La Trobe University > Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry > Study with us

Study with us

The Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry offers world-class teaching across all levels with an emphasis on strong research techniques and practical learning experience.

We offer subjects across a number of areas of study, including:

We also have Bachelor, Honours and Postgraduate degrees, which give students valuable research skills and enables you to work as active members in one of our research groups .

Applying for a degree

If you’re not a year 12 student and have not already applied through VTAC or UAC then you may be eligible to apply directly to La Trobe. You can check whether your course accepts direct applications by reading the 'How to apply' information in the course description. International students can find more information here.

Bachelor's degrees

Students study in the degrees including our Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biological Sciences, Bachelor of Biomedicine and Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Business courses. Selected undergraduate degrees are open for direct applications. Apply.

Honours

The science Honours or Honours in biochemistry is a fourth year of undergraduate study where students undertake placement in a research laboratory either in the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) or the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI). During their Honours year, students work independently on their own research project, culminating in their writing and submission of a thesis. Apart from training in a wide range of experimental techniques, students who complete Honours develop advanced skills in critical thinking, communication, presentation, working as part of a team, and time-management. These skills are highly transferable and sought-after by employers from all sectors.

Information on how the program is run and specific project details are available via this LMS site; current La Trobe University students just need to self-enrol to access the page.

Postgraduate degrees

We administer multiple Masters courses including the Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Master of Biotechnology Management, Master of Chemical Sciences and Master of Science. We also offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Find out more about how to undertake postgraduate coursework study, or a graduate research degree in our world-class facilities. Learn more about our research specialisations and current projects.

Diploma

Study a Diploma as an entry-level course that will lead you to further study.

Student profiles

Chemistry PhD student Ahmed Al-Adhab is using membranes to extract toxic chemicals from polluted water. “The membranes are cheap and simple to make,” he said, “and can be re-used multiple times by cleaning them with a chemical found in detergents.”
  • Chemistry PhD student Ahmed Al-Adhab is using membranes to extract toxic chemicals from polluted water. “The membranes are cheap and simple to make,” he said, “and can be re-used multiple times by cleaning them with a chemical found in detergents.”
  • PhD candidate Alison Cheong is exploring new combination therapies, where existing drugs are repurposed to supplement anthracycline chemotherapy. “With combination therapy we can enhance cancer treatments while reducing toxic side effects,” said Alison, “and ultimately provide better treatments. I find this research interesting, because you never quite know what will happen next.”
  • “I specialise in exercise science. My PhD examines the role of proteins in carbohydrate regulation, and their impact on the performance of athletes. We know a lot about carbohydrates as an energy source, but far less about the specific carbohydrate-related proteins found in skeletal muscle. I use skeletal muscle samples to explore these protein interactions. I hope my research will help endurance athletes eat smarter for increased performance.” – Barney Frankish
  • PhD candidate Charlene Magtoto is exploring how a particular gene governs cell shape. “When cells lose their shape, tissues can become disorganised and can lead to cancer,” said Charlene. “If we identify what pushes cells into disease, we can find ways to prevent that from ever happening. It’s a very novel project, which I like.”
  • Chathuri Senavirathna is one of our Master of Chemical Sciences students. A graduate of the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, Chathuri said, “It was hard to find a pure chemistry degree. Then I discovered the Master of Chemical Sciences at La Trobe and it is chemistry, chemistry, chemistry – it has the wow factor.” Chathuri completes her degree this month and hopes to pursue a career in research support.
  • PhD candidate, Cristina Triffon, is studying the influenza virus, and the role of T cell activation in the immune response. “T cells kill infected cells,” she said. “I am using 12 different strains of influenza to see if they activate T cells. Hopefully this information will lead to better vaccines.”
  • Gloria Patricia Casas Garcia is one of our Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics graduates. She enjoyed the research component of her degree so much she is now undertaking a PhD in biochemistry. Patricia’s research focuses on how Pseudomonas aeruginosa – a bacterium that can cause serious infections in cystic fibrosis patients – acquires iron in order to survive. Understanding this interaction may lead to better treatment options.
  • “I come from Tanzania, a country that is heavily dependent on agriculture. My PhD examines membranes made from cashew nut shell compounds, that can extract toxic herbicides from water. The membranes are eco-friendly, versatile and cost-effective compared to traditional technologies. Hopefully, my research will help address some of the environmental problems facing my home country, many of which result from agricultural development.” – Alinanuswe Joel Mwakalesi
  • Mahmut Ruzi studies aerosols: particles in air that play a role not just in climate change, but also in everyday weather. Mahmut models how aerosols form and measures their properties by using intense infrared radiation at the Australian Synchrotron. Understanding aerosols and how to characterise them will lead to more accurate and detailed weather forecasts. “I get to study the most fundamental aspects of atmosphere,” Mahmut said, “but if someone asks what I do, I can connect it with simple everyday things like the weather!”
  • Natasha Fahey Lozano’s PhD research focuses on understanding how healthy cells identify and communicate with unhealthy and potentially cancerous cells. “Suboptimal cells can avoid being detected and eliminated by healthy cells,” said Natasha. “Understanding how this happens could lead to new cancer treatments. It’s satisfying to make steps towards solving these problems.”
  • “Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a sensing method. It uses electricity to trigger a chemical reaction. The result is an intense light emission that can be used for the detection of DNA, cells and proteins. Most commercially available ECL systems use tripropylamine as the co-reactant. It’s not an ideal compound, because it is volatile and highly toxic. My PhD focuses on identifying alternative co-reactants for ECL that are cost effective and safe, both for the analyst and the environment.” - Noah Kebede
  • Rahul Sanwlani is one of our new Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (MBB) students. A graduate from the University of Delhi and the University College Dublin, Rahul was inspired to become a scientist after his grandfather died of cancer. “His loss became a source of inspiration to find a cure one day.” Rahul chose the MBB course as a pathway to a PhD. “The program is a perfect blend of coursework and lab skills in the first year, which I will put into practice in my second year research project,” he said.
  • Rebecca Stephens began her university life in animal science, but soon developed a love for biochemistry and genetics. After completing her undergraduate degree, Rebecca enrolled in a Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. “It provided me with the research and technical skills I needed to take on a PhD,” she said. Rebecca’s just started her PhD, which focuses on the characterisation of Scribble, a protein that often mutates in the development of cancer. She hopes her research will contribute to new therapeutics that target tissue disorganisation in disease.
  • “I use supercomputers to model the behaviour of common blood pressure medications. My research seeks to understand how these drugs affect us at a cellular level, and could lead to improved therapeutics.” – Ruitao Jin, chemistry PhD candidate
  • PhD candidate Ruqaya Maliki, from Dr Suzanne Cutts’ lab, is working to improve breast cancer therapies. She loads chemotherapy drugs into nanoparticles to target tumours, then studies the interaction at a cellular level. “I hope my research will lead to more effective treatments with fewer side-effects,” she said.
  • PhD student Sitong He is using supercomputers to model the structure of channels that control the flow of potassium into cells. “Abnormal channel behaviour can lead to diseases like high blood pressure,” said Sitong. “Improving our understanding of these channels could lead to new disease treatments.”
  • Wilin Julian Sari is one of our Masters of Chemical Sciences students. After graduating with a Bachelor of Education from the State Islamic University of Riau in Indonesia, Wilin searched for postgraduate study with “a good mix of research and coursework.” “It’s why I came to La Trobe,” she said. “I am passionate about finding alternatives to dangerous food preservatives. Science gives me the opportunity to learn more about natural products and make a real difference.”
  • “Traces of heavy metals and pharmaceuticals in drinking water can cause disease and damage to the environment. I am using hydrogels, commonly found in contact lenses, to remove these contaminants from water.” – Chemistry PhD candidate Zarah Alzahrani
  • “I am researching cachexia, a muscle and fat wasting disease that frequently affects cancer patients. Those suffering from cachexia are unable to tolerate high doses of chemotherapy or immunotherapies. I’m developing methods to treat the disease and improve survival rates.” – PhD candidate Zhipeng Cao

Biochemistry and Chemistry students

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