Dr. Mark Westman

Professor

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Biography

Mark graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours from the University of Sydney in 2003. He has spent over a decade in shelter medicine, working primarily with RSPCA NSW and Animal Welfare League NSW, while also volunteering in veterinary programs in Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Indonesia, and India. In 2012, he co-founded Pets Park, a charity providing free veterinary care for pets of the homeless across multiple Australian states. Returning to the University of Sydney, he completed his PhD in 2016, focusing on feline retroviral diseases, specifically the effectiveness of FIV vaccines. Mark has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Virus Research at the University of Glasgow and returned to Australia to take on teaching roles in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, covering microbiology and pharmacology. He currently holds the position of Team Leader in the bacteriology unit at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in NSW. He supervises PhD students and also participates in various committees to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and management of feline retroviral diseases. His ongoing research interests include infectious diseases pertinent to animal health, including leptospirosis and brucellosis, as well as microbiological studies in veterinary contexts.

Research Interests

Experience

Honorary Research Affiliate

2020-01-01 — Present

University of Sydney • Sydney, NSW

Leading research in bacteriology unit at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.

Instructor

2017-01-01 — 2019-01-01

University of Sydney • Sydney, NSW

Teaching various units in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

Awards

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Excellence in DVM Teaching

2018-01-01
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Service to Humanity Award

2018-01-01
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PhD Excellence Award

2016-01-01

Requirements for University of Sydney

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:17
Writing
Required:19
Speaking
Required:17
Total
Required:85
PTE
Listening
Required:54
Reading
Required:54
Writing
Required:54
Speaking
Required:54
Overall
Required:61
Prerequisites
A master's degree with a research component or a bachelor's degree with first or second-class honours. Demonstrated research experience and capability.
Application Checklist
  • Academic transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Research proposal (1000+ words)
  • Two academic referee reports
  • Evidence of residency status
  • Written statement of support from potential supervisor
Specialization Notes

This entry applies to Faculty of Science PhD programs including Departments such as Life and Environmental Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and Statistics.