Materiobiology Program Background
The research areas of Tissue Engineering, Biofabrication, and Regenerative Medicine is highly related to the use of new and advanced materials in biological applications, and this has led to an emerging field of “Materiobiology”, a recently developed concept in the field of biomaterials interactions with cells and tissues, which recognizes the core role of both biology and materials aiming functional development of new medical materials and devices.
QUT researchers are leaders in this emerging field, with Professor Yin Xiao and Professor Changsheng Liu from the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) publishing a seminal paper in this field in 2017 (Li Y, Xiao Y, Liu C., “The Horizon of Materiobiology: A Perspective on Material-Guided Cell Behaviors and Tissue Engineering.”, Chem Rev. 2017 117(5):4376-4421). This paper is currently a highly cited paper (in the top 1%) in the field of Chemistry for 2018 (Source: web of science).
During a visit by QUT’s Vice-Chancellor in November 2017 to ECUST, a mutual understanding was reached to collaborate in the area of Materiobiology, and during 2018, a formal agreement for a QUT Master program (Master of Philosophy, IF80) with a specialization in Materiobiology was developed as a specific collaboration between QUT and ECUST. Thus the value of the emerging discipline and the strength of the partnership with ECUST are recognized. The agreement was signed by both Universities during a visit by the QUT Vice-Chancellor to ECUST in November 2018.
Core Content
The ECUST and QUT collaborate on a QUT Master of Philosophy (Materiobiology) program whereby high-quality students attending ECUST in the fourth year of a Bachelor degree will be selected by ECUST academics to apply for enrolment in QUT’s Master of Philosophy (MPhil) program. If successful, these students will complete the MPhil at QUT’s Brisbane campus for up to twenty-four (24) months of full-time enrolment.
Course Coordinator: Dr Yinghong Zhou
Number of students for the course: 5-10 (for 2020 start)
Course Structure
Commencement date: between October and December each year
Orientation weeks: After students start the program, there will be two weeks of induction and essential courses conducted by QUT supervisors
Stage 2 report: End of the second month after the enrolment
Progress report: Every two months
Final seminar: After 18 months of the program
Thesis submission and examination: within three months after the final seminar
Graduation: All students will attend the graduation ceremony at the same time
Course contents: Supervisors from QUT SEF and FoH will arrange the contents of research
Funding: QUT will provide a tuition fee waiver for the students, ECUST students will pay for their own living expenses, and supervisors will provide project funding.
Supervisor Team
The students under the M.Phil. in Materiobiology will be co-supervised between QUT (principal) and ECUST. QUT will have 15 Professors, Associate Professors, and senior researchers who can supervise in this field. Based on the research interest, QUT supervisors (principal) and ECUST supervisors (associate) are tentatively paired, however, as stated, the match of supervisors between QUT and ECUST can be adjusted accordingly to the project and the profile of supervisors listed.
The role for Supervisors from ECUST: Initial student recruitment, pre-entry training of research skills for the selected students, participation of the M. Phil. Program.
ECUST supervisors will help with the recruitment of students for the course and conduct some initial research training by working with QUT supervisors.
Students Recruitment
The program provides a specific pathway for highly competent students from ECUST in their final year of bachelor’s studies to apply for enrolment in QUT’s Master of Philosophy (MPhil) program. The students are expected to have an adequate background in the basics of Materials Science, Engineering, and Biology, especially those with specialization in Bioengineering.
Highly competent applicants for the program will be selected based upon joint selection by QUT and ECUST academics. QUT researchers will deliver presentations at ECUST and be involved in student recruitment and interview. ACCTERM and QUT/SEF/FoH International Office will assist with student enrolment.
The joint project and supervisors’ information will be posted on the website for student recruitment.
Cost and Scholarships
QUT will provide tuition fee waiver for the students and ECUST students will pay for their own living expenses.
Duration
The duration of M.Phil. is expected to be within 18 months and a maximum of 24 months.
Coursework, Workshop and Training
Students will not undertake any course work at QUT other than the existing unit of IFN001 (Advanced Information Retrieval Skills) where this is units identified as required to build knowledge for individual students.
A series of workshops will be delivered by supervisors from QUT and ECUST to introduce basic information and cutting-edge advances about Materiobiology, mainly focusing on tissue engineering, stem cell technology, regenerative medicine, and biofabrication. It will help students to develop an advanced understanding of Materiobiology that is highly relevant to their research projects. Practical skill workshop including English Writing, Culture Integration, Statistics, Research Ethics and Integrity Workshops will also be provided.
Online training, lab induction and training are mandatory for all students to obtain access to the labs. Basic lab skill training is also available for the students.
Report Requirements
The students are required to write a progress report and present progress every two months. The progress report template is attached as Appendix 1. The reports will be reviewed by the supervisor team. The students will receive support and advice to reach certain milestones or course completion, including a timeline breaking down what they need to accomplish.
The students are expected to meet the following milestones within specified timelines:
• Stage 1 – Application for admission at the beginning;
• Stage 2 – Preliminary research proposal within the first three months;
• Confirmation – The research proposal is confirmed within 12 months;
• Final Seminar – Final quality assurance of the thesis is expected in 18 months;
• Thesis Examination – The assessment of student’s work against degree requirements is expected within 18-24 months.
ACCTERM Involvement
• ACCTERM will develop a course guideline and structure for the cohort students including the induction, campus tour, orientation week, course teaching, etc.
• ACCTERM will assist with student enrolment, organize student meetings with supervisors.
• All the students within the MPhil program will attend the annual ACCTERM Research Forum.
English Language Requirements
Depending on their previous experience and qualifications, the students may need to meet English language requirements. We accept test results from:
• IELTS (Academic)
• TOEFL iBT (Internet-based)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
• Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
The students must take their test no more than 2 years before the start of their course.
Visa Application
How to apply
Once the students have accepted the offer, QUT will issue the students with their confirmation of enrolment (CoE) for student visa application.
The student visa can be applied online through the Department of Home Affairs application site. The Department of Home Affairs website provides information on the evidence the students need to support their application.
Visa assessment
The student’s application for a visa will be assessed by the Department of Home Affairs. Find more information about visa assessment processes via the Department of Home Affairs website.
It might take a long time to process your visa, the students are advised to leave plenty of time to apply.
If the application is successful, the students will be offered a four-year visa, but they are expected to complete, their masters in one and a half years or their Ph.D. or professional doctorate in three years.
Bringing family to Australia
If the students are bringing their children to Australia, they must provide evidence that they are making arrangements for their children to attend school while in Australia.
More information about how to get prepared for travelling to Brisbane, adjusting to life in Brisbane, orientation and more students support could be found at this link:
https://www.qut.edu.au/study/applying/international-applying-for-degrees/getting-prepared