Dr Caroline Giezenaar awarded 2018 Research Medal

Dr Caroline Giezenaar, Riddet Institute Research Fellow, has been awarded the prestigious 2018 Doctoral Research Medal from the University of Adelaide for outstanding research at PhD level. The University presented this significant award, only presented to fifteen recipients a year, to her today in front of this year’s graduating class.

Dr Giezenaar joined the Riddet Institute in September 2018, following her highly successful PhD on the effects of ageing on whey protein digestion, metabolism and energy intake regulation. Her ultimate goal being to optimise protein supplementation strategies for older undernourished adults for improved health outcomes. Her PhD was very productive, and resulted in several publications in high-impact nutrition and geriatrics journals, and the receipt of multiple awards, including a Dean’s commendation for doctoral research thesis excellence.

Caroline was naturally delighted to receive the award. “I thoroughly enjoyed my PhD at the University of Adelaide and receiving the Deans award when I graduated, was very special. Receiving the Doctoral Research Medal however is an honour that I am very proud of as it recognizes my research as being world class. I accepted the award at the Graduation ceremony with my family in attendance from the Netherlands, which made the recognition even more significant. These awards are an exceptional start to my career, in which I intend to use my experience and scientific skills to help the design of food and diets to assist people with specific health problems.”

Professor Warren McNabb, Deputy Director of the Institute and Dr Giezenaar’s mentor is delighted for her. “We welcomed Dr Giezenaar to the Riddet Institute just over six months ago and already she has made a significant impact. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge that we recognised as being important to our future research and we are delighted she chose to join us. We are very proud of her achievements thus far and hope to add to them as she progresses in her scientific career with both the Institute and our collaborating partners. I offer her my sincerest congratulations, and her new team celebrates her fantastic achievement”.

Caroline’s focus at the Riddet Institute is on the essential amino acid tryptophan, its digestion, absorption and metabolism following ingestion of different protein sources. Tryptophan is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and is vital in human functions such as sleep regulation, mood, emotions and pain.