New Mick Hitchcock Scholarships to foster upcoming graduate researchers
The University of Melbourne will award new PhD scholarships to nurture the next generation of microbiology and biochemistry researchers after a generous donation from distinguished alum Dr Mick Hitchcock.
The scholarships will be awarded to honours students from Australian or international universities, with preference given to University of Melbourne honours students, or Master of Biomedical Science students selected by their Head of Discipline.
Image: Dr Mick Hitchcock is creating opportunities for others through new PhD scholarships.
The program targets students who may have missed out on other funding opportunities. Starting in 2027, two scholarships will be awarded in each 3.5-year cycle.
“These scholarships will be transformational for the individuals who receive them,” said Professor Mike McGuckin, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
“They will enable talented graduate research students to pursue cutting-edge research that could lead to breakthroughs in areas critical to global health. We are grateful to Dr Hitchcock for his generosity in supporting the next generation of researchers.”
A scholarship made all the difference to Dr Hitchcock. As an undergraduate student in Manchester, a university professor encouraged him to undertake graduate research in biochemistry, despite just missing the grades to qualify for a scholarship.
When the professor later joined the University of Melbourne’s Microbiology Department, he invited Dr Hitchcock to join him as a PhD student. This was only made possible by the generous gift of a University of Melbourne scholarship, after he had completed a Master of Science degree in Manchester.
“I want these scholarships to help students who might otherwise not be considered as PhD candidates,” Dr Hitchcock said. “As in my case, aptitude for research can sometimes be a more important predicator of success than top grades.”
“Having passion and asking the right questions can lead to a great career.”
Dr Hitchcock’s 40 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development, including 27 years at Gilead Sciences, has been marked by valuable contributions to global health.
He played a significant role in creating treatments for HIV, including Viread, Truvada and Atripla, the first once-daily single tablet regimen for HIV therapy.
For Dr Hitchcock, natural curiosity and self-awareness has stood him in good stead over his long career.
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Professor Andrew Brooks, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the School of Biomedical Sciences said the School's honours program is often transformational.
Our honours program can completely reorient students’ views about their capacity to do impactful research. The program is really important because it is designed to support students who, while being good at undergraduate coursework, really show an aptitude for research which comes to the fore in their honours year.
The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences encourages interested students to check their eligibility for the Mick Hitchcock PhD Scholarship in Biochemistry and the Mick Hitchcock PhD Scholarship in Microbiology. Applications close on 31 Oct 2026.
Students are automatically considered if they have applied for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy – Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences in the award year.
In 2026, the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences marks its 150th anniversary. Read about the revolutionary changes in medical thinking and practice since 1876.