It’s been almost nine years in the making but Dr Clare Flakelar has finally reached her goal – working toward changing the future of canola oil across the country.
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Graduating from Wagga’s Charles Sturt University on Tuesday with a PHD exploring the potential health benefits of canola oil, the Temora woman now wants to use her expertise to help the industry she knows and loves.
“As a small community full of farmers canola was something I grew up with and around, to be able to conduct research in canola was something that I jumped on board with straight away,” she said.
“My supervisor asked me if i was interested in conducting some research and look at we could maximise components of the canola oil to enhance health benefits and profitability for Australian farmers.”
Dr Flakelar said it all started straight out of high school with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics and before she knew it her journey was continuing with honours and a PHD.
She now wants to use her skills and continue any research that has the potential to profit the agricultural industry.
“I have some mixed feelings because it’s onto the next adventure but I am sad to leave CSU and the area,” she said.
“I moved up to Brisbane 12 months ago for a bit of a lifestyle change and I’m loving every minute, hopefully it opens up more opportunities in teaching within the university of chemistry.”
Dr Flakelar said her research focused on investigating the behaviour and influence of bio-active components, the effects of seed variety, current processing from seed to oil and its storage.
Dr Dominik Skoneczny began his PHD research further afield, studying the invasive Australian weed, Paterson’s Curse.
Originally from Poland, Dr Skoneczny’s journey led him back to Europe to collect information and samples from its native populations, comparing its effect.
He received the highest university honour on Tuesday, awarded with the CSU Higher Degree by Research University Medal, in recognition of his thesis.
“This medal isn’t just for me, it’s a medal for everyone who was involved,” he said.