
How do other people see you?
People tend to think that I'm not the typical researcher, as I'm always laughing! But I'm sure people think that my personality is suited to working with very young children.
What are you proudest of?
That I am actually doing something which I enjoy and which helps others.
List 3 personality traits that enhance your research work
Cheerful, positive and patient
What do you aspire to?
After I complete my PhD, I hope to continue to conduct research in developmental neuropsychology and also gain more clinical and teaching experience.
In another lifetime, what would you be?
In another lifetime I would be a primary school teacher. Or if I had any talent, I would do something musical or write for a particularly trashy magazine.
What are your personal interests?
I love films, television, muscials and plays, but also love to read, ride my bike, eat good food and spend time with friends and family.
Sebastian King
Surgical Research Fellow, PhD student
Dr Sebastian King is a research fellow and PhD student in surgical research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Originally from Sydney, Sebastian moved to Melbourne and to the Royal Children's Hospital to work with Professor John Hutson, who has a well-established career in surgery and surgical research. Sebastian has always wanted to be a paediatric surgeon, since doing work experience as a school student in 1991. He is considering a surgical career with a strong research component and is at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute to experience life as a medical researcher.
What do you do?
I investigate the glamorous topic of constipation in children! My research projects are a combination of clinical work, investigating how well our treatments work and measuring motility patterns in children with constipation and basic science work, studying neurotransmitter densities in children with constipation and identifying genetic causes of the disease.
Toughest part of the job?
Recruiting patients for studies
Most satisfying part of the job?
The fact that we can improve children's lives is immensely rewarding. I also enjoy thinking critically about research results and challenging preconceived ideas.
What would you change?
The current funding crisis impacts on all researchers and applying for grants takes us away from our work.
How do other people see you?
I think they would say that I'm not very serious!
What are you proudest of?
Demonstrating that the children we look after really do have a serious problem that we can help to fix.
What do you most regret?
I regret that I won't be able to continue my research work next year, as I will be returning to a clinically based job in Sydney.
Role model?
My wife. She moved to Melbourne for me and has kept me sane for the last two and a half years.
What do you aspire to?
I hope to be a paediatric surgeon who can maintain a strong interest in research and still have enough time to do volunteer work in the Pacific region.
In another lifetime, what would you be?
In another lifetime I would be an opera singer
Personal interests?
Music - cello and singing, Italian cooking and golf
Andrea Harrington
PhD student - Gut Motility, Gastro Research
After completing a Bachelor of Science, Andrea came to the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in 2003 to complete Honours in gut motility research. She is currently completing her PhD in the same area of research.
Explain your research
200 children are admitted to The Royal Children's Hospital each year with chronic constipation that lasts 3-30 days and does not respond to treatments. In these patients, food is moved very slowly along the colon, which is caused by the loss of coordinated muscle contraction and relaxation. We are investigating if there is a functional defect in the muscle, nerves or pacemakers cells found within the colon wall and I specifically examine the circuitry (neurons, neurotransmitters and nerves) controlling intestine muscle contraction. Our research will help improve understanding of this condition and lead to better methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Research interests
I am interested in human physiology, diet and nutrition, to find out how what we eat effects how we function. I am also interested in understanding how genes cause disease and the techniques used to identify these disease-causing genes.
Research career highlights
First publication in Neurogastroenterology and Motility, October 2005.
Future research career goal
To complete my PhD then move overseas for a post doctoral research position.
Ultimate research result
To discover something that has a direct application to the management, treatment or diagnosis of a disorder.
Biggest frustration with science
It is frustrating when experiments don't work, or when there are equipment problems. However, the biggest frustration is not so much the science but the environment in which we work. In particular the highly competitive funding environment within Australia and depending on what area you're in, the lack of job security.
Biggest satisfaction with science
It is never boring! I am always learning new skills and techniques. I also enjoy that research offers variable work opportunities, you can be working in the laboratory one day, writing manuscripts the next and you can even end up in management or educational roles. The opportunity to travel is also a major plus.
3 personality traits that enhance your research work
Optimistic, persistent, lateral thinking.
Alternative careers
If I wasn't a scientist, I would be a police officer, a dietician or a journalist.
Other Interests
I enjoy netball, swimming, running and hiking, reading non-scientific journals, travelling, going out with friends, and all day breakfasts on Sundays.