This was published 9 years ago
Health: Researchers seek answers to probing questions
Dr Kylie Hesketh is one of three researchers at Deakin's centre for activity and nutrition research.
By Josh Jennings
Researcher Dr Kylie Hesketh says she regularly encounters students who would like to know more about what a research career actually involves. Having enjoyed her own successful health research career, she's a good person to ask.
"One of the things I often say is that having a research career is quite a privilege," says Hesketh. "It's a job where you get to answer the questions that are really probing to you. You can be passionate about something and you can actually go out there and find out all about it, and try to put solutions in place that will help the wider community."
Hesketh is a senior research fellow at Deakin University's centre for physical activity and nutrition research. Her job involves leading multiple studies into the physical activity and sedentary behaviour of young children, collecting and analysing data, presenting and publishing findings and supervising other students.
"I really enjoy working with families and speaking to parents about what they're finding challenging," says Hesketh. "It's particularly rewarding to hear about some of the programs they've been doing with us and what has actually helped them."
Hesketh has a bachelor of behavioural sciences (honours) from La Trobe University and a PhD in paediatrics from the University of Melbourne. Since beginning as a senior research fellow at Deakin University in 2005, her achievements include receiving a National Health and Medical Research Council/National Heart Foundation of Australia post doctoral training fellowship and a National Heart Foundation of Australia career development award.
Presently, she's the recipient of prestigious future fellowship funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). The funding enables her to research the drivers behind physical activity/sedentary behaviours in young children and to develop early-life interventions that she hopes will positively affect the level of physical activity early childhood kids engage in.
Hesketh is one of three researchers within Deakin's centre for activity and nutrition research who presently receive future fellowship funding. She says being part of a decorated research team is a boon for her career development.
"Being in a successful group that has links and is known internationally for the work we do really is of immeasurable benefit to individual researchers like myself. We have complementary interests and it strengthens the team to have three fellowships within our group."