Melanie Bannister-Tyrrell has conducted research into the resistance of the malaria parasite to the oldest anti-malarial drug known to the West. She has also done original research on women's attitudes to the new cervical cancer vaccine, and studied the mechanism of an anti-cancer drug now in clinical trials. And she hasn't finished her undergraduate degree yet.

Melanie is in her third year of a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) degree, an innovative course at the ANU designed to give top science students a solid grounding in research early in their studies. Original research accounts for 25 per cent of the first three years of the four-year course, with the final year being an honours year. A supervisor is assigned to each student to give them intensive tuition as part of a program tailored to their strengths.

It was a toss-up whether she would do science or medicine at the undergraduate level. "I chose to study at the ANU College of Science for the opportunities of the PhB program, especially the research placements," says Melanie, who is focusing on biology.

"The PhB program is a fantastic way to explore your interests in a research setting, and the flexibility of the degree allows you to study a range of subjects from all disciplines. I have enjoyed studying mathematics and philosophy in addition to biology and chemistry."

She has conducted research at the ANU's School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on the malaria parasite's resistance to quinine. The work exposed her to research while enabling her to make a contribution to the worldwide effort to fight a disease that kills 2 million people a year.
Another project was a survey of women on their views on the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil. "It was fascinating," she says. "Mum and the media came out as the big influences on whether women would get vaccinated. In 18- to 26-year-olds, their mums are still a major influence on their decisions."

A third project was at the famous John Curtin School of Medical Research, which has spawned Nobel laureates. Melanie conducted research into aspects of the mechanism of the anti-cancer drug PI-88, now in phase 3 clinical trials.

She says the ANU's high Australian and international ranking in teaching and research was another attraction. A science degree from the ANU is "prestigious and internationally recognised", she says.
"The ANU also has a relatively small undergraduate population, which means we have smaller class sizes than some of the larger universities," she adds.

Melanie has won several scholarships, including the ANU's National Undergraduate Scholarship and the Summer Research Scholarship, along with the Residential Rhetoric Learning Community Scholarship awarded by Bruce Hall, one of the university's residential colleges. In 2008, she headed off to Denmark under a student exchange program between the ANU and the University of Copenhagen.

Melanie, who grew up in Mudgee, in rural New South Wales, lives on campus. "I enjoy being part of an energetic student community that is widely recognised for its friendly, fun lifestyle," she says.

More information on the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) degree...