Former Indian research student Ajay Krishnamurthy is now at CQU Rockhampton, where his PhD studies focus on the pathogenesis and bacteria-bacteria relationships in middle ear infection.

It's a recognition of the huge potential health benefits from his fundamental work - particularly for children - that he has been announced as sole recipient of a Postgraduate Travel Award to attend and present at a major international conference.

The designated conference is the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting to be held in Boston, USA in June 2008.

Ajay said he had always been fascinated by microbiology and therefore was attracted to a centre for mucosal immunology at the University of Canberra back in 2004, after completing an undergraduate degree and Masters research degree in Bombay.

When the centre moved to CQU at the start of 2006 (becoming the Capricornia Centre for Mucosal Immunology), Ajay was happy to follow.

He has since found the hills of his home suburb of Frenchville a great walking environment and antidote to the confines of his laboratory.

"I don't like to be trapped in 4 walls," he said.

Ajay's award includes all airfares, accomodation, conference registration, and funding for a 2-week visit to a laboratory in the USA.

He will do some research at a laboratory at the Columbus Children's Research Institute (Columbus, Ohio).

The Award, negotiated between the Australian and American Societies for Microbiology, is all the more significant considering the substantial dollar value.

Ajay is the sole recipient Australia-wide, and it is the award's inaugural year.