Meet our ECRs - Dr Sarah Jones

Can you explain your research?
I have always had a nerdy attachment to B cells - the cells that make antibodies, which are protective in immunity and harmful in autoimmunity.  Now I’m studying the ways in which the protein GILZ controls B cell behaviour. GILZ is induced by glucocorticoids (or steroids), which are prescribed to around 70% of lupus patients and still used in around 50% of rheumatoid arthritis patients to try to gain some control over the disease. GILZ appears to mimic many of the same anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids (for example, by inhibiting B cell production of antibodies), but without causing the same harmful side effects. We are investigating the potential for GILZ to be a safe and effective alternative treatment for autoimmune diseases. 

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

Crew on a container ship or an icebreaker, marine pilot guiding large ships into port, forest ranger, immunologist.

What do you enjoy doing outside work? 

Vaccinating lambs and calves - real world immunology! We spend lots of weekend time tending to stock, orchards, vines and our own need for fun (swimming in the dam, riding motorbikes, playing with all the dogs) at the family farm. 

Something your work colleagues probably don’t know about you? 

I’m a senior science textbook editor and author in my 'spare time'. If your son or daughter takes up biology in year 11 or 12 in Victoria or the rest of Australia from this year onwards, chances are they will be working from my books (I dare you to find a mistake!).

ECR Mailing List 2015

The Faculty Research Office disseminates email alerts to ECRs including information about grant/fellowship schemes that specifically target ECRs, seminars, events/workshops, useful publications and mentorship.


If you would like to SUBSCRIBE to the Faculty ECR Mailing List, please click here.
Should you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from the Faculty ECR Mailing List, please click here.

Note: The Faculty definition of an ECR is a staff member who is appointed at Levels A-C and within 10 years of the award of their PhD.  Whilst you may subscribe to this list if you are not an ECR, the information, schemes and programs advertised may not be relevant or available to you.
Information on Faculty ECR activities and useful ECR links can be found on the ECR Gateway website here http://www.med.monash.edu.au/intranet/research/ecrinformationgateway/ 

Early Career Fellowship Workshop Recording Available

A video recording of the Early Career Fellowship Workshop run recently by the Monash Research Office can be found on the MRO intranet here

New MV Scholarship and Co-supervision Opportunities

Monash and Museum Victoria (MV) are excited to be strengthening their partnership through the launch of new PhD and Honours scholarships, as well as continuing to offer co-supervision opportunities.

The scholarships include two new PhD top-up scholarships each valued at $5,000 per year over three years (with a possible six-month extension), and two new one-off Honours scholarships each valued at $1,000.

UPDATE FROM MIGR: CHANGES TO THESIS SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please review this important news for postgraduate students nearing thesis submission.

The requirement to submit four copies for examination no longer applies. We have also streamlined and updated some of our forms to make them more user-friendly.

From 1 January 2015, students are required to submit two thermal (soft) bound copies of the thesis for the purposes of the examination.

• To assist with timely processing, students are also required to submit a PDF copy of the thesis to migrexams@monash.edu within 24 hours of submitting the thermal bound copies. PDF submissions are to be emailed with the following subject line: PDF file for student name, Degree, ID No.

New thesis submission requirements for Graduate Research Students

There have been an number of changes to the PhD examination requirements as of 1 January 2015.

For pre-2015 students, the PhD thesis length should not exceed 100,000 words.  For new PhD students commencing from 1 January 2015, the maximum thesis length is now 80,000 words.

For Masters by Research thesis word lengths, please refer to http://www.monash.edu.au/migr/research-degrees/handbook/masters/chapter-seven/7-1.html.

The requirement to submit four copies for examination no longer applies.

Three parent IVF

Prof Kovacs

Professor Gabor Kovacs, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Professor John Carroll, School of Biomedical Sciences and Dr Damian Kimon Dowling, School of Biological Sciences, comment on the UK Parliament having voted in favour of creating IVF babies with DNA from three people.  Full story here.

Happy Max bounces back ... and all he needed was a good night’s sleep

Associate Professor Margot Davey and the Melbourne Children’s Sleep Centre, at Monash Children’s Hospital.

Full Herald Sun story here.

The way we teach most children to read sets them up to fail

Associate Professor Pamela Snow, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, suggests the way we teach most children to read sets them up to fail.   

Full story in The Conversation

Cord Blood Registry Announces Formation of Scientific & Medical Advisory Board

Emeritus Professor Alan Trounson, MIMR-PHI Institute, to be on the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.  Full story here.

Lupus research at Monash to benefit from $750,000 grant

Professor Eric Morand

Improved outcomes for patients with lupus are expected as a result of research funding worth nearly $.75 million, secured by researchers in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS).

Pharmaceutical companies UCB Biopharma SPRL and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who are among the leading companies worldwide developing therapies for lupus, are to fund research led by Professor Eric Morand, Head of SCS and Head of Rheumatology at Monash Health, to develop and validate treatment targets in lupus.

“Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) is a serious multisystem autoimmune disease,” said Professor Morand. “Patients with lupus, usually young women, suffer a loss of life expectancy and in some cases severe illness, caused by the immune system damaging multiple organs.”

You're invited to Afternoon Tea for Peter Ebeling - Australia Day Honours - Tuesday 3 February, 4pm, LT3 Foyer Area

David Healy portrait unveiled and research fellowships announced

Distinguished Monash clinician and researcher Professor David L Healy was remembered and honoured last week at the unveiling of his portrait at the Monash University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash Medical Centre.

Commissioned by Professor Euan Wallace, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University, the portrait is a tribute to Professor Healy who passed away in May 2012.

“Professor Healy was a passionate champion for women’s reproductive rights in Australia and overseas,” said Professor Wallace.  “His leadership, vision and persuasiveness is missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.”

Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from 1994 to 2012, Professor Healy completed his BMedSci (Hons) and MBBS (Hons) at Monash University before undertaking his PhD on human prolactin physiology with Professor Henry Burger at Prince Henry’s Hospital.  

Contributions to the field of bone health recognised on Australia Day

Head of Department of Medicine in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Professor Peter Ebeling was recognised in the 2015 Australia Day Honours List for his outstanding contribution to medicine.

Professor Ebeling was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to medicine in the field of bone health, through academic contributions and research initiatives in a range of administrative, executive and professional roles.

"The AO is definitely a huge honour and I was pretty astonished to receive it as it was a total surprise," said Professor Ebeling.  

"I have won a number of awards in the past, but being made an AO surpasses them all as it is such a privilege for me to be considered among the current and past recipients of this honour."

Dr Karinna Fyfe wins 2014 David Healy Prize

Congratulations Dr Karinna Fyfe, 2014 David Healy Prize for Medical Student PhD Research recipient.  

Karinna investigated cerebral oxygenation and cardiovascular control during sleep in preterm infants in order to determine why preterm infants are at increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Feedback on NFFC and duration of project grants

We are currently asking for researchers to give feedback on the following elements of the Project Grants assessment process and funding rules:

• The Not For Further Consideration (NFFC) and Applicant Response steps; and 
• The duration of Project Grants funding.

We have had 60 or so responses so far and we want to get good representation from the research community on this consultation.    We would really appreciate you reminding your colleagues to provide individual input at http://consultations.nhmrc.gov.au/public_consultations/project-grants-scheme.  Submissions due by 24 Feb.

2015 Better Teaching, Better Learning Showcase

Celebrating excellent education at Monash on Monday 16 February at Caulfield campus.
See here for details.

2015 Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference - Still time to register!

Back from holidays but haven't registered for Lorne I&I yet?   Don't panic, there is still time! Click here to register NOW!

The 2015 Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference organising committee invites you to register for the 5th annual conference.  Join infection and immunity scientists from around Australia and overseas for three days of networking and science.  We look forward to your participation at the Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference. 

Registrations are now open for Science Pathways 2015

The EMCR Forum’s national meeting, Science Pathways 2015 - Effective science communication for EMCRs, will be held in Adelaide at ‘The Braggs’ Lecture Theatre, The University of Adelaide on 23-24 April 2015.

WELCOME and THANKS TO OUR NEW SCS-MHTP STUDY AREA COORDINATORS!

Thanks to the following individuals, we now have 15 Study Area Groups, listed below.  

All Monash Uni PhD students enrolled in SCS who are yet to complete their Mid-Candidature Milestone review have been allocated to a SAG.  Newly enrolled students will also be placed in these groups.  Students post-Mid-Candidature will be managed by their Departmental HDR Coordinator, as previously.  Students enrolled externally will be managed locally and we will assist as appropriate.