Organisation of the Faculty
School of Life Sciences
The School comprises the Departments of Agricultural Sciences, Botany, Microbiology and Zoology at Bundoora, and the Department of Environmental Management and Ecology at Albury–Wodonga.
Research leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Science, a Master of Agricultural Sciences, a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy may be carried out under the supervision of staff in the school in any of the fields listed for the constituent departments. Research opportunities are also available via collaboration with CSIRO and the Department of Primary Industry. Prospective students should contact the Head of Department in the appropriate area, or the Head of School. Further information on research and postgraduate opportunities is available from the School website www.latrobe.edu.au/lifesciences.
The School has research strengths in several fields in agriculture, botany, microbiology and zoology, as listed for the respective departments in the Masters Degrees by research section of this chapter. It is also involved in multidisciplinary research in biotechnology, conservation biology and ecology.
Department of Agricultural Sciences
The Department offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Agricultural Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Wine Production, a Graduate Diploma in Wine and Wine Appreciation, a Master of Wine and Wine Appreciation, a Master of Agricultural Science and Agribusiness (coursework), a Master of Agricultural Science (research) and a Doctor of Philosophy program. The general areas of research are animal nutrition, ruminant nutrition, microbiology, parasitology, pasture nutrition, soil fertility, soil physics, viticultural science and soil biology. Some 13 hectares of the University’s Melbourne (Bundoora) campus are presently used by the Department for fieldwork involving crops, vineyards, pastures and livestock.
Department of Botany
Research leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy may be carried out under the supervision of staff in the Department. Prospective candidates should consult with the Head of Department or with potential supervisors.
Research is currently in progress in the fields of physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology/biotechnology of plants, plant pathology and plant ecology.
Department of Environmental Management and Ecology
The Department offers Honours and Postgraduate Diploma studies at the fourth year level and Research Masters and Doctoral Degrees for suitably qualified candidates.
Research leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree may be carried out under the supervision of staff in the Department. Prospective candidates should consult with the Head of Department or with potential supervisors. Research is currently in progress in the fields of aquatic ecology/biology (water chemistry, fish, invertebrates, algae, food web dynamics, lakes, rivers, billabongs), of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, alpine ecology, the treatment and management of wastes (urban, rural, industrial and agricultural wastes), population/conservation genetics (natural populations of flora and fauna), the population ecology of terrestrial fauna – especially insects and birds, and the ecomorphology of Australian vertebrates. The Department is an associate member of the Cooperative Research Centre eWater and collaborates with the Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre located on the Albury–Wodonga Campus.
Department of Microbiology
The Department offers undergraduate subjects at first year, second year and third year level, Honours and Postgraduate Diploma studies at the fourth year level and Research Masters and Doctoral degrees for suitably qualified candidates.
The microbiology subjects are intended to provide a basic education and training in fundamental aspects of general microbiology and the necessary practical skills required for careers in such fields as research, industry, and teaching. Areas of research in the Department include:
- biology of mitochondria
- general and medical virology
- molecular cell biology
- molecular genetics.
Department of Zoology
Zoology is the study of animals in all of their many facets. It includes the study of individual animals and populations of animals, their relationships with one another, with plants and with their physical environment. It encompasses many recognised sub-disciplines including:
- freshwater and marine ecology
- ecology of insects
- conservation and wildlife ecology
- animal behaviour
- evolutionary ecology of amphibians and reptiles
- behaviour and ecology of Australian birds
- cell physiology
- cellular signalling
- physiology of excitable cells
- physiology of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle
- electrophysiology of normal diseased muscle
- reproductive and evolutionary physiology.
The Department offers subjects which cover many of these sub-disciplines and which reflect its research interests. These research interests fall broadly into two divisions: ecological zoology and physiological zoology.