World Antimicrobial Awareness Week: Superbug AI project in the spotlight

Professor Anton Peleg, Head of Department of Infectious Diseases,
The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University)
is lead investigator on the MRFF funded Superbug Ai Flagship project.

18 to 24 November is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. 

The Honourable Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health said, "I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the work of Professor Anton Peleg.

"Professor Peleg researches ways to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when germs change over time and no longer respond to medicines like antibiotics.

Participants sought: Female volunteers wanted for study on endometriosis and IBS

Participants sought for endometriosis
and IBS study

Monash University is conducting a study to understand the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms in women with endometriosis.

A little background 

Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 Australian women and many of these women also suffer from IBS and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea). Currently, we do not know what causes the gastrointestinal symptoms associated with endometriosis.  

To express your interest, take the screening survey (via QR code) or see below for more detail and contact information. 

STEM workplaces and academia under the LGBTQIA+ microscope

As part of the Central Clinical School's Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion (CCS GEDI) committee's celebration of International Day of LGBTQIA+ People in STEM on 18 November, three of the committee members - Ms Rhiannon Grant, Dr Jessica Borger and Dr Zhouije Ding - have published an article in Monash Lens, "STEM workplaces and academia under the LGBTQIA+ microscope". 

Read the full Lens story here.

Download the 'Pride in STEM' poster for sticking up around your area.

Support Pride in STEM at CCS - posters available

Download the 'Pride in STEM'
A3 poster

GEDI and LGBTQIA+ advocates
Elan L'Estrange-Stranieri and Rhiannon
Grant putting up a poster.

LGBTQIA+ individuals still experience significant apprehension being open about their sexuality and gender identity in the research workplace. 

To combat this, CCS departments have placed 'Pride in STEM' posters at their entrances to signify to all staff and students that they are an LGBTQIA+ friendly workplace.  

If CCS Departments/Labs would like to have a poster to display to welcome and support LGBT+ coworkers, that they can download it here, or email Elan L'Estrange-Stranieri, Jessica Borger or the ccs.gedi@monash.edu role account. Elan is the CCS GEDI Executive Officer, and has led the initative.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Gemma Sharp on her promotion

A/Prof  Gemma Sharp joins CCS's Department of Neuroscience

We are delighted to announce that Gemma Sharp has been promoted to Associate Professor, and she and her research group have joined the Department of Neuroscience. Welcome Gemma!
 
Associate Professor Sharp is a researcher, lecturer and clinical psychologist who is very well known for pioneering research in body image, eating disorders and digital mental health interventions (e.g. chatbots and mobile apps).

Dr Vilija Jokubaitis elected as Chair of the MSBase International Scientific Leadership Group

We congratulate Dr Vilija Jokubaitis on her election as Chair of the MSBase International Scientific Leadership Group (SLG). MSBase is the largest global MS registry, housed at the Department of Neuroscience, with over 85,000 patient records from 29 countries and over 160 contributing centres. 

The SLG is a group of 20 international MS experts who develop the MSBase strategic plan, are the data custodians who oversee data access and set all data policies globally. It is the first time that a scientist has been chosen to lead this peak governance and strategic MSBase body.

Monash HDR students win 10% pay rise following student-led campaign

HDR stipend sit-in protest. L-R: Giulia Iacono, Gemma Hartley
leading and just behind, Elan L'Estrange-Stranieri and Rhiannon
Grant. Photo: MGA

by Elan L'Estrange-Stranieri, Gemma Hartley, Rhiannon Grant

As of March 2022, the Monash Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate of $30,000 per annum for Higher Degree Research (HDR) students officially fell below the Henderson Poverty Line, being 20% lower than the minimum wage ($36,931) after tax1,2, and the third lowest rate offered by Group of 8 (Go8) universities (see Figure 1: 2022 below). 

Eric Chow wins ASMR Peter Doherty Leading Light award

Associate Professor Eric Chow has won the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Peter Doherty Leading Light Award, announced at the 61st ASMR National Scientific Conference 2022.

This Award is named in recognition of Nobel Laureate, Professor Peter Doherty, whose scientific achievements and commitment to science advocacy continues to inspire the research community. This award celebrates the achievements of mid-career researchers (5 - 12 year post-doctoral) in Australia. The award recognises a single piece of work undertaken by a mid-career researcher within the past 5 years.

Zhoujie Ding, Matt Hudson and Robb Wesselingh win the GIN Hub pitch!

L-R: Drs Zhoujie Ding, Matt Hudson and Robb Wesselingh

Congratulations to Drs Zhoujie Ding, Matt Hudson and Robb Wesselingh!

Matt, Zhoujie and Rob were awarded funding in the fourth and final round for 2022 of the GIN Hub's Pitch for their project, "Developing the first Australian mouse model of anti-NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis". We look forward to seeing the results of this collaboration between the Neuroscience and Immunology and Pathology departments.