Medical Radiation Sciences' PhD student awarded for innovative research
11 June 2011
Jennifer Alphonse, PhD student in the Discipline of Medical Radiation Sciences, gained recognition for her innovative research into fetal healthearlier this month.Jennifer, an experienced sonographer, is using ultrasound to research a method to improve the noninvasive detection of Down's Syndrome risk, based on Down's earliest description of the features of the syndrome that 'the face is flat'. Jennifer investigates the angle between two prominent bones of the face on fetuses that are just 12 weeks of gestational age, using state of the art 2D and 3D ultrasound. Her latest paper included the investigation of differences due to the ethnicity of the parents.
Her paper, titled 'Fetal Frontomaxillary Facial (FMF) angle measurement in the first trimester' recieved multiple awards at the largest national meeting of her peers the Australian Sonographers Association's Annual National Conference.
The recognition included;
· Best Research Paper
· Best Proffered Paper and
· Best Overall Paper
Jennifer has studied in Medical Radiation Sciences as an undergraduate (BAppSc in Nuclear Medicine), postgraduate (GradDipAppSc in Medical Sonography) and is now a PhD candidate in the Faculty. Jennifer is supported by her supervisors Jill Clarke, Jenny Cox and Andrew McLennan. The Faculty congratulates Jennifer on her achievements and wishes her well with the rest of her studies.