25 March 2004 Bio-Protection Centre Will Help Build 'Critical Mass' of Scientists

The National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies opened today (25 March) at Lincoln University is good news for graduates seeking higher tertiary qualifications in the field of bio-protection, biosecurity and agri-biotechnology.

In addition to its major scientific missions, the new national centre is committed to supporting and encouraging the emergence of a much needed "critical mass" of bio-protection scientists for New Zealand.

To help achieve this, the centre has a funding allocation for a number of PhD fellowships and postdoctoral positions.

"The centre has big research tasks ahead of it and there are exceptional opportunities for everyone involved," says the Director, Professor Alison Stewart.

"The team of postgraduates and postdoctorals will play an important role in supporting the work. While most of the initial positions are now filled, we are still keen to hear from suitably qualified candidates who might be interested in future opportunities."

Up to the time of the launch, seven postdoctoral fellows, two research fellows and 12 PhD students have been recruited to work on projects financed through the centre's funding.

"Postgraduate students at Lincoln University get well looked after and enjoy a number of back-up services not always available elsewhere," says Professor Stewart.

"To help develop the research expertise of its students, the centre will ensure that they have access to subjects in statistics, experimentation and research methodologies, exchange opportunities to overseas institutions, coaching in presentation skills as part of the established Lincoln University Postgraduate Conference programme, and opportunities to present their research results at one New Zealand conference every year and at least one international conference during the course of their PhD.

"The overall aim is to ensure that all of the centre's postgraduate research students develop a suite of advanced research abilities covering information technology, presentation skills, communication skills, the ability to write funding applications and basic business practices."

Movement of postgraduate students between various research partners – and there are 12 of them in the Lincoln-based centre – is also a feature and that means that everyone has access to the very best facilities and expertise nationwide.

"We want to ensure that our postgraduates have the very best mentoring available nationwide during their time with us," says Professor Stewart.

Graduates interested in registering their interest in opportunities with the centre are invited to email the Research Manager, Dr Belinda Sleight, at sleight@lincoln.ac.nz .

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand