Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Three scholarships to Chinese PhDs

4 May 2005

Three Chinese students undertaking their PhD studies at Monash have received scholarships from the Chinese Government to continue their studies.

From left: Chemical engineering PhD student Mr Xianwen Dai, pro vice-chancellor (Research and Research Training) Professor Max King, medical research PhD student Mr Jinhua Li, Chinese Consul-General Mr Junting Tian and chemical engineering PhD student Mr Cai Zeng.

Medical research PhD student Mr Jinhua Li and chemical engineering PhD students Mr Xianwen Dai and Mr Cai Zeng each received US $5000 from the Chinese Consul-General Mr Junting Tian at a ceremony at the Chinese consulate in Melbourne last week.

The scholarship scheme, introduced by the Chinese Ministry of Education in 2003, is aimed at encouraging and supporting Chinese self-funded students studying abroad.

The scholarships are available to outstanding Chinese students aged under 40 who have completed the first year of their PhD candidature in studies of natural sciences and social studies.

Mr Junting Tian said it was the first time the Chinese Government had established such an award for self-funded Chinese students overseas.

Fourteen scholarships were awarded around Australia , with five going to students at Victorian universities.

Professor Max King, pro vice-chancellor (Research and Research Training), said it was a great honour that out of 204 scholarships awarded worldwide, three had gone to PhD students at Monash.

At the Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Mr Li is researching the use of bone marrow cells to repair damaged kidneys.

In his research, Mr Dai is seeking a way to extract gold from ore without discharging cyanide into tailing dams.

And Mr Zeng is looking at ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when brown coal is burned for power generation.