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.

Fabienne McKay

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

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
(General Practice, Medicine, Psychiatry)

 $400 Julia Scott

Adelaide Medical School - Department of Medical Specialties
(Acute Care Medicine, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Orthopaedics and Trauma, Surgery)

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 initials

    Please 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.

Sponsors

2021 Florey HDR Conference Sponsor Logos