2007 Test Competition
Five students, three from Murdoch College and two from Shenton College completed the test competition. These students were mentored by Murdoch University, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Energy Biology UWA, the WA Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR), and Saturn Biotech.
Their research projects covered a range of exciting areas investigating the proteomics of subclover crop varieties, plant fungicide resistance, the affects on table grapes of using certain preservative treatments and designing new proteins for the treatment of certain cancers.
BioGENEius Test Students with judging panel
The test group were judged in April 2008 by a panel chaired by 2005 Nobel Laureate for Medicine, Dr Robin Warren. The panel selected Oliver Tester, from Murdoch College and Bindhu Hollavanahalli from Shenton College to represent WA. These students will take their ground-breaking research to San Diego in June 2009 to compete with America’s best biotechnology students at the International BioGENEius Challenge.
Oliver Tester said that participating in the competition has made him feel like he can make a difference in the world. “I am researching a way to determine the difference between the varieties of sub-clover seeds,” Oliver said.
“Working closely with my mentors at Saturn Biotech, I am using the latest in scientific equipment, including one of Australia’s best mass spectrometers. “My project may help the agricultural industry and others throughout the world and I find this very rewarding.
Bindhu, who was mentored by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology at UWA, enjoyed the hands on nature of the competition. “Going from the classroom, where we’re doing simple little presentation reactions in our chemistry class, to being able to work with the most advanced technology in the country and in the world, is an absolutely brilliant opportunity for us” she said.
