Work Integrated Learning leads to undergraduate publication success

Seeing your name on a published scientific paper is one of those pinch-me moments. And it’s even more astounding to be published while still an undergraduate!

Through the UNSW Science Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, students Noam Taylor and Lilla Irwin made their mark in research, contributing to peer-reviewed published research papers across biomedicine, agriculture and biology.

Noam and Lilla worked on these papers along with fellow UNSW undergraduate students Timothy To, Yibo Wu and Ella Van Wensveen, and five students from the University of Wollongong (UOW). Each project was assisted by a UNSW supervisor, project UOW supervisor and IMU University Project mentor.

The program connected these students with IMU University in Malaysia (formerly known as International Medical University), as part of the Australian Government New Colombo Plan funded Malaysia Internships program, and gave them new insights into the collaborative process of research publication.

We spoke with Lilla, who along with her fellow students and mentor, published a paper in the International Journal of Agriculture & Biology, and Noam, who worked with a team to publish a paper in Biomedicines, about their unique experience. 

“My first impression of the students was simple, they were incredibly dedicated and committed to the internship. Putting aside the fact that the 8 weeks spanned across the Christmas holidays, the students’ steely focus remained on the online projects. As faculty mentors, our job was to facilitate their learning, namely provide gentle nudges to keep them on-track,” says Professor Chin Beek Yoke, a project mentor from IMU.

What did you learn about the academic publication process as part of this project?

Noam: In this project, I learned that the academic publication process requires constant communication with all parties involved. Publication is a collaborative effort with multiple iterations of a manuscript required before it can be accepted into a journal and subsequently revised and published. Refining the manuscript involves integrating multiple perspectives and systematically assessing the best approach to implementing those changes. Sometimes there are disagreements, but I discovered that oftentimes, there are numerous valid approaches to scientific writing, with the differences being predominantly stylistic and personal.

Lilla: I learnt that the academic publication processes is not straight-forward; it takes time to progress through multiple checks and balances and is often unsuccessful. We applied to at least six different journals and were required to edit certain sections until eventually our paper was accepted, after nearly a year. It was worth the wait though!

Can you summarise the paper and findings in one sentence?

Noam: Our review article outlines and critically analyses the major stem cell therapies utilised in clinical trials for treating the fatal and incurable neurodegenerative condition, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), finding that stem cells provide a nascent approach to targeting the complex aetiology of ALS, but are limited by a lack of robust research.

Lilla: Our paper addresses the developments in mutation breeding of rice, particularly to improve crop yield and environmental stress tolerance (such as in response to droughts, floods and pathogens) with the aim of addressing food security, as over 50% of the global population rely on rice as a major food staple.

What would you say to other students who are looking to take part in a WIL program?

Noam: I would strongly recommend other students to take part in a WIL program if they are willing to put in the effort to make it a worthwhile experience. Although that requires you to go out of your comfort zone, that is where the most meaningful growth occurs. Ultimately, the effort you put in will determine how rewarding the experience becomes, so approach it with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

Lilla: I would say to go for it! It can be daunting to see where a WIL program can take you, but it is also the perfect way of testing what you want your future to hold, in a safe environment. Be prepared to go above and beyond the syllabus and accelerate your learning!

“The ultimate reward was having their hard-earned efforts accepted for publication! It is indeed rare to have undergraduate students publish in Tier 1/2 journals, based on work done in 8 weeks! This will definitely improve the CVs of the students in their pursuit of graduate studies/careers in science, and the journey undertaken, will assist in building resolve in their futures,” says Prof. Chin Beek Yoke.

Although the NCP Malaysia program has retired as a standalone adventure, students can still dive into exciting opportunities with IMU through their regular WIL program – so why not explore and see what’s waiting for you?