Student awards

ANZMBS Student Member Internship Award 2024/2025

Update October 2024

ANZMBS will provide up to 2 awards per year to student members who wish to undertake an internship in any area of Marine Biotechnology with an approved organisation.

For this award an “internship” is defined as a paid or volunteer work or training experience (minimum 2 weeks) in which an individual has intentional learning goals.

The award includes a one-off payment to student of ~$500 AUS /NZ

Awardee’s will be required to submit a short report of their activities and learnings that will be included in the ANZMBS newsletter.

Application rules and requirements

Applications should be submitted before the closing date of 5th March 2025

Using this form

Applicants will need to include

o an acceptance letter from the proposed organisation that states the duration of the internship, activities/ duties undertaken and supervisor contact

o a ~300-word description of the project to be undertaken and how it will enhance the students training in Marine Biotechnology

o applicants CV

o evidence of student status

Application Process

- Applicants will be assessed and ranked individually by the committee; any conflict of interest should be disclosed at the time of application.

- Applicants must be ANZMBS members

- It is desirable that host organisations are members but not a requirement

- Applicants must be a student at the time of the application. Students can be full time, part time, undergraduate or postgraduate. Postgraduate students who are awaiting the outcome of thesis examination are permitted to apply.

- The current round of the award is intended for students undertaking an internship between November 2024 and February 2025. The committee may consider applications outside of these dates and may offer a second round for 2026.

For further details or enquiries please email at anzmarinebiotechnology@gmail.com

2023/2024 ANZMBS Student Member Internship Award

The ANZMBS Committee has selected two Student Interns to receive the 2023 Student Award from the applicants from either side of the Tasman.

Congratulations Teish Prescott and Anna Sang

Teish Prescott - 2024 Australian Winner

My Project

Over the past month I have had the opportunity to work alongside Professor Katja Anttila at the University of Turku, Finland, exploring how exercise training in farmed finfish can improve thermal resilience and support finfish farming in warming waters. Our research focuses on key cardiac mechanisms, such as heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and cardiac mitochondrial respirometry, and assessing their performance under elevated temperatures, which are known to impair cardiac function, in both exercise-trained and control rainbow trout.

The information gained from these experiments offers a promising strategy for the industry to equip fish stocks with physiological systems capable of thriving in increasingly warmer ocean conditions. Additionally, we have uncovered key information about thermally limiting cardiac mechanisms in fish, providing a basis for future research.

The detailed dataset generated contributes new knowledge that will benefit both the fields of fish physiology and finfish aquaculture. I am eager to share these findings with the Australian and New Zealand salmon industries, with the goal of providing them with a new tool to address the challenges of farming in rapidly changing environments.

I am extremely grateful to ANZMBS for their support in making this scientific adventure possible. This opportunity has significantly expanded my skill set, fostered collaborative networks, and boosted my CV, all of which will catalyse my future scientific endeavours, especially as I seek post-doctoral opportunities in 2025.

Anna Sang - 2024 New Zealand Winner

My Project

During my internship at the Cawthron Institute I conducted a project exploring the genome simplicity in toxic strains of the cyanobacteria Microcoleus, and their relationship with non-toxic strains. Long term this vein of research can be used in devising methods of mitigating toxic strain proliferations.

This experience not only deepened my understanding and appreciation of microorganisms but also honed my skills in culturing and analyzing microbial growth and properties. Working alongside ecologists within a multidisciplinary environment provided me with a more holistic view on organisms within ecosystems than what I normally receive in a biotechnology focussed degree. It has allowed me to fully appreciate the complexity of ecosystems, and the importance of deciphering and understanding organism relationships in environmental mitigation efforts.

The guidance and insights shared by the scientists at Cawthron were invaluable during my time there, and has prepared me for both the final year of my undergraduate degree and my future postgraduate endeavours

2022/2023 ANZMBS Student Member Internship Award

The ANZMBS Committee has selected two Student Interns to receive the 2023 Student Award from the applicants, from either side of the Tasman.

Congratulations Laura and Dakota. 

We asked our winners about their experiences during the internships.

Laura Neale - 2023 New Zealand Winner

About me

I am a devoted, passionate, and highly motivated undergraduate student from Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in Cell and Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology, graduating at the end of this year.

My Project

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to intern at Cawthron Institute (NZ) for ten weeks.
My research focused on developing a novel method for the purification of phycobiliproteins in NZ Karengo (seaweed).

Having challenges like this paired with the independence of this project allowed me to subsequently learn from my failures on my own. This furthered my problem solving skills and confidence in an academic field that I know is indispensable for my future. The main take away I received from this project was that academic research is never smooth sailing and I am grateful to have learned that so early on in my career from being in this project. Additionally seeing the scientific industry no longer from an outside view and being able to work alongside talented and knowledgeable individuals inspired my future within marine biotechnology.

Dakota Winter - 2023 Australian Winner 

My Project

My project's aim was to identify new high-quality protein sources from algae species endemic to Australia, and helped me to develop a deeper understanding of the nutritional value of microalgae and their potential use as protein-rich food ingredients. The project gave me insight into the challenges and opportunities involved in the commercial-scale production of microalgae for food applications. Identifying how marine biotechnology is a very important field which has large potential to revolutionise various sectors of the economy and introduce sustainable practices. 

Overall, my internship project with CSIRO provided me with practical skills and hands-on experience in the cultivation and handling of microalgae. My project's focus on equipment, safety, and experimental design will helped me develop essential skills for a career in Marine Biotechnology. 

My Future Directions

In 2024, I will complete my degree in Environmental Science and Marine Biology and I am interested in completing an Honours project. With a focus on climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, I aim to contribute to research efforts and develop strategies to address these environmental challenges.

Additionally, I aspire to merge my passion for climate activism with visual art, creating "artivism" that inspires sustainable practices and sparks conversations. I am also actively seeking opportunities to support and collaborate with communities impacted by climate change and help individuals adopt sustainable practises into their lives. 

5-8 July 2021 New Zealand Marine Science Society conference, Tauranga Moana, New Zealand

We are very pleased to award the best student biotechnology talk at the New Zealand Marine Science Society conference to University of Waikato PhD candidate Vanessa Taikato for her presentation entitled “Exploring traditional practices of bivalve translocation: a multidisciplinary approach.” Vanessa gave a fascinating talk on the use of pōhā, bags made from blades of the endemic bull kelp Durvillaea poha, that were used traditionally by Māori for transportation of the shellfish toheroa and other kaimoana (food from the sea) around Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work showed that persistent photosynthesis from fresh cut blades helped reduce hypoxic stress on the shellfish and explored the notion that secondary metabolites released by fresh and dried kelp could reduce the effect of bacteria on the shellfish during translocation.