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Careers in Biotechnology - City of Greater Geelong

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BIOGEELONG - MAKE A DIFFERENCE<br />

<strong>Careers</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Biotechnology</strong><br />

<strong>Biotechnology</strong> is one <strong>of</strong> the fastest grow<strong>in</strong>g areas <strong>of</strong><br />

science <strong>in</strong> the world today. The race to improve medical<br />

treatments, produce crops resistant to pests and<br />

disease, and to protect aga<strong>in</strong>st bioterrorism has resulted<br />

<strong>in</strong> a flourish <strong>of</strong> research activity.<br />

Choos<strong>in</strong>g a career <strong>in</strong> biotechnology opens up a world <strong>of</strong><br />

excit<strong>in</strong>g discoveries and attractive job prospects. You<br />

could be sav<strong>in</strong>g lives, creat<strong>in</strong>g new foods or become the<br />

Bill Gates <strong>of</strong> the medical world.<br />

What is <strong>Biotechnology</strong>?<br />

<strong>Biotechnology</strong> is def<strong>in</strong>ed as a technique that uses liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

organisms to make or modify products or improve plants<br />

and animals. In the medical world it has been used to<br />

develop vacc<strong>in</strong>es and antibiotics, test for diseases and<br />

assist couples to have children through the use <strong>of</strong> IVF (<strong>in</strong><br />

vitro fertilisation). In the agricultural world, biotechnology<br />

resulted <strong>in</strong> Dolly – the cloned sheep - tomatoes that<br />

don’t rot and cows that like Australia’s hot summers!<br />

<strong>Biotechnology</strong> is part <strong>of</strong> the search for cures for diseases<br />

like Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, obesity and cardiac<br />

disorders.<br />

<strong>Biotechnology</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Geelong</strong><br />

The <strong>Geelong</strong> Region has Victoria’s largest biotechnology<br />

capability outside Melbourne. There are more than 300<br />

researchers and the <strong>in</strong>dustry attracts approximately<br />

$18 million per year <strong>in</strong> external research fund<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Employment <strong>in</strong> biotechnology alone contributes over<br />

$15 million <strong>in</strong> wages and salaries to the local economy<br />

each year.<br />

Project Snapshots<br />

Research <strong>in</strong> <strong>Geelong</strong> encompasses all k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong><br />

biotechnology. One project that Deak<strong>in</strong> University and<br />

Barwon Health are work<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>volves the production <strong>of</strong><br />

new materials for hip replacements. The idea is to make<br />

metals mimic real bones so they will be better accepted<br />

by the human body. Local biotechnology company,<br />

Chemgenex Pharmaceuticals, is develop<strong>in</strong>g drugs to cure<br />

cancer and other treatments for diabetes and obesity,<br />

while CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory <strong>in</strong><br />

East <strong>Geelong</strong> is try<strong>in</strong>g to combat bird flu, foot and mouth<br />

disease and SARS. This is just a small snapshot <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g and important work be<strong>in</strong>g done <strong>in</strong> <strong>Geelong</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

biotechnology.<br />

Career Pathways<br />

There are careers at all levels <strong>of</strong> the biotechnology<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry; from head scientists to lab technicians to<br />

science communicators. Science courses at Deak<strong>in</strong><br />

University and the Gordon Institute <strong>of</strong> TAFE are a great<br />

start, as both have courses specialis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> biotechnology<br />

cover<strong>in</strong>g research and technical expertise. You don’t have<br />

to be the next Marie Curie to succeed <strong>in</strong> the biotech<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry; you just need to have a keen sense <strong>of</strong> curiosity<br />

and motivation.<br />

Contacts<br />

Economic Development Unit -<br />

<strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Greater</strong> <strong>Geelong</strong><br />

2nd floor, 131 Myers St, <strong>Geelong</strong><br />

PO Box 104 <strong>Geelong</strong> 3220 Australia<br />

Ph: (03) 5227 0855<br />

Fax: (03) 5227 0855<br />

eco<strong>in</strong>fo@geelongcity.vic.gov.au<br />

www.biogeelong.com.au<br />

Deak<strong>in</strong> University<br />

Faculty <strong>of</strong> Science and Technology<br />

Email: sci-tech@deak<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Website: www.deak<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Ph: (03) 9244 6699<br />

Gordon Institute <strong>of</strong> TAFE<br />

Email: cour<strong>in</strong>fo@gordontafe.edu.au<br />

Website: www.gordontafe.edu.au<br />

Ph: (03) 5225 0800<br />

Bio<strong>Geelong</strong> is a network <strong>of</strong> local organisations<br />

who contribute to the biotechnology <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>Geelong</strong>. It was created <strong>in</strong> 2005 to assist<br />

<strong>in</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Geelong</strong> Region's<br />

biotechnology capability, creat<strong>in</strong>g jobs and<br />

boost<strong>in</strong>g the economy – mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Geelong</strong> the<br />

Silicon Valley <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Biotechnology</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />

2 < >


Pr<strong>of</strong>iles<br />

DANIEL LAYTON<br />

Daniel Layton<br />

CSIRO – Australian Animal Health Laboratory<br />

PhD student<br />

“What keeps me work<strong>in</strong>g hard is the idea that one day my<br />

research could save someone’s life,” says Daniel Layton.<br />

It is a real possibility. Daniel is <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

transplant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a heart from a pig <strong>in</strong>to a human be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Daniel is a PhD student at the Australian Animal Health<br />

Laboratory (AAHL) and for the past four years he has been<br />

try<strong>in</strong>g to combat transplant rejection <strong>of</strong> pig organs by human<br />

immune systems. In August last year, Daniel won the<br />

<strong>Geelong</strong> Researcher <strong>of</strong> the Year Award for his<br />

groundbreak<strong>in</strong>g research.<br />

Asked about his motivation for gett<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>of</strong> bed <strong>in</strong> the<br />

morn<strong>in</strong>g he replies: “The best part about my work is that I<br />

learn someth<strong>in</strong>g new and excit<strong>in</strong>g everyday. Plus, it helps<br />

that AAHL has a great social atmosphere and the scientists<br />

that I work with everyday are <strong>of</strong> a very high-calibre.”<br />

Daniel spends some <strong>of</strong> his time at the Aust<strong>in</strong> Hospital<br />

<strong>in</strong> Melbourne with whom he collaborates. “I like<br />

the flexibility and diversity that comes with<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g a PhD student,” he says.<br />

‘<br />

What could possibly be more <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g than<br />

potentially sav<strong>in</strong>g people’s lives, especially<br />

when you are deal<strong>in</strong>g with someth<strong>in</strong>g as cutt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

edge as tak<strong>in</strong>g a pig’s heart and putt<strong>in</strong>g it <strong>in</strong>to<br />

a human body ... One day it will save a<br />

person’s life and then you’ll all have to<br />

apologise for doubt<strong>in</strong>g me.<br />

’<br />

“Next, I am go<strong>in</strong>g to work at the Australian Stem Cell<br />

Centre and then… the United States <strong>of</strong> America…<br />

here I come.”<br />

After jet sett<strong>in</strong>g around the globe Daniel wants to return to<br />

<strong>Geelong</strong>. “I love the beaches, the waterfront and everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>Geelong</strong> has to <strong>of</strong>fer, once I’ve kick started my career<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternationally I’ll def<strong>in</strong>itely be back,” he said. Daniel<br />

believes that the best advice he received as a young student<br />

was to choose a career that really <strong>in</strong>terested him.<br />

“What could possibly be more <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g than potentially<br />

sav<strong>in</strong>g people’s lives, especially when you are deal<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g as cutt<strong>in</strong>g edge as tak<strong>in</strong>g a pig’s heart and<br />

putt<strong>in</strong>g it <strong>in</strong>to a human body,” he said. “One day it will save<br />

a person’s life and then you’ll all have to apologise for<br />

doubt<strong>in</strong>g me.”<br />

3 < >


BIOGEELONG - MAKE A DIFFERENCE<br />

SHARON EDWARDS<br />

Sharon Edwards<br />

CSIRO – Textiles and Fibre Technology<br />

Post Doctoral Scientist<br />

Sharon Edwards is a long way from Leeds, <strong>in</strong> the UK,<br />

where she completed her doctorate comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g tissue<br />

eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and textile manufactur<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

“I didn’t know anyth<strong>in</strong>g about <strong>Geelong</strong> before I came here,<br />

but had heard <strong>of</strong> CSIRO and their research <strong>in</strong> textiles,” she<br />

said.<br />

Sharon is an expert <strong>in</strong> a very excit<strong>in</strong>g field <strong>of</strong> science that<br />

uses textiles to support tissue growth. One <strong>of</strong> her projects<br />

focuses on develop<strong>in</strong>g a textile tube for grow<strong>in</strong>g nerves.<br />

When this tube is placed over the ends <strong>of</strong> damaged nerves it<br />

provides an environment that encourages the nerves to<br />

repair, therefore heal<strong>in</strong>g the patient.<br />

“I love the hands-on approach <strong>of</strong> fabricat<strong>in</strong>g textiles,”<br />

Sharon says. “With<strong>in</strong> my research I am <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

range <strong>of</strong> mach<strong>in</strong>ery to form complex textile structures that<br />

can be used to grow new biological tissue – it’s excit<strong>in</strong>g.”<br />

The path Sharon took to end up <strong>in</strong> biomedical textiles wasn’t<br />

straightforward.<br />

“As a young girl I liked science but wasn’t sure what I<br />

wanted to do when I f<strong>in</strong>ished school,” she said. “I ended up<br />

travell<strong>in</strong>g for a number <strong>of</strong> years before enroll<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> University<br />

to study textile eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g.”<br />

It was the biomedical applications <strong>of</strong> textiles that really<br />

caught Sharon’s attention, and the variety <strong>of</strong> equipment and<br />

facilities at the Textile and Fibre Technology Centre <strong>in</strong><br />

Belmont that cl<strong>in</strong>ched the deal, result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> her immigration<br />

to Australia.<br />

“The best th<strong>in</strong>g about science is be<strong>in</strong>g able to do someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that no one else has done before,” she says. Her advice to<br />

students consider<strong>in</strong>g science as a career is to follow what<br />

<strong>in</strong>terests you. “You never know where it could take you –<br />

even half way around the world.”<br />

‘<br />

The best th<strong>in</strong>g about science is be<strong>in</strong>g able<br />

to do someth<strong>in</strong>g that no one else has done<br />

before, she says. Her advice to students<br />

consider<strong>in</strong>g science as a career is to follow<br />

what <strong>in</strong>terests you.<br />

’<br />

BIOGEELONG - SMART THINKING - CAREERS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 4 < >


BIOGEELONG - MAKE A DIFFERENCE<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>iles<br />

NICOLE STUPKA<br />

Nicole Stupka<br />

BioDeak<strong>in</strong><br />

Post Doctoral Scientist<br />

Nicole Stupka loves the mystery <strong>of</strong> science.<br />

“You can do all the literature research, plan your experiment<br />

and yet <strong>in</strong> the end the result can be so unexpected – that’s<br />

excit<strong>in</strong>g.” she said.<br />

Nicole moved from Canada to Victoria to complete her PhD<br />

<strong>in</strong> muscle cell biology. She now works for BioDeak<strong>in</strong> - the<br />

Institute for <strong>Biotechnology</strong> at Deak<strong>in</strong> University <strong>in</strong> an area<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest to everyone – gett<strong>in</strong>g old.<br />

“Muscles deteriorate with age, and the question is why?”<br />

she says. “What is the process <strong>of</strong> age<strong>in</strong>g and how could we<br />

stay forever young?”<br />

Nicole is based at the <strong>Geelong</strong> Hospital’s research unit.<br />

“The good part about be<strong>in</strong>g at the Hospital is hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

researchers around me who have extensive knowledge <strong>in</strong><br />

biomedical science <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g stem and<br />

bone cell research,” she says.<br />

“Also, I have constant access<br />

to real patients.”<br />

It was this, plus the<br />

supportive environment<br />

that exists at Deak<strong>in</strong><br />

University, that<br />

attracted Nicole to<br />

<strong>Geelong</strong>.<br />

Nicole’s advice to young students is to do some real science<br />

<strong>in</strong> a laboratory before consider<strong>in</strong>g it as a career. She did<br />

work experience <strong>in</strong> a laboratory as a student, which, she<br />

says, was an <strong>in</strong>valuable experience.<br />

“Science is very different <strong>in</strong> school to the real world,” she<br />

says. The best th<strong>in</strong>g about science is that you don’t know<br />

the answer – that’s what you are try<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d out.”<br />

“Science allows you to be creative <strong>in</strong> a very constructive<br />

way, especially when you could improve someone’s<br />

quality <strong>of</strong> life.”<br />

‘<br />

Science is very different <strong>in</strong> school to the<br />

real world, she says. The best th<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

science is that you don’t know the answer –<br />

that’s what you are try<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d out!<br />

’<br />

BIOGEELONG - SMART THINKING - CAREERS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY<br />

5<br />

< >


Prepared By:<br />

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT - CITY OF GREATER GEELONG<br />

2nd FLOOR, 131 MYERS STREET PO BOX 104 GEELONG 3220 AUSTRALIA<br />

TELEPHONE +61 3 5227 0888 FACSIMILE +61 3 5227 0855<br />

WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU<br />

eco<strong>in</strong>fo@geelongcity.vic.gov.au<br />

GEELONG, SMART THINKING<br />

CHEMGENEX<br />

PHARMACEUTICALS<br />

Lawyers<br />

< ><br />

GSDM 8150

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