Australia’s capabilities in research infrastructure (RI) have received a major boost, with Monash University set to host EMBL Fellows as part of the Career Accelerator for Research Infrastructure Scientists (ARISE) – a flagship European initiative designed to train the next generation of RI leaders.
ARISE Fellow Dr Richard Jacoby from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) will complete his placement at the Monash University Proteomics & Metabolomics Platform (MPMP). This marks a significant new opportunity for fostering international mobility, knowledge exchange and strengthening Australia’s role in a globally connected RI community.
A global approach to RI workforce development
EMBL’s ARISE programme addresses a critical gap in the life sciences workforce by developing a pipeline of skilled RI specialists essential to modern life science research.
Co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, ARISE Fellows are recruited and employed at one of EMBL’s six European sites. They work on a technology and method development project of their choice while completing a comprehensive professional program that trains them on how to run services, manage teams and projects, support users and promote innovation. ARISE Fellows complete their secondments with industry and international partners, allowing Australian institutions to partner with Europe’s leading life science network.
EMBL Australia Scientific Head Prof Jose Polo said EMBL Australia works closely with EMBL to facilitate these secondments because international mobility and collaboration is essential for Australia to remain at the cutting-edge of research.
“Our science depends on participation in global networks and access to world-leading RI, expertise and data resources,” Prof Jose Polo said.
ARISE Fellow Richard Jacoby
The first ARISE Fellow to undertake a secondment in Australia will be Dr Richard Jacoby. Dr Jacoby undertakes his ARISE Fellowship at the Zimmermann Group and will be hosted at the Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Platform (MPMP) from July 2026.
Dr Jacoby’s project builds on his work at EMBL Heidelberg, where he developed ways to identify the chemicals that form when microbes break down agricultural pesticides. These breakdown products are well documented in the lab, but their presence and importance in the natural environment remains poorly understood.
“During my secondment at Monash, I will use advanced mass spectrometry, chemical reference libraries, microbial genetics and real environmental samples to study how pesticides – and their microbial breakdown products – behave in places like farm soils and sewerage treatment plants,” Dr Jacoby said.
“This work will help other scientists quickly and reliably test how microbes transform many different pesticides in real‑world conditions.”
Why does it matter?
Structured collaboration between Australia and European research ecosystems offer significant value, enabling knowledge exchange, scientific collaborations and the adoption of best practice approaches towards workforce development.
International secondment opportunities, like Dr Jacoby’s, are crucial to testing innovative methods and technologies in a new research environment while gaining insights into different research technology platforms and learning about various models of research service delivery.
Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Platform Director Professor Ralf Schittenhelm said the ARISE programme is a unique fellowship focusing on developing the next generation of RI specialists, who are in high demand both in Australia and globally.
“We’re excited to host Dr Jacoby and contribute to this international training effort that strengthens our linkages to Europe and enables future collaboration in technology development,” Prof Schittenhelm said.
Monash University’s continuing collaboration with EMBL significantly increases Australia’s involvement in a global effort to develop an appropriate career recognition and training framework for RI scientists, positioning Australian platforms as high‑value partners for future ARISE Fellows.
Participation in ARISE is possible through Australia’s associate membership of EMBL, which provides access not only to scientific expertise but also to professional development programs, technology networks and large‑scale European initiatives.
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s only intergovernmental life science research organisation, supported by 29 member states, two prospect member states, and one associate member state – Australia.
Australia’s associate membership in EMBL is funded by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
EMBL Australia is a national life science network, creating opportunities for Australian institutions to collaborate with EMBL across research, infrastructure and training programs.
Bioplatforms Australia provides NCRIS funding to support the Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Platform.