American Australian Association Fellowships

The American Australian Association is pleased to announce the award of Fellowships for up to US$25,000 each to leading US scholars for advanced research at top Australian universities - James Cook University, Melbourne University and the Australian National University.

The Fellowships foster the Association’s support of intellectual collaboration and discourse between Australia and the United States. Competition for the 2008/2009 Fellowships was intense attracting a highly credentialed application pool from a record number of researchers.

The successful US Fellows are undertaking research in a unique range of areas working at the top of their specialties. The Association Fellows will undertake research in physics, ophthalmology, conservation planning, and marine biology at leading Australian universities.

Applications for the highly prized awards were received from candidates undertaking research in a diverse range of subjects, including neuroscience, mining, engineering, ecology, marine biology and engineering.

The Association’s Education Fund has awarded over US$2 million to more than 80 American and Australian scholars since its inception in 2002.

The Association supports its Education Fund and Fellowship program through a series of Annual Benefit Dinners and the sponsorship of key corporate members such as News Corporation, the Macquarie Group, The Dow Chemical Company, the Alcoa Foundation, Merck and QANTAS.

Sir Keith Murdoch Fellows United States to Australia 2008 - 2009

Vanessa Adams
Washington and Lee University / James Cook University
Research Interest: Conservation Planning

Vanessa completed degrees in mathematics and biology at Washington and Lee University and is undertaking her PhD at James Cook University. Vanessa’s research focuses on how to incorporate cost considerations in systematic conservation planning for marine environments to optimize conservation targets.

Danielle Dixson
University of Tampa /James Cook University
Research Interest: Marine Biology – Coral reefs

Danielle studies the role that sense of smell plays in the settlement behavior of coral reef fish larvae, particularly in clownfish species. Danielle will investigate the extent to which these olfactory cues are used by larvae for adult habitat selection, and the differences that occur among species. Danielle’s also studies the effect that ocean acidification will have on marine species sense of smell.

Shanjean Lee
Duke University / University of Melbourne
Research Interest: Medicine – Glaucoma

Shanjean is currently pursuing her Medical degree at Duke University after receiving her BSc from The University of California, Los Angeles. Shanjean will conduct research at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne. Shanjean’s research will investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in optic nerve loss in glaucoma, a major cause of loss of vision both in Australia and the US.

Julia Ling
Princeton University / Australian National University
Research Interest: Physics – Advanced space propulsion

Julia will undertake research on advanced space propulsion at the Australian National University ANU. Julia’s research focuses on plasma propulsion and the helicon double layer thruster being developed at ANU. This particular type of rocket research could enable the faster space travel necessary for interplanetary missions.