Outside Monash Innovation Labs at Monash University

Keasbey Travel Fund report – Alex Mapp (Inorganic Chemistry for Future Manufacturing, 2021)

This report was written in 2025.

Earlier this year, I undertook a 3-month internship at Monash Innovation, the technology transfer office at Monash University in Melbourne. Here, I worked within the Physical Sciences commercialisation team, but also gained valuable exposure to the MedTech and New Ventures teams. My work primarily involved researching technologies, performing prior art searches to support patent applications, conducting market research, and evaluating the commercial potential of research arising from the University. I also sat in on spinout pitches, where researchers sought early-stage funding, giving me first hand insight into what attracts investors to research spinouts. Towards the end of my internship, I also worked on news articles for the Monash Innovation website.

This internship offered me great exposure to the tech transfer process, from effective IP protection up to attracting interested parties for investment or licenses. Through my role, I developed essential skills in communication, scientific writing, analytical thinking, and stakeholder engagement. Interacting regularly with academic and PhD students working on technologies outside my own field, such as biocatalysis, engineering, and medtech, expanded my perspective and adaptability.

The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, just a short (for Australia!) drive out of Melbourne

A standout project I worked on was the trimodal energy storage system. This research introduced a novel eutectic mixture of boric and succinic acids that stores thermal energy in three ways: sensible heating, latent phase change, and reversible chemical reaction offering almost 400 J/g at about 150 °C, with stability over 1,000 cycles. It was exciting to see this project advance through its commercialisation pathway towards scaling up the technology. It was easy to envisage the real-word impact this research could have in terms of storing renewable energy in remote areas. Another early-stage project involved evaluating a catalyst made from waste materials capable of converting plastics into useful chemicals. This is an exciting example of circular‑economy innovation, and it was really interesting researching this field to help the researchers develop a commercialisation strategy.

As I am nearing the completion of my PhD, this internship solidified my interest in pursuing roles related to this area. I gained an invaluable understanding of how to translate scientific discoveries into real-world solutions, a process that requires not only technical expertise but also commercial insight, legal awareness, and collaboration across disciplines.

The local wildlife at Wilson Promontory

It was also a fantastic opportunity to live in and experience the city of Melbourne for 3-months, giving me a great taste of life down under. I enjoyed the warm evenings, exploring the Great Ocean Road and Wilson Promontory on weekends, and eating and drinking my way around Melbourne throughout my time there.

I owe my gratitude to University College Oxford and the Keasbey Travel Fund for their generous support of this internship. Their backing gave me the opportunity to explore cutting-edge research, develop critical professional skills, and clarify my future career path. The confidence and experience I’ve gained will be instrumental as I move into roles that bridge academia and industry.

Published: 23 January 2026

Explore Univ on social media