Dr Kirsten Benkendorff has won the 2011 Dorothy Hill Award from the Australian Academy of Science for her cancer research with marine molluscs.

Now working at Southern Cross University, Dr Benkendorff (pictured) researched the anti-cancer extracts from the Australian whelk while at Flinders.

She is currently trialling the potential development of the extracts as a novel alternative medicine.

Dr Benkendorff was presented the award, given to female researchers in the Earth sciences including reef science, ocean drilling, marine science and taxonomy in marine systems, at a ceremony in Canberra last week.