CSL is a leader in the plasma protein therapeutics industry – manufacturing and marketing a range of plasma-derived and recombinant therapies worldwide.

These therapies are used worldwide to treat coagulation disorders including haemophilia and von Willebrand disease, as well as neurological disorders in certain markets, to name a few.

“APR.Intern did an excellent job of sourcing CSL a highly motivated student from The University of Melbourne who brought a unique skills set that doesn’t currently exist in our organisation. We were excited about the high-calibre of student provided by APR.Intern –  as a result we have offered the student full time employment!” said Michael Wilson, Senior Director, Molecular Biology at CSL.

APR.Intern Milica Ng used her skills and diverse background in computer science, mathematics and engineering to help establish an innovative way to store and analyse biological data collected by CSL. In the future, this will strengthen CSL’s ability to quickly and reliably select appropriate drug targets for a variety of important human health conditions.

“The sheer enormity of gene sequencing data meant that it wasn’t humanly possible to determine which new drugs will block or promote interactions with certain cells or genes,” said APR.Intern Milica Ng.

Bio-mathematicians – like Milica and Dr Ritchie – write computer programs to extract this type of biological information.

APR.Intern provides a cost effective avenue for Australian businesses to access the vast research expertise at Australian universities.

The interns are postgraduate university students and receive support from an academic mentor at their university, providing businesses with additional specialist knowledge.

Importantly, the program is designed so that all intellectual property remains with the business. Projects are typically four to five months duration, with some businesses offering long-term employment to the intern following the conclusion of the project.

EMBL Australia and BioPlatforms Australia are proud sponsors of the APR.Intern BioInfoSummer Internship program – supporting Australian BioInformatics research into the future.

If you are a company that has a research need, we have three internships on offer for 2014.

Sponsored by EMBL Australia and BioPlatforms Australia, APR.Intern offers industry partners research funding for these internships.Industry partners only pay $3,000 per month for the duration (4-5 months) of the internship and all other costs are funded through the program.

Hear about the success of last years internships at the BioInfoSummer showcase 2013.

Intern: Milica Ng, The University of Melbourne
Industry Partner: Dr Michael Wilson, CSL
Academic Mentor: Dr Matthew Ritchie, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research