The following is content published in a BioGeelong brochure aimed at secondary school children.



Nicole Stupka, Post Doctoral Scientist for BioDeakin based at the Geelong Hospital.

Nicole Stupka loves the mystery of science.

"You can do all the literature research, plan your experiment and yet in the end the result can be so unexpected - that's exciting!" she said.

Nicole moved from Canada to Victoria to complete her PhD in muscle cell biology. She now works for BioDeakin - the Institute for Biotechnology at Deakin University in an area of interest to everyone - getting old!

"Muscles deteriorate with age, and the question is why?" she says. "What is the process of ageing and how could we stay forever young?"

Nicole is based at the Geelong Hospital's research unit.

"The good part about being at the Hospital is having researchers around me who have extensive knowledge in biomedical science including stem and bone cell research," she says. "Also, I have constant access to real patients." It was his, plus the supportive environment that exists at Deakin University, that attracted Nicole to Geelong.

Nicole's advice to young students is to do some real science in a laboratory before considering it as a career. She did work experience in a laboratory as a student, which, she says, was an invaluable experience

"Science is very different in school to the real world," she says. "The best thing about science is that you don't know the answer - that's what you are trying to find out!

"Science allows you to be creative in a very constructive way, especially when you could improve someone's quality of life."