In recognition of his research and activities to promote scientific collaboration between Australia-Japan, Derek has been awarded a Sir Walter Murdoch Distinguished Collaborator Award" from Murdoch University, Australia.  He has also been appointed as an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University (commencing July 2012).

This award supports collaborative research between Hokkaido University and Murdoch University.  It ,will also benefit the research being carried out within this Correlative Gene Systems funding group by providing extra travel support for direct exchange between Derek and collaborators in Australia where some experiments are being carried out.

In addition to the research component, it is expect the Adjunct Professor position will facilitate greater academic exchange, particularly in encouraging students to consider study overseas.