Meet some of our postgraduate students
Each person can take a very different path as a postgraduate chemistry student. Read about some of the experiences and highlights of our PhD students as they grow into fully-fledged researchers.
Diana Zhang
Fulbright Scholar in Analytical Chemistry, 3rd Year Scientia Ph.D.
As a lifelong musician with a keen interest in applied science, I completed a Dual Honours degree in Music and Chemistry, a rare combination which luckily ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç had on offer. Having seen the impact of my chemistry Honours project (where my method could separate chiral molecules on a millisecond timescale), I decided to pursue a PhD in the same field under A/Prof. Alex Donald.
Now as a PhD student, one of the things that I love about my project is how the outcomes will have a real and meaningful impact to society. In essence, my research involves identifying the chemical ‘smell’ of people and being able to diagnose diseases such as Parkinson’s through innovations in chemical instrumentation. My passion for real-world chemistry applications has also led to my enthusiasm for research translation where we take successes in the lab and bring them to market. ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Chemistry has also led a strong and sustaining Outreach program, which I’ve been fortunate to be a part of, where the joys of chemistry learning is showcased to the next generation of scientists.
Having spent over 8 years at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Chemistry, you can never stand still. Every day is a different day as you gain a diverse set of skills ranging from critical thinking and creativity to leadership and entrepreneurship.