Matthew Belousoff, Bachelor of Science (Hons) (2005) PhD (2009)

The research success of Monash science graduate Matthew Belousoff stands out amid a new generation of scientists and has paved the way for him to work alongside Professor Ada Yonath, last year’s winner of the Nobel Prize for chemistry.

Matthew’s success at Monash included a prestigious Fulbright scholarship. The scholarship was an opportunity to research and work with those who are the best in their field in the United States, where he used the time to further his work into HIV.

 “For me, science has opened doors to enable me to make a difference. Whether that be researching human conditions like HIV, looking at the interaction of metals or applying the science to aquarium glass.”

It was during his time at Monash that Matthew teamed up with a group of researchers to develop self-cleaning aquarium glass.

They named their technology start-up ‘Barracouta’. Their specialty product inhibits the growth of algae on aquarium glass, dramatically reducing the time and costs associated with aquarium maintenance.

Barracouta won the inaugural Monash New Enterprise Challenge with a prize of $10,000 that was used to fund patent protection of the technology, incorporation of the business entity, and further research.

The ink was barely dry on the Barracouta paperwork when Matthew’s PhD thesis, ‘Metal complex and small molecule interactions with phosphate esters and nucleic acids’, won the Mollie Holman Doctorate Medal for outstanding work. Matthew’s thesis was also recognised nationally, winning the Cornforth Medal for most outstanding PhD research in a scientific field.

The work was praised for providing new avenues of research in biological chemistry.

The recently-conferred Dr Belousoff’s career continues to shine – albeit for the moment in the shadow of an internationally-renowned scientist.

At the Weizmann Institute in Israel, Dr Belousoff is working closely with Professor Ada Yonath, the winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for chemistry. The research involves looking at mechanisms that could have sparked life on earth, as well as trying to better understand the behaviour of clinical antibiotics.

Matthew said his interest in science started at school and had been nurtured by family, teachers at school and at university.

"Never would I have imagined that I would have the chance to travel around the world and work with inspirational people. I feel really fortunate and I guess I just followed the opportunities as they were presented, while always being focused on doing solid research."