Florey Postgraduate Research Conference
Discover the extraordinary variety of research undertaken by the faculty's Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates at the annual Florey Postgraduate Research Conference.
About the conference
The 2023 Florey Postgraduate Research Conference will be held on Wednesday 2 August 2023 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The conference is a highlight for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and a chance to showcase outstanding research activity.
The conference, now in its 17th year, gives HDR students the opportunity to discuss their research with fellow students, academics, industry partners, and other major stakeholders of the University. It is a chance to recognise excellence in research and hear from distinguished speakers on specialised topics, beneficial to ongoing professional and personal development.
The 2022 Florey Public Lecture Speaker was Professor Fabienne Mackay, Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane.
The 2023 Flory Public Lecture Speaker will be confirmed in due course.

Professor Fabienne Mackay
Professor Fabienne Mackay is the Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. She joined QIMR Berghofer in May 2020.
She studied Medicine and Biomedical Engineering before obtaining her PhD in Molecular Biology and Immunology from Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, France. Professor Mackay started her research career in the biotech industry at Biogen Inc. in Boston. In 1999 she joined the Garvan Institute in Sydney and became Director of the Autoimmunity Research Unit in 2006. In 2009 she was recruited as Head of the Department of Immunology at Monash University. In 2015 she became the inaugural Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences and Head of the Department of Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, at the University of Melbourne.
Her highly cited pioneer work on the factor BAFF provided the knowledge foundation for the development of belimumab (Benlystaâ, a BAFF inhibitor), as the first new treatment for lupus in over 50 years. Professor Mackay is the world most highly cited scientist in the BAFF field.
Professor Mackay is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, a Council member of AAHMS, Board member of AAMRI, Board member of JDRF, and a member of the NHMRC Research Committee.
Her major research interest relates to autoimmune diseases such as lupus and leukemia.

Lord Howard Florey
Florey Medical Foundation
Named after Lord Howard Florey, a University of Adelaide graduate who shared a Nobel Prize for his development of penicillin, the Florey Medical Research Foundation raises funds for postgraduate research scholarships and early-career postdoctoral research fellowships within the medical degree.
Lord Florey and his team of scientists changed the course of history when they developed penicillin into a life-saving antibiotic treatment. Today, through the foundation that bears his name, Florey's achievements continue to inspire Adelaide students and researchers alike.
The foundation is based within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.
2022 Florey Postgraduate Research Conference Prizes
Prize | Description | Prize winner |
---|---|---|
The Florey Medical Research Foundation (Basic) |
1 Prize for Basic category $1,700 |
Braden Rose |
The Florey Medical Research Foundation (Applied) |
1 Prize for Applied category $1,700 |
Wenjun Liu |
Northern Communities Health Foundation | $300 | Kexun Kenneth Chen |
Northern Communities Health Foundation | $700 | Zinat Mohammadpour |
School of Biomedicine - Department of Medical Sciences | $400 | Georgette Radford |
Adelaide Medical School - Department of Medical Specialties |
$400 | Julia Scott |
Adelaide Medical School - Department of Medical Specialties Adelaide Medical School - Department of Surgical Specialties |
$400 | Laurine Kaul |
Adelaide Medical School - Department of Women's and Children's Health (Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics) |
$400 | Nandini Sandran |
School of Psychology | $500 | Simon Wildermuth |
School of Public Health | $500 | Alexandra Procter |
Adelaide Dental School | $500 | Mehrsa Zakershahrak |
Adelaide Nursing School | $500 | Noora Saleh H Al-Jabri |
School of Allied Health Science and Practice | $500 | Cameron Dickson |
The John Barker Bequest | $300 | Courtney Subramaniam |
The John Barker Bequest | $700 | Olivia Haller |
The Vernon Roy East Bequest | $300 | Julie Klau |
The Vernon Roy East Bequest | $700 | Rudrarup Bhattacharjee |
Executive Dean to the Faculty | $600 | Zein Amro |
Robinson Research Institute | $250 | Andrea Roff |
Robinson Research Institute | $250 | Sebastian Overduin |
CMAX (Clinical) | $200 | Kevin Ketagoda |
People's Choice | $100 Myer Gift Card | Rudrarup Bhattacharjee |
Innovation & Commercialisation Services | $100 | Luke Gierus |
Innovation & Commercialisation Services | $100 | Jieren Zheng |
Innovation & Commercialisation Services | $100 | Elizabeth Collis |
Peter Couche Foundation | $250 | Mohd Mohd Nazri |
Peter Couche Foundation | $250 | Katie Skeen |
Lions Medical Research Foundation | $300 | Ines Semendric |
Lions Medical Research Foundation | $300 | Maya Davies |
Tips, FAQs and further information
-
Venue
Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide.
-
Transport
You can catch the tram from the city to the Adelaide Convention Centre free of charge. The closest tram stop to the venue is the Adelaide Railway Station stop.
-
Dress code
Neat clothing. No shorts, thongs or singlets
-
Photography consent
Photography will be taken throughout the day at the 2023 Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. By submitting an abstract to present a poster, and attending the conference, you agree to your image being captured for future promotional material.
-
Key dates
The 2023 Florey Postgraduate Research Conference will be held on Wednesday 2 August at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
-
Primary Research Areas
Below is the list of the 17 primary research areas of the University which will be used for the conference. Upon abstract submission, each participant will need to select which area they will be presenting under:
Ageing, Frailty and Mobility
Cancer Biology and Clinical Oncology
Cardiac, Respiratory and Vascular Health
Child and Adolescent Health
Early Origins of Health
Fertility and Conception
Immunology and Infection
Indigenous Health and Health Equity
Innovative Therapeutics
Men's Health
Musculoskeletal Health
Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health
Nutrition and Metabolic Health
Oral Health
Pregnancy and Birth
Surgical and Health Systems Innovation
Translational Health Outcomes
-
Abstract template example
This is the template all students are expected to use when submitting their abstracts for the conference.
Research project title (poster) Your name (first name, surname) In scientific papers, the "affiliation" is the institute that each author belongs to. It is usually listed below the author's names, as the "department, university" of the institute each author worked at during the time that the study was conducted.
Please ensure The University of Adelaide is listed as the first affiliation and use the following example as a guide:
Buttigieg JP1, Coventry B1, Helmerson K2
(1) School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide
(2) School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University
If two people are associated with the same institution, it only needs to be written once. Indicate all affiliations with a lower-case superscript letter immediately after the author's name. Always list the author's surname before listing his or her initialsPlease follow these headings as a guide:
- Background and Aims
- Methodology
- Results
- Conclusion
Supervisor(s): Dr Lisa Marie Nicholas, Prof Jon Jureidini, Prof Caroline Miller
-
Poster size
841 x 1189 mm (A0). If you have already prepared a poster and it is not the preferred size for this conference, you will still be able to present, provided the poster does not exceed 1200mm in width and 1800mm in height. Each poster board is setup vertically and horizontal posters will not be accepted.
For consistency, we suggest you use the University of Adelaide A0 Poster template.
-
Presentation criteria
Students are required to stand at their own poster for the duration of the presentation session to which they have been allocated, a proxy is not permitted and students must present in person. If you are not at your poster during the allocated session time, your poster will not be assessed and you will not be eligible for a prize.
-
Font, layout and design
Use simple fonts in an easy to read size. Ensure font, image and figure colours are contrasting. Keep titles simple and include a figure caption and legend where required.
-
Poster printing
If you require poster printing, you may wish to contact Snap Adelaide Flinders Street via adelaidecbdeast@snap.com.au as they offer a University of Adelaide rate. The 2022 price was $27.50 per A0 poster on 80gsm bond.
-
Presentation structure
You will be given five minutes to present your poster, with an additional two to three minutes of Q&A time. You will be assessed by a group of two to three assessors. It is important to highlight the essential parts of your poster and use clear, concise language.
-
Poster presentation assessment criteria
Poster presentations will be assessed according to the criteria below, with a score out of 10 provided for each category:
- Quality and clarity of presentation and poster
- Scientific merit
- Quality of data/results/significance
- General understanding and ability to answer questions
- Overall poster rating
-
CaRST points
2023 CaRST points will be confirmed following release of the conference schedule closer to the conference date.
In 2022 HDR students presenting a poster at the conference will be eligible to receive three CaRST accredited points in Domain D. HDR students attending the conference who do not present a poster are eligible for two CaRST accredited points in Domain B. Attendance at the Professional Development Session will also provide 3 CaRST accredited points in Domain D, however students must attend the entire duration of the professional development session to be eligible.
-
Register for the professional development session
The 2023 conference schedule will be released closer to the conference date.
The 2022 Professional Development session was “Preparation for life post PhD". Run in round table format, the session covered early career planning and the transition process from study to the workplace and featured guest speakers from the following four potential career pathways:
- Research
- Teaching
- Industry
- Clinical/Professional.
Speakers shared their career journeys and experiences, answered questions from attendees at the session and facilitated discussion at their table.
-
Conference eligibility criteria
To participate in the 2023 Florey Postgraduate Research conference as a poster presenter, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a currently enrolled student in an eligible Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. Students who have submitted their thesis for examination by 2 August 2023 Conference date are ineligible to participate.
- Complete the 2023 Florey Postgraduate Research Conference Abstract Submission form via Career Hub by the published deadline.
- Receive notification of abstract acceptance, and confirm conference participation, by the published deadline.
Eligible Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Programs
Masters by Research
- Master of Clinical Science
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Philosophy (Clinical Science)
- Master of Philosophy (Dentistry)
- Master of Philosophy (Medical Science)
- Master of Philosophy (Ophthalmology)
- Master of Philosophy (Public Health)
- Master of Philosophy (Surgery)
Doctorate by Research
- Doctor of Nursing
- Doctor of Philosophy
Honours and Masters by Coursework students are unable to present at the Florey Postgraduate Research conference, however are welcome to register their attendance at the event. Registration details will be provided to all eligible students.
Please contact agrsfacultysupp@adelaide.edu.au with any questions.
-
Registration for presenting students
The registration desk will be open from 8.30 am to 9.10 am. Each student will be provided with a name tag, wrist band for catering, and velcro to secure their poster.