Graeme Clark Institute Diversity in STEM Student Award in 2025
Pictured above Maya Robertson, Mahnaz Sharifi and Dr Natasha de Alwis
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health were well represented in the outcomes of the Graeme Clark Institute Diversity in STEM Student Award in 2025 with Maya Robertson, Mahnaz Sharifi and Dr Natasha de Alwis all receiving awards.
PhD Candidate, Maya Robertson from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health and the Department of Chemical Engineering has been awarded a research support initiative from Graeme Clark Institute. The Graeme Clark Institute Top-Up Scholarship aims to enhance interdisciplinary research in the biomedical engineering field by supporting Maya's research into developing a novel nanoparticle-based therapeutic to treat preeclampsia.
Mahnaz Sharifi who is also a PhD Candidate was successfully awarded the Runner Up Prize of 2025 GCI Diversity in STEM Student Award for their PhD which focuses on assessing the acceptability, functionality, and usability of a co-designed Paediatric Fertility Preservation Decision Aid—a digital tool that helps young cancer patients and their families make informed fertility preservation decisions, under supervision of the A/Prof Yasmin Jayasinghe.
Dr Natasha de Alwis (Lead Investigator), Prof Natalie Hannan, Dr Natalie Binder, and Maya Robertson from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, alongside their collaborators from the Department of Chemical Engineering (FEIT): Dr Jingqu (Rachel) Chen, Dr Christina Cortez-Jugo, and Dr Qingqing Fan, have been awarded prestigious Graeme Clark Institute Cross-Faculty Seed Funding for their project title Rescuing the Failing Placenta: Nanomedicine to Prevent Stillbirth and Rescue Fetal Growth. This project will harness their leading expertise in therapeutic and nanoparticle development to generate innovative nanoparticle technology aimed at tackling placental dysfunction and promoting fetal growth, ultimately preventing stillbirth.