The Victorian government is backing a fellowship that will support a Victorian researcher to work at Pfizer’s Emerging Science and Innovation Unit RNA Accelerator in the United States in 2023.
The announcement comes after the Andrews Labor Government sealed a partnership with the major biopharmaceutical company in a bid to advance Victoria’s standing as a world leader in mRNA research.
The mRNA Victoria and Pfizer Joint Industry Fellowship is open to early career researchers working at any Victorian university or research institute in a related field.
The selected applicant will spend up to nine months working at Pfizer and have the chance to gain valuable knowledge and skills at the company’s recently established accelerator centre.
Pfizer and mRNA Victoria will cover a portion of the costs, including travel, accommodation, and living expenses for the entire period of the fellowship.
The fellowship program is part of the government’s efforts to increase global collaboration opportunities with Victorian researchers.
“This new Fellowship will see many benefits for Victorians, from future breakthroughs and job opportunities,” said Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford.
The Victorian government has invested approximately $1.3 billion in medical research since 2014 and has helped create more than 100,000 direct and indirect full-time jobs in the state’s biotech sector.
“Victoria’s medical research capability is world-class, and this is another opportunity to showcase that expertise and knowledge,” Pulford said.
“It’s why Melbourne has been chosen by Moderna, the Cummings Pandemic Therapeutics Centre and many other global firms as one of the great world centres for medical research,” the minister added.
