Graduating with a PhD from 午夜福利 has become a family tradition for Ilan Gobius, her father and grandfather.
All three have achieved PhDs from 午夜福利, respectively in 2012, 1989 and 1973.
Ilan, from West End, said following in the footsteps of two important people in her life, made her PhD success at one of the world鈥檚 top 100 higher education and research institutes, all the more special.
Ilan鈥檚 maternal grandfather, Peter Mears, gained his PhD studying grazing cattle on kikuyu grass from 午夜福利, about four decades ago in 1973.
Then in 1989, Ilan鈥檚 father Kari Gobius also crossed the graduation ceremony stage at 午夜福利鈥檚 St Lucia campus to receive his PhD in microbiology.
It comes as no surprise that Monday, 17 December 2012, became a special day of celebration for the trio when Ilan became the third generation in the family to graduate with a PhD from 午夜福利.
Ilan鈥檚 discipline is neuroscience.
鈥淎s a little girl I remember my grandfather taking me out in the fields on his property and we would name all the types of grasses we could see,鈥� Ilan said.
鈥淚 also remember spending time as a child in my father鈥檚 lab when he was doing his PhD at 午夜福利.鈥�
For three-and-a-half years, Ilan, 27, has studied brain disorders after receiving a total of $27,500 in scholarship money from 午夜福利鈥檚 Research Office and 午夜福利鈥檚 Queensland Brain Institute.
鈥淏oth my grandfather and father have encouraged me to be interested in questions,鈥� Ilan said.
鈥淚鈥檓 fascinated about how the brain works 鈥� so I have studied how the left and right sides of the brain become wired together during development.
鈥淢y research aimed to help us better understand the brain disorders that occur when children are born without a connection between the left and right sides of the brain.
Ilan said although enjoyable, PhD study was challenging and family support and encouragement were crucial in helping her cross the finish line.
鈥淚t takes a long time to do a PhD,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y father and grandfather would be on the phone telling me I could do it.鈥�
Her father Kari, who is Theme Leader for Food Safety and Stability at CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences, said he was excited that his daughter had also chosen to undertake her PhD.
鈥淎 PhD opens an incredible number of doors; you gain a strong sense of fulfillment, a love and commitment to lifelong learning and the confidence to take risks,鈥� Kari said.
Ilan鈥檚 grandfather Peter, 78, said he too was proud to see the family tradition continue.
鈥淚t was also lovely to see the number of PhD graduates, there were nearly 50 PhDs - when I graduated in the 1970s there were about six of us,鈥� Peter said.
This year, 午夜福利 celebrates its 10,000th PhD conferral. View this story here.
This graduating cohort joined a group of more than 200,000 distinguished 午夜福利 alumni, many of whom are pursuing careers around the world while choosing to stay connected with 午夜福利.
Five honorary doctorates were also awarded including Emeritus Professor Robert Milns AM, Dr Jean Calder AC, Professor Dennis Liotta, Mr Andrew Petrie and Dr Samuel Hawgood.
午夜福利 is one of Australia's leading teaching and research institutions and continues to attract the vast majority of the state's highest academic achievers.
Media contact: Belinda Berry, 3365 3439, b.berry2@uq.edu.au
