ASMR student poster award for copper nanomaterials project

Deakin University biomedical science honours student, Lesley Smith, was presented with the "Best Honours/Equivalent Poster Presentation Award" at the 2016 Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Victorian Student Research Symposium in June.

Ms Smith is completing her honours year with Dr Aaron Schultz and Dr Sharon La Fontaine within Deakin’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology on a project investigating the therapeutic development and application of copper nanomaterials.

The title of Ms Smith’s poster was "Copper nanomaterials in neuronal and cancer cell models". She says receiving the award was both a surprise and an honour.

"I initially found it very intimidating to present my research to other students and academics, especially when it was so early on in my project," said Ms Smith. "Receiving this award took me by surprise, and I felt honoured to be recognised for my hard work among so many outstanding candidates".

Deakin has been a major sponsor of the symposium and other events that are part of ASMR Medical Research Week® since 2011, with sponsorship contributed through the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Faculty of Health, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, and the Centre for Molecular and Medical Research.

Dr La Fontaine, a senior lecturer in Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences, says the aim of the symposium is to create a professional environment for young Victorian researchers to present their work to a large and diverse group of medical researchers and to facilitate collaboration between young researchers.

It’s an opportunity Ms Smith encourages other students to experience.

"Presenting at the ASMR Student Research Symposium was an invaluable experience that developed my oral presentation skills and improved my confidence in my research. I would encourage all students to get involved in such a fantastic event," she said.