Reversing the biotech brain drain

CSIRO Livestock Industries has commenced a huge biotechnology recruitment drive that aims to reverse some of Australia's scientific brain drain.

They are inviting the best scientists in the world to join their team, with particular focus on scientists specialising in modern biotechnology - areas such as bioinformatics, cell biology, molecular genetics, protein biochemistry and immunology are being targeted.

"CSIRO Livestock Industries Australia is about to increase its present capacity in the biotechnology sphere in response to the changing needs of the nation's livestock industries," says Shaun Coffey, Livestock Industries Chief. "We have identified the key need areas of the livestock and allied industries and are now gearing up to meet these needs over the coming decade," he says.

"To achieve this, we are actively seeking research collaborators and co-investors in these key emerging areas such as functional genomics, bioinformations, molecular genetics and protein biochemistry."

Through a joint initiative between CSIRO and the University of Queensland, CSIRO is now building a major new facility in Brisbane to house biotechnology work, due for completion in 2003.

Item provided courtesy of CSIRO.