Alumni

As a student, I loved the thrill of pure science, but couldn’t imagine forging an academic career in the domain I’d developed expertise in. By the time I finished my studies, I realised I wanted to work on problems with more immediate societal relevance.

I was drawn to chemistry from a young age as I enjoyed understanding what things are made of. At university I became especially interested in the experimental methods used by physical chemists to understand matter.

Prompted by my curiosity in drug discovery and development, in 2013 I enrolled in a PhD program in Bioorganic Chemistry at the University of Melbourne, undertaking the challenging synthesis of peptide hormones and conducting detailed structure-function studies on insulin-like peptides.

I moved from Adelaide in 1997 to begin my PhD studies in Physical Organic Chemistry at the University of Melbourne after recognizing how much I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of Chemistry and to expand my practical skills in the laboratory.

I discovered that you need passion, perseverance, and determination to become a great chemist.

Combining … knowledge and resources led to greater discoveries and better understanding of … results

(My) two years in the School of Chemistry have been a great and memorable experience.

I had a great time and immensely enjoyed the opportunity to develop skills in many areas including synthesis, analytical chemistry and biochemistry

Studying chemistry gave me a deeper understanding of chemical theory and experimental design.

I value the linkage and lifetime friendships that were built during these years…

During my studies, I also had the remarkable opportunity to put my training in analytical techniques into practice in Antarctica over the course of one summer…

I liked the challenge to understand something in chemistry, and the way it all just works in such a logical manner…

I enrolled at the University of Melbourne in 2008 to pursue a PhD in Chemistry

I found that organic chemistry suited my love of applying logic and solving problems

I found research very exciting and stimulating, so I decided that I would complete an Honours year.

I elected to do a joint Biochemistry and Chemistry Ph.D. focusing on the gas phase interactions of phospholipids and the solution phase binding of apolipoproteins to lipid micelles.

I particularly loved the practical component because of the social aspect…

In my second year I developed a passion for Organic Chemistry. I was fascinated by the way organic reactions work.

After completion of my undergraduate studies I was inspired to enroll in a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, synthesizing natural products.

I have always been in love with research in chemistry, and the research culture that I experienced here made me fall into research so much deeper.

For me, studying chemistry always had a good mix of hands on work and intellectual challenges.