Melbourne Medical School graduate researchers recognised with prestigious research awards

Seven Melbourne Medical School graduate researchers have been recognised in the 2026 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) Dean's Awards, celebrating their outstanding achievements in graduate research.

An aerial image of the Melbourne Medical School.

Justin Ren (Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital) and Elyssia Bourke (Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital) were awarded both the Chancellor's Prize for Excellence in PhD Research and the MDHS Dean's Award for Excellence in the PhD Thesis, recognising the exceptional quality and impact of their doctoral research.

Melbourne Medical School recipients of the MDHS Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Research were Joanna Gong, Matthew Kang, Hannah Walker, Bridget Fisher and Tu Nguyen, alongside Justin Ren and Elyssia Bourke.

These awards recognise excellence in research, innovation and contribution to the broader research community. Congratulations to all recipients and their supervisors on this outstanding achievement.