Our research
Our academics employ discipline-based approaches alongside multi-disciplinary, problem-based methods.
We are ideally situated in one of Australia's most research-intensive geographical areas known as 'the
Parkville Precinct'. The Precinct is home to major centres for medical and bioscientific research, clinical
practice, education, pharmaceutical production and investigation into the applications of biotechnology.
Students can join our collaborations with other scientists from all continents, across all of our study areas.
For example:
- the Experimental Particle Physics research group is involved in the search for the Higgs Boson at CERN
in Switzerland.
- the Batterham Lab is looking for genetics-related solutions so that agricultural pests may be controlled
in developing countries without the use of insecticides.
- the Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis is mapping biosecurity risks at the national level.
- the e-commerce research group has strong collaborative links in Asia: Tsinghua University, China and
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and School of IT Business, Information and
Communications University, Korea
Areas of research within the Graduate School of Science
Botany
The School of Botany is renowned internationally as a leading department for research and training and offers an
exciting and stimulating research environment to study plants and plant processes. Programs cover the broad spectrum of
basic, strategic and applied research. Active collaborations are with Universities and Research Institutes within Australia
and overseas, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, State and Federal government agencies, and industry.
Chemistry
The School of Chemistry at The University of Melbourne is one of the largest and oldest in Australia with a distinguished history in teaching and research. The first lectures in chemistry in The University of Melbourne were given in 1856, only three years after the University was founded. Since then the School has grown and developed and there are presently over 2000 undergraduates enrolled in Chemistry subjects, with more than 100 BSc (Hons), PhD and MSc research students. Teaching and undertaking research in the School are 24 continuing research and teaching staff, and over 30 research only staff, supported by a similar number of technical and administrative personnel. The School is also a founding member of the Victorian Institute for Chemical Sciences (VICS), a collaborative venture between Chemistry departments at RMIT, Monash and Melbourne Universities with the objective to provide key research programs, equipment infrastructure facilities and educational outreach activities for the benefit of Victoria.
Earth Sciences
The School of Earth Sciences is a strong research department with dynamic research groups in Atmosphere and Oceans, Basin
Analysis, Hydrogeology and the Environment, Isotope Geoscience, Structure and Metamorphism, Surface Processes and Thermochronology.
We currently have 33 research active academic staff including one Federation Fellow with research funding in excess of $5million.
The School also operates an array of major equipment laboratories, other research facilities, support laboratories and field equipment.
Genetics
The Department of Genetics was established in 1964 under the founding Chair of Genetics, Prof. Michael White. Since that time, the
department has grown in size and in the scope of Genetics research undertaken. Genetics at the University of Melbourne has featured
prominently in the history of Genetics in Australia and continues to make a major contribution to Genetics research and teaching. We
have a vibrant research program ranging across fungal, plant, insect & mammalian systems in the areas of molecular, developmental,
population and ecological genetics and genomics.
Mathematics and Statistics
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is home the Statistical Consulting Centre (SCC), which provides statistical services
to business, industry, government and the academic world. The Centre is one of the oldest University Centres established by University
regulation. Since 2003 the Department has also been home to Melbourne Operations Research (MORe), a consulting group offering services
to business, industry, government and community organisations. Melbourne is the host department of the Australian Mathematical
Sciences Institute, an ARC Centre of Excellence in the Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems and an International Centre
of Excellence for Education in Mathematics.
Optometry and Vision Sciences
The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne is an academic department of the Faculty of Science.
The Department provides research training in the vision sciences and actively pursues a vigorous research programme via its academic
and postgraduate staff in the areas of biological foundations of ocular disease, optical sciences, visual neuroscience and applied
clinical research.
Physics
The School of Physics prides itself on its internationally competitive world class research. Our research strengths are diverse,
ranging through astrophysics, atom optics, cosmology, condensed matter physics, experimental particle physics, medical physics,
nanotechnology and materials science, theoretical particle physics, quantum information science, X-ray and imaging optics.
The School has an outstanding record in attracting external research funding worth approximately $9million annually, mainly from
the Australian Research Council (ARC), Australian Academy of Science, Victorian Government and government bodies in the USA.
Zoology
The Zoology Department has a vigorous research program with interests ranging from the structure and function of single cells
through to the ecology, reproduction, development and evolution of animals. We have particular strengths and expertise in animal
behaviour and evolution, ecology, conservation and wildlife biology, marine biology, marsupial reproduction and development, and
animal physiology.