The first biotechnology company to move into La Trobe University’s new Bio Innovation Hub in Bundoora, VivaZome’s approach to student placements creates a dynamic environment where education seamlessly integrates with real-world applications.
Student placements at La Trobe are designed to mutually benefit host businesses and students by cultivating leadership and workforce opportunities while providing students with practical skills in their chosen fields of study. This was exemplified by the placements of Rose Mbevi (Bachelor of Biomedicine) and Nicole Wasco (Bachelor of Science), who completed 100-hour placements with VivaZome in 2024.
“Both Rose and Nicole did very well during their placements, successfully completing their computer-based and laboratory activities. I think we matched them well with their strengths. They each delivered excellent presentations, highlighting their achievements and the impact this experience has had on their future career paths. (It) is incredibly rewarding to see how beneficial this opportunity has been for them,” says Xenia Sango, CEO, VivaZome.
“We structured their projects knowing we had 100 hours, so we designed actual tasks that would bring value quickly.”
Dr Ella Johnston, Research Scientist, VivaZome, acted as Nicole’s primary supervisor at the organisation.
“VivaZome has benefited immensely from having new knowledge and curiosity as part of the team. Being able to transfer hands-on skills to students has allowed us to ensure the next generation are prepared for their futures in the biotech industry,” she shares.
“For example, Nicole has contributed to several projects within VivaZome’s program through our extracellular vesicle, or “EV”, analytics pipeline. She has learnt independent operation of equipment required for EV analysis, including Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and analysed more than 100 samples during her placement.”
For Nicole and Rose, the carefully curated tasks with VivaZome allowed them to make substantial contributions in a short amount of time.
"(My) placement has provided me with extra hands-on skills that I haven’t learnt during my time in university. For example, I learnt how to use a Pipette Filler S1 for the first time, as well as multichannel pipettes. As well, I learnt how to use certain machinery such as start-up and shut down protocols,” Nicole reflects.
“(I sat in) on monthly meetings where I learnt the roles and responsibilities of each individual team member. They trained me in the skills necessary to complete tasks that were required. These skills are skills that can be transferable to other industries and applications.”
Considering her time spent at VivaZome, Rose – who was supervised by Craig Newton, Non-Executive Director, VivaZome – shares “I embarked on a challenging and rewarding journey into biotech research during my placement. This opportunity gave me an in-depth understanding of my interests, strengths and areas of improvement. I explored the worldwide web to conduct in-depth literature reviews, distil vast amounts of scientific data, and identify innovative therapeutic strategies. Beyond the technical expertise, this experience gave me a window into the dynamic biotech landscape, where research meets medicine and the real world”.
The student placements at VivaZome exemplify a thoughtful approach to industry partnerships and student development. Through structured, meaningful project experiences, VivaZome not only supports the growth of future professionals, but also enriches its own operations with new ideas and enthusiasm. These placements underscore the value of strategic placement planning, clear expectations, and ongoing evaluation ensuring a truly mutually beneficial experience.
The University's focus on aligning with and understanding the needs of industry partners is crucial for cultivating future successful placement experiences. Each course at La Trobe provides different placement programs, ranging from 70 to 400 hours, which helps facilitate finding a role that supports the success of both the host business and students.
If you are a member of industry and interested in La Trobe’s student industry placement program, connect with La Trobe Talent.
La Trobe Talent will support your business throughout the process, from creating a placement description to promoting it to students and finalising the agreement. Contact La Trobe Talent at latrobetalent@latrobe.edu.au or submit an EOI Form.
For general industry engagement inquiries, please reach out to industry.engagement@latrobe.edu.au
