Peter Rathjen
Encyclopedia
Peter David Rathjen is an Australia
n scientist and medical researcher internationally recognised in stem cell
science.
His research specialty is embryo
nic development and particularly the development of stem cell therapies for replacement heart
muscle, blood
and nerve cells.
, his father had previously won a PhD scholarship to Cambridge University. They moved to South Australia
when he was a child where he had his schooling at Blackwood High School
in Adelaide
. He studied Science at the University of Adelaide, majoring in biochemistry
and genetics
, and completing an honours degree. He reached international standard at orienteering
and was the reserve for the Australian team at the 1985 World Orienteering Championships
.
He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
to New College, Oxford
where he continued research into certain plant pathogens called viroids and their association with RNA
behaviour. This led to a post-doc at Oxford on embryonic stem cells.
Rathjen and his new wife Joy returned to South Australia, where he took a teaching role and in 1995 was appointed to the Chair of Biochemistry at the University of Adelaide
, aged only 31. He became head of the new Department of Molecular Biosciences in 2000.
He became Foundation Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide
in 2002.
He was appointed Dean
of the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne
in 2006, but after two years was replaced by Prof. Rob Saint and became Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). He oversaw the foundation of nine interdisciplinary research institutes aimed at creating research synergies and funding in key areas, from broadband technology to sustainability and energy systems. He was also involved in Melbourne's controversial program of 'focussed excellence', that shed some staff positions and reduced a growing debt.
In April 2011 he took up the role of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Tasmania
. Already known for strong support for academic excellence in the sciences, he immediately became embroiled in controversial remarks about the failures of Tasmania's school system.. Rathjen also believes many university students cannot afford or cannot manage a standard Bachelor degree, and briefer and cheaper alternatives should be explored for them, relieving pressures on the standard university system.
technology which was commercialised by CSIRO. Further research involved the molecular genetics of yeast
and the mechanism by which certain genes 'jumped out' of the DNA
and reinserted themselves into other parts of the chromosome
. In his final PhD year he worked on the same mechanism in mammalian DNA.
At Adelaide, Rathjen headed a research group looking at embryonic stem cells and protein signals which determine the final type of cells to be formed. This led to examination of commercial and therapeutic opportunities of the science.
He remains active in research, co-authoring 4 papers in 2010.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n scientist and medical researcher internationally recognised in stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
science.
His research specialty is embryo
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
nic development and particularly the development of stem cell therapies for replacement heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
muscle, blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
and nerve cells.
Biography
Born in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, his father had previously won a PhD scholarship to Cambridge University. They moved to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
when he was a child where he had his schooling at Blackwood High School
Blackwood High School
Blackwood High School is a co-educational secondary school located in Eden Hills, a south-eastern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia offering the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme with six nearby primary schools and Diploma Programme as the "Mitcham Hills College". It is also a...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. He studied Science at the University of Adelaide, majoring in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, and completing an honours degree. He reached international standard at orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
and was the reserve for the Australian team at the 1985 World Orienteering Championships
World Orienteering Championships
The World Orienteering Championships were first held in 1966. They were held biennially up to 2003 . Since 2003, competitions have been held annually....
.
He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
where he continued research into certain plant pathogens called viroids and their association with RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
behaviour. This led to a post-doc at Oxford on embryonic stem cells.
Rathjen and his new wife Joy returned to South Australia, where he took a teaching role and in 1995 was appointed to the Chair of Biochemistry at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, aged only 31. He became head of the new Department of Molecular Biosciences in 2000.
He became Foundation Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 2002.
He was appointed Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 2006, but after two years was replaced by Prof. Rob Saint and became Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). He oversaw the foundation of nine interdisciplinary research institutes aimed at creating research synergies and funding in key areas, from broadband technology to sustainability and energy systems. He was also involved in Melbourne's controversial program of 'focussed excellence', that shed some staff positions and reduced a growing debt.
In April 2011 he took up the role of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
. Already known for strong support for academic excellence in the sciences, he immediately became embroiled in controversial remarks about the failures of Tasmania's school system.. Rathjen also believes many university students cannot afford or cannot manage a standard Bachelor degree, and briefer and cheaper alternatives should be explored for them, relieving pressures on the standard university system.
Research
Hid PhD work formed the foundations of gene shearGenetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
technology which was commercialised by CSIRO. Further research involved the molecular genetics of yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
and the mechanism by which certain genes 'jumped out' of the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
and reinserted themselves into other parts of the chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
. In his final PhD year he worked on the same mechanism in mammalian DNA.
At Adelaide, Rathjen headed a research group looking at embryonic stem cells and protein signals which determine the final type of cells to be formed. This led to examination of commercial and therapeutic opportunities of the science.
He remains active in research, co-authoring 4 papers in 2010.
Recognition
- Inaugural winner of the Premier of South Australia's Science Excellence Award in the category of Research Leadership.
- Founding member of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology.
- Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (2001)