The University of Melbourne expands its research relationship with Hokkaido University, Japan

University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy (second from the right) and the Heads of the Research Institute for Electronic Sciences, University of Hokkaido.

On Friday 20 September, a delegation from the University of Melbourne, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mark Cassidy, celebrated an expansion of the University’s research relationship with Hokkaido University in Sapporo.

This expansion was formalised through establishing a joint PhD program, and extending the Joint Research Workshops Fund to support new and emerging collaborations between the two institutions for two more years.

The Workshops Fund was first launched in March 2022 and has supported 15 workshops so far, in topics ranging from nanoparticles, healthy ageing and to Indigenous knowledge. An extra workshop has been funded every year due to significant interest across both institutions.

The new International Research Training Group, the Hokkaido–Melbourne Network will commence with four joint PhD projects funded across two separate supervisory teams, with one Principal Supervisor from the University of Melbourne and one from Hokkaido University.

The projects will combine the expertise of the School of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne, and the Research Institute for Electronic Sciences at Hokkaido University. Together they have developed complementary expertise in nanomaterials synthesis, drug delivery, spectroscopy, and imaging.

“We are delighted to continue to work closely with our colleagues at Hokkaido University.” Professor Cassidy said.

“The growth and depth of this important research relationship has been demonstrated not only by our excellent work together to date, but our commitment to working together in the future.”