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Honours in Physiology
Consider Honours in Physiology
Poster 1 (pdf, 235 kb)
Poster 2 (pdf, 175 kb)
Poster 3 (pdf, 159 kb)
Honours opportunities
The Department of Physiology is a large, research active department strongly supported by considerable external research grant funding. It offers a diverse range of exciting research projects and high calibre supervision to students undertaking Honours programs in the B.Sc., B.Biomed.Sc., B.Behav.Neurosci., and B.Med.Sc. Staff at Monash Physiology and affiliated institutions cover most branches of physiology. They can provide projects involving a wide range of techniques from cell and molecular physiology, through tissue and organ culture to complex instrumentation of experimental animals, and human research.
The broad areas of research include:
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Animal biotechnology, parasitology and asthma research
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Behavioural Neuroscience
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Cardiac and smooth muscle function in health and disease
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Causes and consequences of preterm birth
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Growth and development of the fetus, birth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, fetal determinants of adult disease
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High blood pressure, renal disease, diabetes
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Muscles, exercise, and control of movement
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Neuroscience and control of energy expenditure, thirst, body fluids, body weight and hypertension
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Neuroscience and the brain, including vision, hearing and aging
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Obesity and appetite
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Sex and reproduction
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Stem and germ cell biology
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Stress and body function
How will you actually spend your Honours year?
- Carrying out a research project under the guidance of your supervisor. This will occupy the bulk of your time.
- Gaining skills in diverse areas, such as using software for data management, analysis and presentation, performing specialised experimental techniques, and designing and analysing an experiment effectively.
- Learning how to record and present your new findings and inform other scientists about them. This means giving seminars on your work, writing your thesis and, with close supervision, possibly preparing material for conference presentation or for publication in research journals.
- Attending lectures or seminars from top calibre scientists on the latest in physiology research.
What lies at the end of your Honours year?
While Honours is the usual gateway to postgraduate degrees, such as a Masters or PhD, it also offers much more than this. Even if research doesn’t win you over and you choose not to follow a path in that direction, Physiology Honours gives you skills way beyond the scope of a pass degree for pursuing other options.
You may choose to apply your technical skills in helping others in a research environment, such as a university department or research institute. In fact, these days most potential employers regard Honours as a minimum academic level for research assistant positions.
If you consider a move away from research, think about the independence you will have gained during your year of Physiology Honours. You will be given responsibility for a unique area of research from ‘go to whoa’. Educationally, it’s a fantastic experience. Your advanced knowledge and general skills – organisation, communication, problem solving, teamwork, computer know-how – could pave the way for a career in the healthcare industry, the corporate sector or government departments. There is no doubt that employers value an Honours degree highly. Should you choose to continue your studies, an Honours degree can increase your chances of acceptance into other courses.
What should you do to register your interest in an Honours project in Physiology?
The best way forward is to decide what areas of physiology interest you the most. A booklet listing potential projects for Honours students is available from the Monash MUSO website and from Michelle Bertucci. Check out the projects listed in this booklet and then talk to the staff working in those areas that interest you most. Then, when the time comes, follow the application procedures set out by the Faculty.
How can you find out more about the Honours year?
If you are unsure about any aspect of the Honours programs in Physiology, talk to one of the Physiology Honours convenors (Alan Tilbrook, Harry Coleman or Michelle Kett) - they know all the ins and outs! Their contact details are below.
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