RESEARCH
LEADERSHIP
COMES
FROM
WITHIN
Professor Julie Owens is uniquely suited to drive the
However, for all her credentials in health and medical
University of Adelaide’s research strategy, with a brilliant
science, Professor Owens is no silo-scholar: “Having
career in medical science, a deep understanding of
being a member of the ARC College of Experts helps you
the campus developed over decades and enormous
get across other disciplines more easily.” And she points
experience at the interface of inquiry and administration.
to the importance of multi-discipline research, “sociology
And she is very keen to use all of her experience
in a research leadership role. “I was looking for this sort
and anthropology can provide important insights into the
origins of the modern obesity epidemic”, she says.
of position, luckily it came up right here at Adelaide,”
“The real challenge now is to make explicit choices
she says.
on using resources across the University to have both
Professor
Owens
became
Pro
Vice-Chancellor
(Research Strategy) in May. It’s an enormous, important
economic and research impact, as increasingly expected
by government and the community,” she explains.
job but significant work, and lots of it, is something she is
And you cannot focus on the former without investing
used to. Previous to this appointment she was Head of
in the latter. “Look at the University’s core mission – it’s
the University’s School of Paediatrics and Reproductive
about increasing the body of fundamental knowledge
Health, Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of
and ensuring that translates into benefits for the wider
Health Sciences, as well as co-director and research
community,” she says.
leader of the Early Origins of Health and Disease Theme
A challenge for sure, but it also remains a great
and Group in the Robinson Research Institute.
opportunity, especially for young researchers at the
She is also the author of over 170 refereed articles and
University contemplating different career options. “My
book chapters and is experienced in assessing research
through her membership of the National Health and
Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Academy and the
Australian Research Council’s College of Experts.
“My advice to
any aspiring
researcher is
always to leap
in and make the
most of your
opportunities and
talent and see
where it leads.”
PHOTO
Professor Julie Owens
advice to any aspiring researcher is always to leap in
and make the most of your opportunities and talent and
see where it leads.”
Just as Professor Owens is doing.
ADELAIDEAN
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