University students supported as future leaders

Two University of Adelaide students have been awarded prestigious Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships in 2020 to undertake post-graduate study.

Their research will help understand the mechanisms behind underlying healthy placental development and provide insight into human evolutionary history and its implications for human health and modern populations.

The Westpac Scholars Trust today announced its 2020 Westpac Future Leaders Scholars, recognising ambitious young Australians who are investigating solutions to some of our most pressing global problems.

Each recipient will receive up to $120,000, covering their postgraduate studies, a nine-month bespoke leadership development program and the opportunity to study abroad.

The University of Adelaide recipients are:

Shanna Hosking, PhD student in the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences with a project ‘Immune cell regulation of vascular function in fetal and placental development’.

“My PhD research will investigate how the immune and vascular systems interact during pregnancy and will further my understanding of how immune cells facilitate vascular adaptations that are critical in placental and fetal development,” says Shanna.

“Placental dysfunction arises more commonly in low socio-economic circumstances due to nutritional, environmental and psychosocial drivers, perpetuating a cycle of adversity that constrains opportunities for the next generation. Breaking the cycle of poverty and constrained achievement depends on understanding the mechanisms of healthy placental development, so that effective interventions can be developed."

Olivia Johnson, also a PhD student in the School of Biological Sciences, is investigating the evolution of human diversity and disease using modern and ancient genomes.

“My PhD project will look at developing genome-wide selection scanning technologies to detect genetic selection in ancient and modern genomes,” says Olivia.

“By developing these screening technologies and applying them to population data from across the globe, I hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the role of selection in shaping the landscape of human diversity and disease.”

Westpac Scholars Trust CEO Susan Bannigan says: “The Future Leaders Scholarship program gives some of Australia’s brightest and most ambitious students the chance to pursue their big ideas. Partnering with Australia’s leading universities to invest in this innovative thinking is something we need now more than ever.”

The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship is offered in partnership with the University of Adelaide, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Tasmania and the University of Western Australia.