Science, Technology and Engineering

Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Department of Biochemistry

Research opportunities of the Masters course

Some of the fields in which research has been undertaken include:

Anti-malarial

Malaria parasites invade human red blood cells where they can grow without being detected by the host immune system. Research is currently being undertaken into understanding the malaria life cycle and developing anti-malarial treatments and vaccines.

Cancer research and cell death

Researchers at La Trobe University are world-leaders in the field of cell death research. Studies into the mechanisms and pathways involved in regulation of cellular suicide, or apoptosis, are currently undertaken in a number of research groups, as well as the implications for cancer when these pathways are interrupted.

Mitochondrial biology

Mitochondria are essential for the generation of the majority of a cell's energy. Studies into the structure and function of mitochondrial proteins are a key part of the research into mitochondria at La Trobe University.

Protein Folding

The regulation of protein turn-over is an area of strong research at La Trobe University. The way various proteases control the stability and function of cellular proteins impacts on the integrity of many cellular processes. Studies into these proteases is currently being undertaken to understand the processes of protein folding in greater detail.

Plant biotechnology

Biotechnology is increasingly being utilised in new applications in the agriculture and food industries. La Trobe University 's Melbourne (Bundoora) campus houses the Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre and studies into plant development, physiology and characterisation of plant-specific proteins are all available to students in the Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics course.

Microbiology, Genetics and Bioinformatics

Projects can also be designed to suit students wishing to pursue a career in the fields of microbiology, genetics or bioinformatics.

Other research options may be found at www.latrobe.edu.au/biochemistry/programs