Science, Technology and Engineering

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Department of Biochemistry

History

The Academic Planning Board of La Trobe University met early in 1965 and assigned the coverage of basic science at La Trobe to two Schools: Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences. Biological Sciences was to be divided into a General Biology Section and a Biochemistry Section.  By 1968 the Departments of Botany, Genetics and Zoology had been established. In 1970 the original Planning Board decision to place Biochemistry in the School of Biological Sciences had been confirmed and the first biochemist, Dr Roger Holmes from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Queensland (recently Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Newcastle) was appointed. Roger Holmes co-ordinated the inaugural course in Biochemistry at second year in 1971.

The Foundation Chair was advertised and filled in late 1971 by Dr Bruce Stone, then Reader in Agricultural Biochemistry at the University of Melbourne. Professor Stone retired in 1993 but remained very active with his research as an Emeritus Professor. Three further academic staff were recruited and took up their appointments in early 1972. They were Dr Robert Scopes (Cambridge, CSIRO Food Research and ARC Meat Research Unit, Bristol, UK); Dr Gideon Polya (Flinders and Cornell) and Dr Donald Phillips (Adelaide). By February 1972, the Department was open for business, with Mr Ian Croker as Laboratory Manager, on the 4th level of the Agriculture Building, whose construction was completed in December 1971.

The Department was formally inaugurated in April 1972 at a special lecture by Dr Clement Markert (Yale), the pioneer of isozyme biochemistry. This lecture also signalled the beginning of regular fortnightly seminars given by local and visiting biochemists. The 2nd-year class in 1972 numbered 85, the first 3rd-year class, 20 and there was one Honours student. Postgraduate teaching commenced and in the next two years nine students were enrolled. The following years saw a rapid growth in student numbers; already by 1973 they had reached 100 at 2nd-year and 60 at 3rd-year students, and warranted an increase in staff. In 1978 teaching of Agricultural Science students at 2nd year began.

In 1974, Roger Holmes left and was replaced in the same year by Dr Nicholas Hoogenraad (Melbourne and Stanford), who took over the Chair of Biochemistry in 1994.

In 1977, Dr Dick Wettenhall (Monash University, University of Chicago) joined the Department and left in 1988 to take up the Chair in Biochemistry at the University of Melbourne. He is currently the Director of Bio21 Research Institute. Dr Geoff Howlett (University of Melbourne, UC Berkely) also joined the Department in 1977 and transferred to the University of Melbourne in 1980. Dr Geoff Fincher (University of Melbourne, McGill University) joined the Department in 1978 and left in 1992 and now is Director of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute at the University of Adelaide. Dr Ross Smith joined the Department for 3 years from 1979-1982, after which he transferred to the University of Queensland.

In 1989, Dr Leann Tilley (University of Sydney and University of Melbourne) and Dr Peter Hoj (University of Copenhagen, La Trobe) were appointed. In 1994, Dr Peter Hoj transferred to the University of Adelaide to take up the Chair of Viticulture. He is currently Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia. In 1991, Dr Liz Johnson and Steve Jones (University of Melbourne) were appointed. In 1995, Dr Marilyn Anderson (La Trobe, University of Melbourne) and in 1996 Dr Trevor Lithgow (La Trobe University, Biocentre, Basel) joined the Department. Trevor transferred to the University of Melbourne in 1999 as Associate Professor. Personal Chairs were awarded to Nick Hoogenraad in 1991, Bob Scopes in 1994, Don Phillips in 2003 and Marilyn Anderson and Leann Tilley in 2004.

In 1999, Professor Scopes retired after 27 years and was replaced by Dr Mick Foley (University Dundee, WEHI) who had held a QEII Fellowship in the Department since 1992. In 1991, Professor Claude Bernard transferred from the Psychology Department with Dr Jacqui Orian. He moved to Monash University in 2005. Dr Mike Ryan (La Trobe, University of Freiburg) and Professor Robin Anders (University of Melbourne, WEHI) joined the Department in 2000. In 2003, Dr Polya one of the foundation appointees, retired after 31 years. In 2004, Drs David Dougan and Kaye Truscott (La Trobe, University of Freiburg) arrived in the Department as ARC QEII fellows. Drs Nick Klonis and Suzi Cutts were also awarded ARC Research Fellowships in this year.

In 2006, Dr Peter Cartwright (La Trobe University, University of Adelaide) was appointed and Professor David Vaux (Walter & Eliza Hall Institute) moved to the Department as a Federation Fellow and recieved an NHMRC Australian Fellowship in 2007. Dr John Silke (University of Zurich, WEHI) and Dr Chris Hawkins (WEHI and MCRI) also joined the Department as NRMRC RD Wright Fellows. In 2007, Dr Hamsa Puthalakath (WEHI) joined the department as a Charles La Trobe Fellow and in 2008, Dr Fiona Carroll (Howard Florey, University of Melbourne), Dr Mark Hulett (John Curtin School of Medical Research) and Dr Alex Maier (WEHI) joined the department.