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Biological scientist Dr Ryan Lister is nurturing his scientific career in California after becoming the only West Australian to receive a 2006 Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) fellowship.

The UWA graduate was one of four Australians and 80 young scientists worldwide to win one of the awards, which allows them to broaden their training in a laboratory in another country.

Torsten Wiesel, Secretary General of the HFSP Organisation, said the fellowships provided support for talented young scientists during their postdoctoral training and assistance in the move toward independent research careers.

Since passing his PhD with distinction in 2004, Dr Lister (28) has been working at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology. His research has been in molecular biology and biochemistry of mitochondria; but under the terms of the fellowship, Dr Lister must take a change of direction.

"With this new project, I'll be moving towards more genetic mapping and large-scale genomics research," he said.

Dr Lister left last month for the three-year fellowship at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla. He will work with Professor Joseph Ecker, using emerging technologies to learn to what extent DNA methylation regulates gene expression throughout the whole genome of a multicellular organism. The young scientist will then attempt to discern the mechanisms for controlling that process.

DNA methylation is a heritable chemical alteration of the DNA that superimposes an additional layer of information upon the genetic code. Scientists believe it evolved as a defence mechanism against harmful and foreign DNA sequences and has subsequently been adapted by the cell to maintain genome integrity and regulate gene expression.

"It can cause DNA to fold into a structure which cannot be read, so effectively the DNA sequence is shut down," Dr Lister explained.

Dr Lister said the fellowship would give him an invaluable opportunity to learn new biological concepts and techniques. His goal is to become an independent researcher in the field.

Tim Kaethner, Chief Operations Officer at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, said Dr Lister's work at the Centre had involved using the Arabidopsis thaliana plant species.

"It is a good model because it has a complete life-cycle in about eight weeks, whereas most other plants take up to eight months," he explained. "This allows us to study its genetics and make changes and see results quite quickly."

Mr Kaethner said the Arabidopsis thaliana was in the same family as oilseed crops such as Canola, which were becoming increasingly popular for biofuels.

"We will aim to enhance crop productivity by changing the genetic makeup of a plant to change its life-cycle," he said.

Dr Lister's new research will continue to involve Arabidopsis. Mr Kaethner said Dr Lister would try to discover which genes were expressed when and to what extent. It is hoped his research will lead to greater control over the beneficial modification of cells.