Placement propels CQU researcher into digital health

By Isis Symes

CQUniversity PhD candidate Nades Nadeswaran has wrapped up a prestigious iPREP industry placement, completing a three-month project with national life sciences leader MTPConnect.

The placement at the Western Australia Life Sciences Innovation Hub (WALSIH) saw Nades step directly into the fast-evolving world of digital health and biotechnology, applying his academic research expertise to real-world innovation challenges.

As part of the project, Nades undertook two major pieces of work: a global strategic analysis of health innovation parks and precincts, and the development of a high-level project proposal for a new Floreat Innovation Park (FIP) in Western Australia.

He said the experience demonstrated just how transferable research skills are in an industry setting.

“Even when a project is driven by industry insights, the core research techniques we use every day - like literature reviews, data collection and structured methodology - are incredibly valuable,” Nades said. 

“Academic sources were vital in shaping the conceptual framework behind the work.”

Like many candidates entering unfamiliar territory, Nades faced the challenge of rapidly learning the fundamentals of biotech and medical life sciences. 

He overcame this through what he described as “smart and quick reading”, diving into curated articles, presentations and databases and accessing recent client survey insights to understand the sector’s needs, opportunities and pain points.

Nades said a series of field visits to major health innovation precincts including Westmead, Macquarie and Cicada Innovations in New South Wales - further deepened his understanding.

“These visits helped me see how innovation parks actually function, and that context was crucial for developing strategic recommendations,” he said.

Working remotely from NSW also presented challenges when trying to visualise the physical layout and future potential of the Floreat site, but strong mentorship and detailed visual modelling from WALSIH ensured the project stayed on track.

Nades said the experience significantly sharpened his strategic analysis capabilities, strengthened his ability to work with incomplete information, and taught him how to quickly build rapport and collaborate with new teams - skills he believes will strengthen both his PhD and his future career prospects.

“I’ve gained valuable insights into digital health, biotech, and innovation ecosystems,” he said.

“It’s opened my eyes to new pathways in the health and medical sciences sector.”

Nades said he would encourage other CQUniversity research candidates to embrace industry placements - even when the host organisation might sit outside their “comfort zone”.

“It can feel overwhelming at first, but the benefits far outweigh the fear of the unknown,” Nades said. 

“You’re contributing meaningfully while learning new skills, broadening your perspective and expanding your professional value.”

Industry placements through CQUniversity give PhD candidates the opportunity to spend a minimum of 60 days embedded with an organisation, applying their expertise to industry-driven challenges and delivering real-world outcomes.

Nades’ experience with MTPConnect highlights the program’s transformative impact - not only driving innovation across sectors like digital health, but empowering emerging researchers to step confidently into industry leadership.