An Australian scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2005 was awarded the title of honorary professor by a university based in East China's Zhejiang Province on Monday.

Barry J. Marshall, who shared the 2005 prize for medicine with compatriot Robin Warren, was handed the Letter of Appointment at a ceremony held by the Zhejiang University, located in the provincial capital of Hangzhou.

Marshall, on behalf of the University of Western Australia, also participated in the opening ceremony of a joint lab on the research of plant genes and nutrition sponsored by the two universities.

Both parties will invest 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) every year in the program.

The Australian scientist made a speech later in the day to some 1,000 students, reviewing his path to success and giving advice and suggestions on academic research and career development.

Marshall and Warren won the Nobel Prize for their discovery that the bacterium was the cause of most stomach ulcers - previously blamed on stress - allowing treatment with antibiotics.

Marshall famously swallowed a solution containing the bacteria to prove the theory.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2006)