Dr. Aeni Nurlatifah, a lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science at Universitas Gadjah Mada, was selected as one of 39 Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from the ASEAN region to participate in the International Education Innovation Fund (IEIF) ASEAN Research Collaboration Project, running from June 1 to August 29, 2025. This program is an initiative of the Australian Government implemented at various leading research institutions, with the University of Western Australia (UWA) serving as the host institution.
During the program, Aeni conducted collaborative research under the supervision of Dr. Kalsey Pool at UWA. Her research project, titled “Metabolomic Adaptations and Reproductive Response of Garut Rams to Normal and Heat Stress”, focuses on applying metabolomics and bioinformatics technologies to understand the adaptive responses of Garut rams to tropical heat stress.
“This research serves as an initial step toward identifying key compounds expressed during heat stress; the findings are expected to provide a foundation for developing precision nutrition calculations specifically tailored to prevent productivity losses caused by environmental stress,” Aeni explained on Monday (4/8).
She explained that the IEIF program aims to strengthen institutional networks, foster research collaborations focused on commercial potential, and encourage knowledge exchange between researchers from ASEAN and Australia. The initiative provided her with the opportunity not only to enhance her academic and professional competencies but also to broaden her horizons and establish cross-border collaborations in the field of nutrition and its effects on livestock reproductive physiology.
“I hope the research findings and collaborative experiences gained during this program will serve as a foundation for long-term cooperation between the Faculty of Animal Science at UGM and partner institutions in Australia. This activity also represents part of the Faculty’s active contribution to supporting research internationalization and addressing global challenges related to food security, climate change, and the sustainability of livestock systems,” she explained.
Through this program, Aeni also hopes to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Original article: https://fapet.ugm.ac.id/dosen-fapet-ugm-ikuti-ieif-asean-research-collaboration-project-di-australia/
Translated by: Sarah Suminar