Summer Vacation Scholarships/International and Local Industrial Placements 2009 - 2010

Summer Vacation Scholarships

During the summer of 2009/10 the Faculty of Pharmacy is offering Summer Vacation Research Scholarships.

These scholarships provide students with experience in research that might not be available elsewhere in their degrees. By gaining an insight into the research process, students are given the opportunity to see if they are interested in pursuing further studies or a career in a research environment.

Projects are offered in a range of areas, covering medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics/drug delivery, pharmacogenomics, pharmacy practice and pharmacy education.

In 2008/09 students undertook research on the following projects:

• ADR Monitoring
• Electronic Medication Management
• Direct-to-Consumer Advertising on the Internet
• Anti-diabetic agents of potential benefit in Asthma
• Modulation of GABA receptors
• Distribution of Pharmacy only therapies
• Botanical Medicines
• Flavonoid Glycosides and GIRK Channels

Projects for 2009/10 Summer Vacation Scholarships

The application form for these scholarships is available here.

The scholarships are open to students (local and international) currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate pharmacy, science, medical or equivalent physical or natural science degree in Australian and New Zealand universities.

Applications are invited from 2nd and 3rd year students although preference will be given to 3rd year students.

The scholarships are available for up to 8 weeks between December and February, with a stipend of $200 per week (to determine if your stipend will be tax free click here).

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the academic merit of the applicant and the quality of the application by a panel consisting of 1 person from each discipline. The application process will also include an interview.

Quotes from Previous Students:

• "I really enjoyed working with my supervisor and learning how to do research"
• “It was great - using new equipment that I would not have seen under normal circumstances.”
• “I got first-hand experience of working in a laboratory, and the opportunity of interacting with university academics.”
• “I got first-hand involvement with the research process, from the ground up….. it has broadened my perspective on research by allowing me to experience the full scope of the research process. This has placed me in a position where I can undertake a much more informed and realistic appraisal of my ability/interest in pursuing any postgraduate research”

International Industrial Placements - Novartis (UK)

The Faculty of Pharmacy in collaboration with Novartis Horsham Research Center (UK) is offering two trainee positions in the UK, under the joint supervision of Dr Daniela Traini (USyd) and Dr Philippe Rogueda (Novartis R&D, UK).

International Industrial Placements will take place between Monday 23rd November 2009 to Friday 26th February 2010. Trainees must be in the UK ready to start the placement on 23rd November 2009. This includes a holiday period from Thursday 24th December to Monday 4th January.

Project 1: Use of sonic energy in particle engineering

Summary
The use of ultrasonic energy to process particles for inhalation delivery will be reviewed and tested to support some internal technologies developed at Novartis in Horsham.

Background
Particle engineering for inhalation is an essential part of formulating APIs to be delivered to the lungs via a DPIs. Novartis has developed some processing methods that it wishes to explore further to support its current respiratory pipeline. These methods use ultrasonic energy in different forms to prepare and formulate APIs. The use of ultrasound to produce respirable particles is well documented (e.g. Prosonix ®), but Novartis has developed a unique process it needs to fully map and understand.

The Trainee will participate in the method exploration and development associated with this technology under the supervision and guidance of Novartis personnel.

Scope of work and deliverables
The role of the Trainee will be to assist in and learn about the production of inhalable particles following Novartis know-how. The Trainee will be required to become conversant with the use of ultrasonic energy in particle processing, in harvesting processed dry particles, characterising these particles and testing their performance in DPI devices. Novartis will provide the necessary training for the Trainee to be able to perform these activities. The Trainee will be offered the opportunity to learn about experimental design, essential experimental skills, a number of characterisation methods, and scientific data recording and reporting.

It is expected that the following will be delivered at the end of the Training Programme:

• the Trainee will carry out the experimental investigation of the process parameters to produce inhalable particles, as requested by Novartis scientists
• the Trainee will evaluate the characteristics of the processed particles, and their performance in Novartis DPI devices, according to Novartis testing methods
• the Trainee will structure and save the experimental data generated according to Novartis standards
• the Trainee will summarise the work performed in a short report summary at the end of the training period

Project 2: Development and testing of nebuliser formulations

Summary
Nebuliser formulations for the treatment of COPD, CF and Asthma will be developed and tested to support Novartis respiratory portfolio.

Background
Nebulisers are one of the 4 forms of inhalation delivery platforms developed at Novartis. A selection of devices has been chosen within Novartis that need evaluation, and for which adequate formulations must be developed.

Nebuliser formulations can either be solutions or suspensions. A number of formulating media can be chosen, from nanosuspensions to complex formation in aqueous or non aqueous media.

Scope of work and deliverables
The Trainee will be expected to develop and test a number of formulation+device combinations following Novartis guidance.

The Trainee will be required to prepare solution and suspension formulations. The Trainee will characterise their physico-chemical properties, using in house methods, viscometry, surface tension, laser scattering sizing, as well as their stability via spectrometric methods. Finally, the Trainee will evaluate the performance of these formulations in nebuliser devices via in-vitro methods, such as Spraytec, APS and NGI.

It is expected that the following will be delivered at the end of the Training Programme:

• the Trainee will carry out the experimental investigation of the process parameters to develop nebuliser formulations, as requested by Novartis scientists
• the Trainee will evaluate the characteristics of these formulations, and their performance in Novartis nebuliser devices, according to Novartis testing methods
• the Trainee will structure and save the experimental data generated according to Novartis standards
• the Trainee will summarise the work performed in a short report summary at the end of the training period

Application
The trainee positions are open to Bachelor of Pharmacy (USyd) students (local and international) currently enrolled full-time in 3rd year.

The placements are for 14 weeks (with a Christmas break) from late November 2009 to late February 2010.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the academic merit of the applicant and the quality of the application. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed.

The application form for the International Industrial Placements is available here

Funding
Each participant will receive £3000 (approximately $6000 Australian) as a contribution towards accommodation and living expenses. This will be paid in two lump sums, the first on award of the placement and the other after week 4 of the placement. The Faculty will also contribute up to half of an economy return flight from Sydney to London (UK).

While Students will be covered by insurance by the Faculty and Novartis R&D during their placements, additional private health and travel insurance for the period abroad is strongly encouraged.

The participants are expected to organise their own accommodation while abroad.

The participants are also responsible to obtain the appropriate working visa for the UK.

Local Industrial Placements

Through its Industrial Placement program, the Faculty of Pharmacy offers students the chance to gain work experience in a pharmaceutical industry setting. This is a unique opportunity to obtain experience in an industrial environment and to explore the research process.

The Industrial Placement program allow students to gain experience and training via short term placement with participating industries in the areas of pharmaceutical manufacturing, analytical testing, processing or analytical validations, R & D as well as in some regulatory, sales and medical affairs areas.

The faculty will be offering a limited number of industrial placements over the summer period (between two to six weeks) between December and February.

Application
The industrial placements are open to Bachelor of Pharmacy (USyd) students (local and international) currently enrolled full-time in 2nd or 3rd year.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the academic merit of the applicant and the quality of the application. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed.

The application form for the local Industrial Placements is available here