Monash researcher in Young Achiever awards

Research into hormones and their effect on reproduction has won Monash PhD student Ms Kirsten Robertson a place as semi-finalist in the Science and Technology section of the Young Achiever of the Year Awards.

Ms Robertson, a Monash science graduate now based at Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, said she was surprised but pleased her nomination had progressed to this stage.

"I'm not sure how much chance I have of winning because I don't know who else has been nominated, but I'm happy to have gone this far," she said.

The finalists of the Young Achiever of the Year Awards from each state, announced in November, are entered into the Young Australian of the Year Awards.

Ms Robertson has been studying aromatase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into oestrogen.

The research has shown mice became incapable of producing any oestrogen when the aromatase enzyme was inactivated, causing a significant block to sperm production resulting in infertility.

This suggests that oestrogen, commonly thought of as a female hormone, was actually necessary for reproduction in males as well - a finding that could lead to further research into male contraceptives.

Last year, Ms Robertson was a finalist in the Junior Scientist Award from the Endocrine Society of Australia, and was also awarded the 1998 Novo-Nordisk Award for Student Excellence.

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