06 March 2014
Two outstanding UniSA PhD students from the fields of Indigenous studies and pharmaceutical drug development have been named 2014 Fulbright scholars by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission.
Sadie Heckenberg from the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research and Suzanne Schultz from the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences will be awarded their prestigious Fulbright scholarships at a presentation tonight in Brisbane.
They are among 31 recipients from across Australia selected through a rigorous process to travel to America for up to eight to 10 months to further their research.
Sadie won the Fulbright Indigenous scholarship which will see her study at the University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, at the Centre for Oral History.
Sadie’s research aims to address the need to protect Indigenous spoken cultural language.
She says by developing her knowledge of Indigenous epistemologies of the Pacific, she will in turn build the depth and strength of research to take back to her home community, the Wiradjuri community in New South Wales.
“I am truly excited to be able to study with some of the best minds in the Indigenous oral history field,” Sadie says.
“The Hawaiian knowledge systems have been nurtured and maintained by wise Eldership reflected not only through the achievements of Hawaiian academic research but in society itself.”
Suzanne won the Fulbright SA State Category Postgraduate scholarship which will see her study at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Massachusetts.
Suzanne’s research focusses on international and inter-sector collaboration in drug development. In particular, her research in the US will consider the impact and effectiveness of proposed models for identifying, developing and commercialising new, or reviving existing, antibiotics.
She says that as the largest clinical market for pharmaceutical drugs and a key regulatory environment, the US offers unparalled expertise and network opportunities.
“Contrasting and comparing the business models and ideas in facilitating antibiotic development with approaches in Europe and Australia will open new opportunities to work differently,” Suzanne says.
“South Australian researchers have already contributed significantly to redeveloping older antibiotics, best use of existing antibiotics and policy in quality use of medicines. My project will make a further contribution to this important work.”
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd congratulated Suzanne and Sadie on their achievements.
“These are two exceptional PhD students who through their research can make a real difference in the world,” Prof Lloyd says.
“I congratulate Suzanne and Sadie on their passion for their research and wish them all the best as they head to the US to further their careers.”
Sadie’s PhD supervisor is Associate Professor Andrew Gunstone, while Suzanne’s PhD supervisors are Provost and Chief Academic Officer Prof Allan Evans, Emeritus Professor Mary Barton and d3 Medicine CEO Dr Craig Rayner.
Media contact: Kelly Stone office 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email Kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
