In this month’s newsletter, we would like to introduce PhD student, David Hansman from the College of Medicine and Public Health.

David’s recently submitted thesis, “Antimicrobial drug resistance in pneumococcus Streptococcus pneumoniae” received outstanding results from the examiners.

We asked David to share what led him to a PhD and some of his experiences.

What was your research about

On the development of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus, the main cause of pneumonia in humans.

With several colleagues in Sydney, I reported the first examples of drug resistance in pneumococci, first to tetracyclines and then to penicillin. Penicillin was the antibiotic most frequently used in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia and other serious pneumococcal infections. Tetracyclines were often used in pneumonia, including cases of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Tell us about yourself

Since graduating from the University of Sydney in medicine in 1953, I have mainly worked in teaching hospitals, in Sydney, then Adelaide. I retired from my position at The Women’s and Children’s Hospital in 1998.

What led you to undertake a PhD? What inspired or motivated you?

I had longed planned to undertake a higher degree in medical microbiology.

What was been one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey?

Working with my supervisors David Gordon and Santhosh Daniel.

How did your supervisors support you during your candidature?

By regular, often weekly, discussions of the project. By identifying errors, mainly typographical and helping with the layout of the thesis, my supervisors were an invaluable help.

What advice would you give to those who are about to undertake a PhD?  

Don’t delay too long!