Careers in Biotechnology - City of Greater Geelong
Careers in Biotechnology - City of Greater Geelong
Careers in Biotechnology - City of Greater Geelong
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
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