UNDERgRADUATE PROSPECTUS - Study Brisbane

Degrees in this discipline
– Biomedical Science 60
– Biotechnology 60
– Environmental Science 60
– Marine Studies 61
– Occupational Health and Safety Science 61
– Regional and Town Planning 61
– Science 62
Faculty of Science
www.science.uq.edu.au
Yi San Leong, Malaysia
Bachelor of Science
(Biotechnology) (Honours)
The hope of stopping a disease that ravages her country is what
drives Malaysian Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) graduate
Yi San Leong.
Yi San is currently part of a UQ research laboratory using bacteria
to manipulate the lifespan of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito before it
can spread dengue fever, hopefully stopping dengue in its tracks.
“As a second-year student I volunteered in my current laboratory to
help a post-doctoral research fellow to finish a small experiment,”
said Yi San.
“During my time there I gained the trust of the head of laboratory,
Professor Scott O’Neill, and he offered me a job as a research
assistant once I graduated from my honours degree.”
“Doing an honours degree with a major in microbiology was definitely
a help, it gave me the skills I needed for the job.”
Yi San said the best part of her job was being involved in cutting-edge
dengue research.
“I’m from a country where dengue diseases are common. It’s an
honour that I get to make a contribution in a laboratory that might
one day solve a very significant problem in Malaysia.”
Yi San credits her extra year of honours study with getting her to
where she is now.
“To be able to gain a good position in the science industry, good
relationships and connections with people in related fields are crucial.”
“A science honours degree allows you to get all that: relevant lab
experience, relationships with scientists within academia and
industry, and highly transferable skills.”
“UQ has many world-renowned laboratories on campus. If you work
in any of them as an honours student, you will definitely be more
competitive than others in the workplace.”
UNDERGRADUATE PROSPECTUS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 2012
59