Careers with STEM: Science 2022 by Refraction Media

CAREERS withSTEM

TERM 1, 2022

™

science Save lives with nuclear medicine

LE B U DOISSUEER OV CE FLIPR SPAERS FO ARE C

radioisotopes lab manager

p10

Smashing scientist stereotypes

Meet 6 inspiring conservationists p16

radiochemist CAREERS with STEM.COM THE HUMAN BODY + CONSERVATION + CRITICAL MINERALS + CREATIVITY + SPACE

Study the science that will define tomorrow ECU’s diverse science disciplines are more relevant than ever.

The world needs scientists now more than ever.

303ML EDCU0121 CRICOS IPC 00279B

ECU’s School of Science offers a range of practical degrees that can lead to distinctly different careers in fields such as biological science, bioinformatics, environmental science and management, data science and more. If you’re interested in Science, but not sure what direction to go in, our Bachelor of Science degree gives you the flexibility to explore subjects, while developing a solid grounding in science and mathematics. Our flexible, world-class courses allow you to specialise in globally-relevant and diverse disciplines. Our strong industry links provide students with the most up-to-date information and important networking and internship opportunities. And our flexible study options are designed to allow you to fit study around your life. We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines such as: - Chemistry - Bioinformatics - Conservation Biology - Data Science - Environmental Management

- Horticulture - Marine & Freshwater Science - Mathematics - Physics - Sustainability

Find out more at ecuworldready.com.au/SCIENCE

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

FOREWORD

Group Executive, Nuclear oper ations and nuclear medicine, ANSTO

Science saves lives

Director, Gyrolag

oving health More than ever, science is impr r place and making the world a bette

Bachelor of Science (Geology (honours), University of ) KwaZulu-Natal, south africa

Masters (Explor ation Geology), Rhodes University, south africa

Manager, Geoscience and Technical Services, Rio Tinto NorthParkes Mine

Director, Exige Geophysics

Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio geologist and group executive, ansto

COVID-19 turned our t’s been a big two years. with everything from world upside down, but ting to amazing new innovations in virus tes through the pandemic vaccine technology, living r wer of science to uncove has also shown us the po save lives. solutions and ultimately clear science and ANSTO is Australia’s nu It’s home to cutting-edge technology organisation. in areas from advanced nuclear science research l science. We are also materials to environmenta science to save lives. in the business of using heroes of the last two Meet some of the science t luding beamline scientis years in this magazine, inc t who is part of a team tha Dr Santosh Panjikar (P13), e ANSTO’s nuclear has helped researchers us to help us understand science facilities remotely t about stepping up in COVID-19. But it’s not jus o manufactures and a pandemic – ANSTO als clear medicine to distributes lifesaving nu und Australia everyday. healthcare providers aro nities in nuclear The STEM career opportu the broader health medicine at ANSTO and erse. You could work in industry are incredibly div ntrol, the supply chain production and quality co

and logistics of nuclear medicine delivery, or research on early develop ment of new radioisotopes and radiop harmaceuticals. Continuous improveme nt and new projects also offer the opportunity to apply new technology an d design thinking to impro ve safety, reliability and sustainability. You can fin d out more about STEM careers in nuclear medic ine on pages 10-11. ANSTO’s STEM workforc e has joined us from a range of industries, inc luding pharmaceutical, aviation, engineering, ma nufacturing, logistics, finance and communica tions, as well as graduate s and apprentices. My own early study path was in geology and I have since pivoted from a 24-year career in the mining industry to my cu rrent leadership role at ANSTO. I’ve found the ch ange exhilarating. The range of disciplines and diversity of experience and backgro unds at ANSTO enables us to find solutions and be innovative. Pamela Naidoo-Amegli o Group Executive, Nucle ar Operations and Nuclear Medicine, ANST O

The STEM career opportunities in nuclear medicine at ANSTO and the broader health industry are incredibly diverse” 3

SCIENCE

CONTENTS

Flip the magazine over for space careers!

What’s inside? ist P6 What does a scient ng look like? We’re smasighiht the stereotypes. You m be surprised!

P12

thways P26 Career path ways to

= STEM +ieX nce (STEM) with

Next steps and pa e help you nail your scienc and space career. P8

P16

Combine sc scover your passion (+ X) to di your dream career. Science + … P8 The Human Body

nuclear From physiotherapy to heroes medicine, meet science lds with one working in different fie es. di thing in common: our bo

ion P16 Conservattim e to save

If there was ever a d if there the planet, it’s now – an it, it’s do was ever a discipline to u can yo science. Find out how career... build the best kinda eco-

P24

Why science?

SHUTTERSTOCK

cience is critical for a prosperous, safe and sustainable future. Sc are at the forefront of ientists helping us understan d, prevent and adapt change; they’ve helpe to climate d us navigate the CO VID-19 pandemic an life-saving vaccines; d brought us they’ve revealed the wo nders of the cosmos Scientists aren’t just to us. in the business of so lving global challenge helping to build our ec s, they’re onomy through creati ve innovations, colla and industry partners bo rations hips. And the skills yo u’ll learn in a science career will equip you de gree or for next-gen careers, no matter the path yo Careers with STEM aim u ch oose. s to inspire and inform you about the science of the future, and show careers case real, diverse fac es of science in Austr alia.

P22 Critical Mjuinsterenalgisneers

Discover how not at the but scientists too will be renewable e forefront of powering th own! d bl energy revolution. Min

! M E T S o t e r o m h So muc magazine!

ch more Careers with STEM is so mu

than a

P24 Creativity nce can’t go

Think arts and scie ction and together? Flip to this se m job. start planning your drea Join 1 MILLION STUDENTS each year are who growing their future with STEM!

ure with our FREE Job Kits • Explore the jobs of the fut ality with online quizzes • Discover your STEM person ars l for career videos and webin • Subscribe to our yt channe out on Insta or TikTok! • Connect, share and reach

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Like Careers with STEM? Join us, connect with other STEM-minded peeps and widen your network before you’ve even graduated!

CAN BE THE NEXT WAVE OF SCIENTIFIC BRILLIANCE Imagine working with Silvester the seal, who’s helping us understand the feeding habits of large marine predators. Study with us and turn your passion for understanding the natural world into practical solutions for critical global issues.

CRICOS Provider 00002J | FSE01711

SCIENCE

UPFRONT

What does a ? e k i l k o o l t s i t n scie

ashing science stereotypes! sm ’re we e us ca be or do e th Leave your lab coats at

especially for women and minorities. The latest STEM Equity Monitor stats show STEM enrolments for women are just 36%. To combat this, we love shining the spotlight on Australia’s diverse scientists. And as well as showing you that not just one type of person can be a scientist, we want you to know that science degrees and skills can be used in many different ways. Scientists don’t just work in labs. You’ll find them in health clinics, schools and businesses, and out in the field, too. Think: oceans, forests and deserts. Here are four scientists flexing their skills in unexpected ways... and places! – Louise Meers

e a scientist. If you see lose your eyes and pictur d man doing risky an eccentric, white-haire time to replace that experiments in a lab, it’s been formed by image (which has probably tdated textbooks). Hollywood movies or ou , especially in STEM. Stereotypes are harmful elves in science, they’re If people can’t ‘see’ thems d that’s exactly what’s less likely to pursue it. An jobs are growing by the happening – while STEM degrees are declining, year, enrolments in STEM

Bradley Moggridge Water scientist y switched from Proud Kamilaroi man Bradle ntal science at uni, me studying geolog y to environ ching Aboriginal followed by a Masters resear tionship with people’s knowledge of and rela research, government groundwater. He’s worked in the Indigenous values and academia, specialising in nt: bit.ly/moggridge of water and the environme

Kiera Flynn

ger Corporate communications mana Kiera’s background in biome dicine helped her land a communications role at L’O real, Australia’s largest beauty group: bit.ly/ kiera-flynn

#4 Dr James O’Hanlon ientist

Bonny Rawson

Freelance artist and sc

SHUTTERSTOCK

Product technologist

rld woman, discovered a new wo Bonny, a Ballardong Noongar t duc pro a ’s ate gig! Now she of food via an airline corpor g to improve the retail giant’s rkin technologist for Coles, wo ny-rawson grocer y products: bit.ly/bon

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

James has combined his cre ativity with science skills to create a one-of-a-kin d career, including everything from podcasting to illustrating science-themed kids’ books: bit.ly/james-ohanlo

I AM READY TO SUPPORT TO MOTIVATE TO FIND MY CAREER Leaving school and thinking about next steps? The Your Career website has everything you need to support your next steps in training, education and employment. The tools on Your Career offer personalised information and advice by matching your skills, interests and goals to careers that may suit you. You can explore over 1200 occupations listed from A-to-Z, see how much you might earn, learn what a real day on the jobs looks like, understand what kind of job prospects exist in a particular field - and what skills you need to get you there.

Find up to date, accurate careers information and advice about where the opportunities are now and where they’ll be in the future at yourcareer.gov.au. You can also access the School Leavers Information Service:

• calling 1800 CAREER (1800 227 337), or

• texting ‘SLIS2022’ to 0429 009 435

SCIENCE

SCIENCE+THE HUMAN BODY

S N O I T C E N N O HUMAN C The human body remains an exciting frontier of science, full of opportunity for innovation and discovery

earliest rom Leonardo da Vinci’s discoveries of the human n anatomy to Gregor Johan etics, gen of ld fie the Mendel’s work in ding to Neil Armstrong’s Moon lan s, our ne cci va the latest COVID-19 logy keeps evolving bio n understanding of huma re exciting time to get and there hasn’t been a mo human body. involved in the study of the As the risk of future So how does science fit in? to find lifestyle solutions pandemics and our need ion, food shortages and to help our ageing populat so too does our demand climate pressures increase, eers. for innovation in STEM car elligence (AI) is changing Int l For example, Artificia e: computers can the way we diagnose diseas t early signs on spo already be programmed to ickly and accurately medical scans at least as qu still need people to as human experts! But we vely. think critically and creati

As diseases evolve and em erge (hello Omicron), we’ll need new medicines and vaccines, so immunologists and biologists will be in de mand, too. When it comes to viruses and the disease cycle, it’s the field of virology that’ll be in the spo tlight. Research into the effects of diet on human health and longevity – as well as the ever-changing foods we consume and low foo d supplies as a result of climate change – means food science and nutrition al science will be a popular pathway, too. Or, want to develop the ne xt best 3D-printed research aid for limb or org an replacement after illness? Material science is the gig you’ll want to try. Whatever part of the huma n body interests you, there’s a science to suppo rt it and a STEM career path to match. – Angela Cr ompton

E EER HER R A C R U O START Y an Body

+Hum Science study stle of Newca University

SHUTTERSTOCK

ce, The nd ical Scien Biology a of Biomed r lo e h uantitative l University c a Q B in e c n a ie n c o S ti e Master of tics, Australian Na , Swinburn a ssistance A Bioinform s e ic rv h Se III in Healt ity of Technology Certificate ersity Univers ders Univ ience, Flin c S h lt a e of H Bachelor

s ody job B n a m +Hu 04K SciencBioemedical scientist: $41K$–7$41K – gist: $46K Microbiolo –$144K K 9 6 logist: $ –$171K* Epidemio ger: $68K a n a m ty d safe cale.com Health an ing to pays rd o c c a s e lari *Source: sa

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Dr Alison Todd co-found

ive Take 5 for a health dr

er and Chief Scientific Officer, Spee Dx

man body but Interested in the hu“r egular” doc? don’t want to be a ples of Here are five examds you emerging STEM fiel d... can consider instea 1. 3D-printed implants

become game changers for Implants of the 3D kind have d scientists to design 'em! the human bod. And they nee implant developed in a collab A 3D-printed sternum and rib s (an Australian medical between CSIRO and Anatomic erted by docs in Spain, device manufacturer), and ins s life. Literally. helped save a cancer patient’ wit Combining machine learning try, mis che study of genetics and bio style life researchers identify diet and p treat interventions that aim to hel enhance and , lth disease, promote hea It’s es. let performance in elite ath ised nal predicted that by 2027, perso re nutrition could be worth mo is excellent ich Wh ! ion than US$15 bill news on the career front!

Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder, SpeeDx

Health inventor

2. Precision nutritioh nthe

Dr Alison Todd has built a distinguished STEM career and global health science biz based on passion and curiosity

than 1000 species This ‘organ’ consists of more es, which is a whole of bacteria and other microb The study around the lotta research in your belly. e in conditions such as health of the gut microbiom depression is really Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and understanding how the taking off, so employment in high. gut affects overall health is

4. Climate-sensitive health

woman In November 2021, a Canadian e an eiv became the first person to rec from official diagnosis as suffering ting how ‘climate change’, demonstra impacts the to e humans are vulnerabl quality, air of extreme events, including ectious diseases, changes in the spread of inf s ality and quantity, and effect threats to food and water qu ! on board to help find solutions on our mental health. So get

5. Theranostics

d it – medicine Theranostics is – you guesse peutics) and (th that’s both a treatment era ld in nuclear fie diagnostic. This emerging ve par ticles medicine highlights radioacti treat that are used to both view and for ge pa the r ove cancer cells. (Turn !) po ins eer more nuclear medicine car

PhD (Molecular Biology), University of Sydney

3. Gut microbiome

s the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of SpeeDx, a molecular diagnostics company, Alison spends her days inventing. She has 85 patented inventions so far, with 57 more awaiting approval! Her company SpeeDx is focused on improving healthcare around the world, from developing diagnostic tools for infectious diseases or cancer to helping doctors select the right therapy for individual patients and developing fast COVID-19 tests. Alison started uni studying vet science. She soon shifted to a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiology, but it was DNA and molecular biology that she found her sweet spot during third year. Alison’s PhD supervisor asked her to look at various mutations in DNA in people with leukaemia. His suggested method would have taken three days and used radioactivity, but Alison was keen to get the results quicker and more simply. Her dream was to take a blood sample, unlock the secrets in the DNA and use that information to monitor the disease. And that’s what she did. In 2020, Alison and SpeeDx co-founder Dr Elisa Mokany were awarded the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering’s Clunies Ross Award for Innovation. Her advice to students looking to score their own science goals: “Follow your passion, be patient and persistent. And above all do what you love. You spend so much time working, it makes no sense not to.” – Louise Denver

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Science, UNSW

Follow your passion, be patient and persistent” SCIENCE

r Radiochemist, ANSTO

Senior Radiochemist, ANSTO

SCIENCE+THE HUMAN BODY: ANSTO

MOLECULAR MEDICINE

Dr Nigel Lengkeek Senio

the cutting edge of Want to save lives and work at four STEM experts with chemistry and physics? Meet ine the lowdown on nuclear medic

Organic Chemist, ANSTO

ever been to the hospital for a nuclear medicine scan or therapy? Many of the materials we need to do these critical tests are made right here in Australia.

“how things work”. As igel was always interested in Biosciences team at a senior radiochemist in the things working up close ANSTO, he now gets to see radiochemists making every day. “I lead a team of ect and treat human radioactive molecules to det explains. disease, primarily cancer,” he is an exciting space to Nigel says nuclear medicine ty. “Over the last five years be in, with lots of opportuni in the nuclear medicine we have seen explosive growth requires people as much field,” he says. “This growth and funding, so there as it does facilities, equipment orce.” are growing gaps in the workf

Nuclear name drop the nuclear There are so many jobs in tha suits you… medicine arena! Find one t

If you’re a planne thinker/creator... r/

LAUREN TROMPP

If you’re into guiding people... ✔ Asset Manager ✔ Capability and Training Leader ✔ Compliance and Quality Manager

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) of Engineering (Materials Engi / Bachelor neering), University of Western Austra lia

PhD (Chemistry), University of Western Australia

ar Science and NSTO – Australia’s Nucle – is home to the Open Technology Organisation r nuclear reactor, aka Pool Australian Lightwate the-art multipurpose OPAL, which is a state-ofper cent of the reactor producing 75 to 80 in 700,000 lifesaving radioactive isotopes used alia every year. patient procedures in Austr tical part of “Nuclear medicine is a cri is delivered in d an s modern health system s to diagnose tre hospitals and medical cen es, including ess and treat a vast array of illn lar scu , cancer and heart, lung, mu conditions,” neurological and skeletal a nuclear explains Dr Geoff Currie, es Sturt medicine professor at Charl . gga Wa University in Wagga clear nu for Geoff says demand job the d medicine is growing an career “A opportunities are diverse: take the in nuclear medicine could al physicist, shape of a physician, medic gest radiopharmacist or, the lar ar cle nu a , up professional gro entist.” sci or t gis medicine technolo ng in exciting rki wo le Here are four peop ... – Gemma Chilton roles in nuclear medicine

✔ Development Manager (Scientists) ✔ General Manager ✔ Microbiology Manager

✔ Process Engineer ✔ Process Specialist ✔ Product Specialist ✔ Research Scientist ✔ Systems Engineer

Nuclear Medical Technologist, I-MED Radio Network, Tasmania logy

n high school, Leena loved ma ths and problem-solving. She enrolled in a medicinal chemistry degree with plans to study postgradu ate medicine but found she “loved chemis try and didn’t want to leave” . Leena has worked at ANSTO for more than 10 years – ma naging a team producing different types of radioactive molecules called radioisotopes for use in medicine, and environ mental and agricultural resear ch – and will soon complete her PhD in che mistry, which she has been und ertaking part-time. “We have only scr atched the surface of what is possible,” she says.

Leena Hogan Radio

Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Nu clear Medicine), Charles Sturt Unive rsity

e Whitehoulosgis Jessica dic t, no ch Te al

Nuclear Me ork, Tasmania I-MED Radiology Netw

Nuclear Me Queensland X-Ray

n high school, Stephanie loved sport and science, and although she didn’t consider herself to be very academic, nuclear medicine got her attention. “It’s a good balance between science (working in a lab) and patient interaction,” says Stephanie. “This allows me to use my brain every day while being able to look after and care for people.”

Diploma of Tertiary Preparation

✔ Quality Assurance Manager ✔ Quality Control Manager ✔ Regulatory Affairs Manager ct ✔ Senior Technical and produ Specialist ✔ Validation Manager

Bachelor of Medicina Chemistry, Universityl of Wollongong

If you’re all about the details...

ez ie Sanchlo Stephandic ine Techno gist,

Bachelor of Hea (Medical Radiation Sclth Charles Sturt Unive ience), rsity

Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Queensland X-R ay

@StephNucMed

essica first found out about nuclear medicine as a career option when she was in year 12 and has been fascinated ever since. She’s now landed a job with Tasmania’s I-MED Radiation Network as a nuclear medicine technologist, running diagnostic scans on patients. Jessica believes that “nuclear medicine is the way of the future”.

PhD (Chemistry), University of Sydne y

Chemist, Cer amisphere

Radiochemist, ANSTO

Radioisotopes & Irr adiations Manager, ANSTO

isotopes & Irradiations Manager, ANSTO

SCIENCE

SCIENCE+THE HUMAN BODY

SCIENCE HEROES OF COVID-19

eators, Wesley, Jack + Darcy, Website cr CovidBaseAU

d key roles Meet Aussies who have playe emic in fighting the COVID-19 pand

ne are behind three teens from Melbour Pandemic role: These an and global ali that breaks down Austr CovidBaseAU, a website ccinations. talisations, deaths and va data on infections, hospi d do our part end to keep it running an Looking ahead: “We int D-19 data.” nity with insightful COVI mu com the ing orm inf in

Professor Raina MacIntyre Head of the Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute Dr Mohamed Fareh Senior research fellow, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre d and a team Pandemic role: Mohame how to stop the of scientists discovered replicating in SARS-CoV-2 virus from is is a huge step infected human cells. Th ent for COVID-19. towards finding a treatm

Pandemic role: Raina runs a research program that includes epidemiology, vaccinology, mathematical modelling and infectious diseases. She’s also involved in COVID-19 research studies that help inform national and international policy in disease control.

Dr Warish Ahmed, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Pandemic role: Warish leads a team analysing wastewa ter samples, looking for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in sewage to help detect the virus ahead of an outbrea k. What he loves about his job: “I love problem-solving through cutting-edge research an d science.”

Professor Tony Cunningham + Dr Eunok Lee, Virologist and postdoctoral research scientist, The Westmead Institute of Medical Research d Eunok are combining Pandemic role: Tony an computer science skills to virology knowledge and VID-19 booster shot. come up with a T-cell CO ture virologists: Tony’s advice for fu rtance, underpinning the “Virology is of vital impo ts.” ccines and antiviral agen development of crucial va

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

i Dr Mitra Safavi-Naein + ShanShan Wang strial d indu Particle physicist an in hub designer, ANSTO/nand Pandemic role: Mitra, ShanShan and other STEM pros from ANSTO teamed up for NASA’s Space Apps COVID-19 challenge to work out how to purify air in enclosed public spaces. Read more about their winning solution: bit.ly/ansto-covid – Louise Meers

SCIENCE+THE HUMAN BODY: ANSTO

Dr Santosh Panjikar

beamline scientist

Biology to the rescue Beamlin r Santosh Panjikar has always been interested in understanding the world around him. He studied maths and physics at college but soon realised biology was also useful. Through biology, he developed an interest in bioinformatics and started studying macromolecular crystallography – a method for working out the atomic three-dimensional structures of large biological molecules. “I needed to use my mathematical background to understand biology,” he says. “Now here I am doing what I love and working at ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron.” As a beamline scientist, Santosh works with research groups to help design and conduct synchrotron experiments, providing them with necessary tools and training, and remaining on call for assistance should they need it. Santosh’s science skills have been put to good use throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, too. In one project he worked with researchers who identified drug-like compounds

If you’re interested in science, explore it in high school”

that could block a key COVID -19 protein. Known as PLpro, this protein allows the virus to hijack and then multiply wit hin human cells, as well as disabl e antiviral defences. “Researchers sent frozen cry stals of COVID-19 proteins to the Synchrotron and used the instruments remotely,” he explains. “I have assisted by setting up beamlines for rem ote access and advising them on X-ray data collection on frozen protein crystals as well as hel ping with data analysis.” His top tip for those who wa nt to work in science or researching infectious diseas es? Explore! “If you’re interested in science, try it in high school,” he says. “Ta ke par t in STEM-based extracurr icular programs, such as the Australian Science Olympiad s, as well as science-based competitions like Science Tal ent Search.” Santosh also encourages fut ure scientists to look for wo rk experience opportunities at a research facility or at a sch ool of biomedical or biological sci ence at a university. “This exposure will give you some insight into what scientists actually do,” he say s, “and it will also allow you to find the field of science that interests you the most.” – Louise Meers

Bachelor of Scien (Mathematics), Banace Master of Science (Bi otechnology), Hindu University, Indras phd (protein crysta Devi Ahilya Univers ia gr aphy), ity, India Friedrich Schiller llo Postdoctoral fellow University , sen ior Jen tec a, hn Ger ica ma and staff scientist, l ny icer Beamline scientist, EMBL-Hamburg, Geroff ANSTO many Austr alian Synchrotr Adjunct faculty, on Monash University

TINA SMIGIELSKI

e scientist Dr to assist COVID-19 re Santosh Panjikar is using his skills search at the Austra lian Synchrotron

SCIENCE

hristian isn’t your typical 20-yearold university student. A proud Arrernte man, the third-year physiotherapy student comes from specialities. Following the a family where “impact” should be the foo tsteps of his mentor Adam family motto. His father is an essential Do yle , who is the first Indigenous worker, his mother works for Indigenous phy sio the rapist to graduate Business Australia and his grandmother is from the University of Canber an award-winning artist of Arrernte, Chinese ra, Christian’s aim is to get placem and Anglo-Celtic heritage. Combining his ent in an area with a high Indigenous population. heritage with a passion for making a To help build his network, Chr physiotheraphy student difference is in his DNA. istian has joined Indigenous Allied Health – Christian wants to help educate the world a member-based organisation that using the health-related skills he’s learning both at uni and connects students with learnin g opp ort uni ties to better from the connections he’s building within Indigenous understand the complexity of, and acc ess to, health, communities. “I knew I wanted to do a health degree. I got education and wellbeing of First Nations people. offered medicine but [rather than spending eight years Christian was also lucky eno ugh to be involved in at uni] decided I want to get out into the community as the video production of the uni ver sity’s Yarning About quickly as possible to help others,” Christian says. project, interviewing First Na tions staff and students to talk all things culture. Its aim is to help the wider inspired by injury university cohort have a bet ter understanding of Physiotherapists have been an inspiration to Christian Indigenous ways. “Before you clo se the gap in remote from an early age – and he’s seen first-hand (literally!) communities, you need to clo se the gap in urban how life-changing their work can be. During football trials communities,” Christian say s. – Ang ela Crompton in year 10, he broke his wrist for the third time. “The attitude that the physio has is great. Hearing the physio say, ‘Your fingers are ok; you can play PlayStation this weekend,’ is huge to a young person. It lifts your mood so much and I wanted to be able to do that for others.” As part of his four-year degree, Christian has to complete five work placements in a variety of @christian.decos

SHUTTERSTOCK

christian de cos

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

y, hearing the physiousa , yo can 'your fingers are ok huge” play playstation,' is

Bachelor of Physiotherapy. University of Canberra

National Indigenous Summer School, The Australian National University

Christian de Cos is using health science to score goals for Indigenous communities

Yarning About Project. University of Canberra

Member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia

SCIENCE+THE HUMAN BODY

Closing the gap

SCIENCE+THE HUMAN BODY: NATIONAL CAREERS INSTITUTE

The road to health

occupational therapist, an ng mi co be of ms ea dr ers Jennifer My nventional path to get there even if it means taking an unco

in year 8, but ennifer first heard of STEM ething says she dismissed it as som Thankfully, “only for high achievers”. sconceptions she didn’t let those early mi dy path stop her. Now she’s on a stu oming an bec of job towards her dream a health – ) (OT occupational therapist th wi le op profession that helps pe ts en irm physical or cognitive impa to gain independence. l-based Jennifer undertook a schoo h Assistance traineeship in Allied Healt luded one day in years 11 and 12. This inc spital, gaining per week working at a ho h sectors of hands-on skills in the healt speech pathology, , ics medical imaging, dietet physiotherapy. occupational therapy and

allied health assistance grad

My transition from school into my dream course at university has been unconventional one”an

Leaving your comfort zone

Taking the leap

Jennifer says choosing a Vo cational Education and Training (VET) course has given her valuable industry experie nce and helped to clarify her career aspiratio ns. In 2020 Jennifer won the School-based Tra inee of the Year award and went on to become a Training Awards mentor. Jennifer says in ad dition to her studies, this experience has been an important part of her development. “Going from a student wo rking around the different departments at the hospital to an allied health assistant, ad vocating, judging and mentoring for the VET pa thway for the Australian Training Award s has pushed me out of my comfort zone and into a new role of leadership and responsibi lity,” she says.

2021 Australian Training Awards Mentor

After finishing school with a VET qualification already under her belt, Jennifer was accepted into her second university preference – a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at the Australian Catholic University. With the first year completed, Jennifer has now transferred into a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. “My transition from school into my dream course at university has been an unconventional one,” Jennifer says – but she’s still found value and opportunity every step of the way. “I’ve found this ‘bridging’ course to be incredibly valuable as an introduction to university, providing the foundational knowledge to human biology, technology and scientific research.” Stepping out of her comfort zone has spilled into her everyday life now, too: “A few weeks ago I went skydiving... and, crazily enough, I loved it!” – Gemma Chilton

2020 Qld School-based Trainee of the Year

2020 Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award – Finalist

Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (transferring to Bachelor of Occupational Therapy), Australian Catholic University

SHUTTERSTOCK

Cert III, Allied Health Assistance, Redcliffe Hospital

jennifer myers

SCIENCE

science+ Conserva tion study Bachelor

Do you love plants and animals? Enjoy spending time outdoors? A conservation science pathway could be in your sights...

grows, the world s the human population loss of is experiencing a massive a, invasive biodiversity. In Australi ch as cats and foxes, weeds, feral predators su clearing have led to climate change and land nts and animals more than 1800 native pla tinction. Luckily, being threatened with ex le like conservation there are passionate peop ng behind the scenes scientists who are worki imals and the to help protect plants, an tions to come. environment for genera are as diverse as Conservation career paths ms that we share the species and ecosyste nservation this planet with. As a co alise in scientist, you could speci d species anything from endangere ation, feral ecolog y to marine conserv restoration. animal control and land science’ The words ‘conservation might make you think khaki-clad rangers in remote locations – hello, field ecologists! – but

sc Conservieantce+ ion Jobs Ec

ologist: $56K –$83K Environmenta l consultant: $51K–$92K Geographic in formation syst ems (GIS) Anal yst: $53K–$95K* *Source: salarie s according to payscale.com

there are other roles tha t will see you splitting your tim e between the desk and the fie ld, or even a classroom! You’ll need a passion for flora and fauna and an un dergraduate degree in environmental science. Otherwise, you can kickstart your caree r with a TA FE course in conservation and lan d management. Once you’re ready for the workforce, search the wanted ads of local councils, state and federal governments, no t-for-profits and natural resource managem ent companies. If you want to stick with the study and expand your conservation know ledge, consider an honours year or a postg raduate degree to hone your speciality. – Ameli a Caddy

Australia has suffered

ersity, huge declines in bio0div ative with more than 180 n ng plants and animals faci extinction! CAREERSwithSTEM.com

of Environmen tal Science, The University of Queensland Bachelor of Na tural Environm en University of Ta t and Wilderness, smania Diploma of Co nser vation an d Land Manag ement, TAFE NSW

SHUTTERSTOCK

SCIENCE+CONSERVATION

Safeguarding the future

START YOUR CAREER HER E

Dr Anika Molesworth farmer, scientist and writer

Country love a knowledge-sharing platform , Climate Wise Agriculture, and was awarded 2015 Young Far mer of the Year. For someone who is shy and prefers to be doing rather tha n talking, Anika decided it was time to step up and tell the stories of the environment she loved. She met with farmers, leaders and even royalty on her quest to learn more, and even went as far as Antarctica dur ing her global travels collecting info to help educate people on building a sustainable fut ure. Her book, Our Sunburnt Cou ntr y, is full of these farmers’ and food producers’ stories – their practical solutions to growing our food, protecting the land and building our fut ure. As a member of the Young Far ming Champions – and founding director of Farmers for Climate Action – she goe s to schools, attends industry eve nts and presents at conferenc es to promote food and fibre pro duction, and agriculture's diverse career pathways, bec ause Anika is determined tha t we can design a world where everyone is food secure. – Louise Denver

Dr Anika Molesworth’s devotion to the Aussie land meant science was a no-brainer when it came to careers

“T

he climate crisis is here. Farmers are being challenged today and this should concern everyone who eats food,” says Anika. And that challenge set 12-year-old Anika off on her amazing career. Before she became a scientist, farmer, agroecologist and author, she was a kid from Melbourne who didn’t think too much about where the food on her plate came from. That was until Mum and Dad bought a farm about 1000 kilometres away from Melbourne, in a different state! Suddenly there were horizons that seemed to extend forever. There were frogs in the dams and kangaroos in the paddocks. And she saw how food came, not from a supermarket, but from the farm around her.

love at first sight Anika fell in love with that red land she and her family still farm. But the terrible Millennium drought of 2001–2009 had a huge impact on the land around them and on Anika herself. She had to learn all she could. And she did. She studied, went to university, did a Bachelor of Science, then a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture. At the same time, she built Bachelor of Science (Agribusiness), Charles Sturt University

Farmers are being challenged today and this should concern everyone who eats food”

Master of Sustainable Agriculture, Charles Sturt University

Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural Science), Deakin University

Founding director, Farmers for Climate Action

Author, Our Sunburnt Country

SCIENCE

senior environm scientist

vironmental ig companies have big en employ responsibilities, so they to ensure their ts tis en environmental sci ained – scientists eco-credentials are maint mental scientist at like Dan, a senior environ g and infrastructure multinational engineerin firm AECOM. always wanted to Growing up, Dan says he d geography were be a scientist – biolog y an school – and he went his favourite subjects at Applied Science on to study a Bachelor of ster of Science at Ma (Honours) followed by a in New Zealand. the University of Otago

at flowers on bushwalks ! Yep. Correct. Dan occasionally has to unde rtake targeted surveys of native orchids on poten tial development sites – in other words, sea rching through the bush for specific threaten ed orchids. One of the biggest caree r hurdles Dan says he faced was breaking int o a very competitive industry. His advice is to get involved in industry events and fin d career mentors while you’re still at uni. “It’s ne ver too early to get involved,” he says. – Ge mma Chilton

nting Wind farms and flower hu tist, Dan’s job is to

en As an environmental sci l impact of projects ica log help reduce the eco Like RN he's AECOM is involved with. Australia’s working on a proposal for ich will be wh first offshore wind farm, nd. Dan’s sla built off the coast of Gipp ad ical vice during the team is providing ecolog nt phase of the mega planning and developme t, ‘Star of the South ’. renewable energ y projec lude fieldwork – “A typical day could inc internationally sometimes interstate or solving and using – report writing, problemArcGIS for mapping computer programs like n explains. and spatial analysis,” Da of Dan’s favourite Still a nature lover, one “office” is looking ways to spend a day in the

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

fun fact Dan was once a child actor and has lived in five different countries – New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Japan and Singapore!

Master of Science (Geography), University of Otago

dan limental

Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours), University of Otago

ground Dan Lim uses his science back impact to reduce the environmental of big infrastructure projects

Research Assistant, Biosis Pty Ltd

Senior Environmental Scientist (Ecology), AECOM

SCIENCE+CONSERVATION

Green engineering

SCIENCE+CONSERVATION: EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY

5 minutes with a marine scientist We chat to Dr Kathry path. plus her tips fon McMahon about her study and career r the scientists of th e future

dr kathryn mcmahon associate professor

athryn McMahon is Associate Dean of Research at the School of Science at Edith Cow an University (ECU) and an Associate Professor of the Centre for Marine Ecosystem s Research. This means she is heavily involved in all resear ch at ECU’s School of Science – from computer and security science, to chemistry and nat ural sciences. Kathryn also teaches environmental, coa stal and marine courses at ECU . Here's what she has to say abo ut conser vation careers in the science world... Did you always love scienc e? I loved science as a child. As a four-year-old I spent a yea r travelling around Australia in a van with my family, so the national parks and campgroun ds were my backyard. It

do to there is so much totc ou omes improve conservation an excellent for australia. It's is career path” time to consider th instilled a curiosity in me for the environment and influenced me to choose biology in high school, and then botany and zoology for my undergrad majors.

drawn back to research and applied for a PhD scholarsh ip at the University of Queensla nd, seven years after completing my undergrad deg ree. From then, I’ve worked as a postdoctoral fellow, the n senior research fellow at ECU and, after 11 years, I tra nsitioned to an ongoing position as a teaching resear ch scholar here at ECU. Any cool projects you’re wo rking on right now? One of my current research areas is to investigate the resilience of coastal ecosys tems to human impacts, including climate change. What makes science + con ser vation an exciting career path for a young person to consider right now? There is so much to do to imp rove conser vation outcomes for Australia. So if you like to work in teams, spend time in the environment and can thin k creatively, it’s an excellent time to consider this career path. What’s your advice for stu dents? Pursue your passion, start bui lding your network and keep learning – new ideas and sol utions are needed to improv e conser vation outcomes. – Gem ma Chilton

SUPPLIED / SHUTTERSTOCK

Can you talk us through your study and career path? During my degree, I studied the health of seagrasses in Geographe Bay [Western Australia]. It was a great way to be exposed to research and I was hooked. After graduating, I had the travel bug, and I spent most of my 20s on adventures, sailing along the west and northern coast of Australia, from Madagascar to Africa, and then exploring southern and eastern Africa in a Kombi van. But I was Bachelor of Science (Botany and Zoology), University Western Austr alia of

PhD (Marine Biology), University of Queensl and

Associate Professor, Edith Cowan Univers ity

SCIENCE

SCIENCE+CONSERVATION

In the field

mes Hattam started Deakin University graduate Ja t later found his his career as an ecologist, bu conservation as calling connecting people with nservancy CEO of the Tasmanian Land Co

James Hattam Ecologist and CEO

James found the perfect opportunity to put this philosophy into pra ctice at a not-for-profit organisation called the Ta smanian Land Conservan cy, which buys and manages ecologically important landscapes. Having first joined the organisation as an ecologist, he was quick ly promoted to head of the organisation’s fundraisi ng and engagement team. Then, a few years later, he became CEO. While he’s not a practisin g scientist anymore, James still uses his scien tific training every day to communicate what he’s doing and how he’s doing it. Recently, he and his tea m at the Tasmanian Land Conservancy raised over $2 million to buy a prope rty on Tasmania’s east coast that’s home to 40 rare an d threatened species. The campaign was such a hit , they’re now looking to ex tend the area of land protected. “In a world wh ere there’s so much destr uction and loss, it is a privilege to be doing something so powerfully positive.” – Amelia Cadd y

’t really ‘the academic s a student, James wasn dying biolog y and type’... until he started stu interests led him to outdoor education. Those vironmental Science at enrol in a Bachelor of En alising in conservation Deakin University, speci y. ecolog y and plant biolog m James tried everything fro r, ree ca During his early d farmers control weeds an being a ranger to helping t ou ab ch on is just as mu realised that conservati nt. it is about the environme as engaging with people my d an s on of living thing “Ecolog y is the interacti . a part of that,” he explains view is that humans are ed en is to know about a threat “I might know all there to can't use that knowledge plant or animal, but if I protect it, then it’s just inspire somebody to help interesting information.” Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours), Deakin University

Track Ranger, Parks Victoria

Director of Philanthropy, Tasmanian Land Conservancy

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Ecologist, Tasmanian Land Conservancy

CEO, Tasmanian Land Conservancy

A degree in conservation is the perfect way to kickstart a planet-saving career

Elise McCarthy Ranger, National Parks and Wildlife Service Parks and Wildlife s a ranger with the National list includes Service (NPWS), Elise's to-do ration contracts, patrols, managing bush regene ertaking hazard working with volunteers, und infrastructure inta reduction burns, ma ining itan Local and liaising with the Metropol care of the on l Aboriginal Land Counci all fresh air ’t isn cultural sites. However, it bit of and bush walks – there’s a fair kle each admin and office work to tac of it!” week, too. “I love the diversity dy path, When it came to picking a stu amount of Elise faced an overwhelming courses ny ma so re choice. “There we available,” she says. ol in a A friend encouraged her to enr servation Con Bachelor of Biodiversity and ved a pro at Macquarie University, which a lot of great perfect fit. “I actually made s. like-minded friends,” she say

look career in conser vation can to! it nt wa u like whatever yo ranger, You could work as a park rne lde ss, doing fieldwork in the wi e more helping companies becom ilding sustainable, or in cities, bu an spaces. urb dly en fri lly environmenta nslated Meet two women who tra into nt me on vir their love of the en rie ua cq different degrees at Ma d took University in Sydney an reer paths. different conservation ca

There were so many courses available!” Volunteer, AWC

, ity and Conservation Bachelor of Biodivers ity rs ive Macquarie Un

on Biology, Master of Conservati Macquarie University

SCIENCE+CONSERVATION: MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

Conservation starter

The ranger

Ranger, NPWS

The arts/science grad Anika Fechnerscientist environmental

s thing, but the Macquarie cience has always been Anika’ n frustrated with the University grad has always bee as lab-based and academic. stereotyped way it’s portrayed ke science fun, relatable and “It’s always been a goal to ma to better understand global accessible, and inspire people tainability initiatives!” environmental issues and sus ment/Bachelor of Arts at Anika did a Bachelor of Environ lic relations and social media Macquarie, peppered with pub lls to master plan – to learn the ski units. This was all part of her lies l science. These days she app communicate environmenta l nta me iron Env d gig at SAGE these skills in her first paid gra l nta me assisting an Environ Services. She spends her 9-5 contaminated land projects, h Protection Agency auditor wit h environmental laws. ensuring businesses comply wit e love for environmental scienc “I would like to combine my g women and First Nations with my passion for empowerin it!” knowledge – the sky is the lim

Bachelor of Environment / Bachelor of Arts, Macquarie University

Communications intern, Macquarie Uni Sustainability Office

Graduate environmental scientist, SAGE Environmental Services

SCIENCE

SCIENCE+CRITICAL MINERALS

e r u t u f e h t r o f Mining

t s for green tech, so if you’ve go ral ne mi nt rta po im of s ve er Oz has huge underground res could be a career in it for you! re the , rth Ea r the Mo t ou ab a passion for science and care

processes to separate va luable metals and reduce minerals to metal s and alloys, and environmental scientists minimise the effects of mining on the environ ment. Cutting-edge tech is cre ating new roles in the critical minerals ind ustry too, like virtual reality (VR) content deve lopers, who build virtual mine sites for em ployee training. New employees at New Hope Group’s Bengalla site spend hours in immersive simulators before driving 500-tonne dump trucks for real. Artificial intelligence (A I) more your thing? Robotics, computer scien ce and Big Data all have a big role in makin g mineral exploration and extraction safer. Th ere’s a lot to get excited about in the mineral wo rld! – Ben Skuse

and good vibes ustralia is rich in sun, sea best countries – that’s why it’s one of the the surface in the world to live. Below minerals that green though, it’s also rich in the ction and fight climate technologies need to fun an electric car? You’ll change. Want to engineer produces 56% of the need lithium. Australia ild a wind turbine? world’s supply. Want to bu stralia digs up 17,000 You’ll need rare earths. Au the hidden potential tonnes per year. So with res, it’s no surprise of Australia’s buried treasu ded another 40,000 that the industry has ad . jobs in the past five years s been in demand ay Geoscientists have alw ere they find minerals at mining companies, wh ys to dig them up. and figure out the best wa oscience Australia – Matthew Teh works at Ge rvey – as the executive the federal geological su n’s chief scientist. officer for the organisatio Graduate Program is an “Geoscience Australia’s young people looking excellent opportunity for critical minerals to embark on a career in geoscience,” he says. xing science with Hydrologists are also mi ? To maintain water critical minerals. Their job e. Metallurgists design quality across a mine sit

SHUTTERSTOCK

Nacelle and generator Neodymium Dysprosium Copper Nickel

Blades Composite materials

Rotor hub and shaft Chromium

Yaw drive and yaw motor Aluminium Copper Stainless steel

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Mineralmade machines in action... without the chemicals from the Earth, we wouldn’t have wind turbines churning out that good, natural energy!

Tower Steel

Research Scientist, CSIRO

Rock star Louise Schoneveld sh lasers to find new re oots rocks with se minerals. Yes, you re rves of critical ad that right!

PhD (Geochemistry), Australian National University

Postdoctoral Fellow, CSIRO

Australia produces 56% of the world's supp ly of lithium! That's a lo t of electric cars!

rs) (Earth Sci The University of Queensland ence), Bachelor of Earth Scienc es, The University of Western Australia Bachelor of Science (Miner al Geoscience), The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science (Honou rs) (Hydrolog y), Flinders Uni versity

science+Critical Minerals Jobs Geoscientist:

$90K–$156K Environmental scientist: $54K–$88K Mine geologist: $89K–$124 K Metallurgist: $59K–$136 K* *Source: salaries according to payscale.com

Intern, Institute for the Study of Earth’s Interior, Okayama University

science+Critical Minerals Study Bachelor of Science (Honou

Bachelor of Geology (Honours), James Cook University

START YOUR CAREER HERE

n inspiring Ear th science teacher at high school sparked a lifelong passion for geolog y in Louise. th A desire to understand our Ear log y propelled her through a geo . It PhD try mis che degree and geo louise schoneveld to s hip took her on interns re search scientist in site a copper exploration an Jap in Queensland and a lab it continues to where she grew tiny rocks. And ist at Australia’s national ent sci drive her now, as a research I th. “I had always hoped that science agency, CSIRO, in Per ally,” Louise beams. could work for CSIRO eventu ers using a piece of equipment Louise shoots rocks with las ively coupled plasma mass called a laser ablation induct count le par ticles and then we can spectrometer: “We make litt of ces Tra ” ks. roc minerals in the the elements in each of the r nea m fro e com ether the rocks par ticular elements hint at wh in d use l era . It’s an important min mineral deposits. Like nickel rage. ctric vehicles and energy sto solar cells, wind turbines, ele to find it. And rocks can show us where nt in the lab analysing rock Most of Louise’s time is spe to go out in the field from time samples, but she does get to our k too and to Kalgoorlie time. “Recently, we flew out mine sites,” she says. “We the of four-wheel drive to one t them the mine geologists, brough collected some samples for .” lab the in analyse the samples back and now my task is to ing bin ted in a career com Her advice to anyone interes in “Follow what you’re interested science and critical minerals? e “Se s. h those careers,” Louise say and reach out to people wit se Sku do work experience.” – Ben if you can visit some sites or

@L_Schoneveld

I had always ped th at I could work for CSIRho O eventually” 23

SCIENCE

SCIENCE+CREATIVITY

d a e h a M A E T S l l Fu

timetable says! Forget what your high school , art and science rarely clash When it comes to career goals

either Think you can only betiv e? STEM-minded or crea Nope! No more…

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, The University of Sydney Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science, The University of Newcastle

science+creativity jobs Illustrator (scientific): $40K–$142K

Art therapist: $60K–$139K Neuroscientist: $60K–$147K* *Source: salaries according to payscale.com

Skill life

SHUTTERSTOCK

uld So what kinds of jobs wo ativity and flat-out require both cre uisites? scientific skills as prereq tific All of them! Making scien ious ser es uir req breakthroughs emists, ch s, ist log creativity – so bio ators, uc ed EM astrophysicists, ST s and ist log science illustrators, geo rt. communicators just to sta kid, Goodbye, “art” or “science” ere and bring on a world wh ing be e rat we can celeb awesome at both!

SHUTTERSTOCK

science+creativity study Bachelor of Science/Arts, University of NSW

and science one are the days when art es. As sit po were treated as total op ary lin employers rate transdiscip are all over s tie iversi thinkers fluent in both, un of University Sydney, it, too! According to the tune with their science grads who are in own to better creative side have been sh methods, test develop unique research ta and engage in hypotheses, interpret da in next-gen course debate. Which is ref lected grees that offer a offerings, too – double de STEM courses taste of everything and to choose that encourage students s. ve cti out-of-the-box ele

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

START YOUR CAREER HERE

Drawn to science Mariana Oksdath Mansilla is equal parts creative and scientific, combining both her strengths to create a one-of-a-kind job

Awesome neuroscience gig aside, Mariana’s creativity was calling. And, like any academic, she did what came naturally – enrol in another degree. “In 2020 I started a Master in Digital Art online , which was life-changing!” she says. “I learnt all about art, illustrations and the digital sof tware that can help your imagination come to life.” Now, as a qualified scientist and illustrator, Mariana has combined her credentials to forge a career in both! Working for herself, she creates the sketches that sit in some of the countr y’s top scientific journals and me dical manuals. “It’s my job to transform comple x science into accurate and appealing images,” she says. Recently she prepped a glaucoma surgical manual for eye surger y, designing 12 medical illustrations exp laining the complex steps inv olved.

It’s my job to transform complex science into accurate and appealing images ”

Colourful career

With the ultimate goal of cre ating her own Adelaide-base d science communication agency, Mariana’s now on the hunt for an awesome team tha t shares her passion for art and science. And her advice for grads wh o feel torn between their cre ativity and STEM? “Know both disciplines! You have to find your way to learn scienc e and art around your possibilities. It’s fascinating to be a par t of an emerging area!” – Cassie Steel

Freelance scientific illustrator Master in Digital Art, Trazos Research Associate, Centre for Cancer Biology

Creativity calling

PhD (Neuroscience), University of Cordoba

scientific designer and illustrator

Bachelor in Chemical Science (honours), University of Cordoba

Mariana Oksdath Mansilla

w. Growing up with artists as ariana has always loved to dra urally to the Argentinian-born parents, sketching came nat lar classes ouraged through extracurricu creative, who was always enc fondly of as t jus passion – which she speaks and projects. But her other cinated fas sly iou field: “At school I became ser – came a little more out of left body!” with science and the human ween her love of art – that she had to choose bet do ple peo st mo like – ing Assum chemistry degree South America) enrolled in a in ed bas en (th a rian Ma e, and scienc doba, Argentina. the National University of Cór at nce cie ros neu in PhD a which led to f with a cutting-edge riana suddenly found hersel A move to Australia later, Ma a world-class institute Centre for Cancer Biolog y – research associate gig at the ogy – where she was South Australia and SA Pathol backed by the University of to grow human mini-brains. championing a novel technique wasn’t even the a the whole brain-growing bit rian Ma to ing ord acc e, nop And coolest par t. “It was actually doing the scientific illustrations!” she says.

SCIENCE

NEXT STEPS

Kickstart your career in science and space Inspired to pursue a career ? in science or the space sector Start here!

compare To find courses and , check out ralia universities in Austities Guide at rs ve ni U the Good de.com.au gooduniversitiesgui

evan wong co-founder & ceo

danika smith water engineer

Find mentors and role mod els Boost your career prospe

SHUTTERSTOCK

cts by connecting with real-life people who have wa lked the path before you. You could start by checki ng out the hundreds of inspiring career profiles on our website. Visit careerswithstem.com/profil es

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

keita richardson ansto graduate

simone barakat agritech product manager

Watch our live werolebimonadelrs in the pages of this magazine your

Want the chance to ask the ar with some of We’ll be hosting a live webin career questions in real life? nals on 23 February 2022. the featured STEM professio r to attend! Use this QR code to registe ording of this n’t worry you’ll find the full rec Do nt? eve live the on out s Mis MOnDemand ure!) webinars at bit.ly/CwSTE and all our previous (and fut

Careers with STEM: Science+Space 2022 is a publication and trademark of Refraction Media. Copyright © 2022 Refraction Media, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner or form without written permission. If you would like to reproduce anything from this magazine, email: info@refractionmedia.com.au. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. This issue went to press on 12 January 2022. Printed in Australia by IVE.

Scroll our science career-opedia

Not su re what kinds of science jobs are out there? From ag ricultural scientist to volca no log ist, we've written down every science gig we ca n th ink of. Check it out here: bit.ly/science-caree rs-list

Cover image: Lauren Trompp (Science), Ben Ashmole (Space) Produced and published by: Refraction Media Co-founder, CEO & Publisher: Karen Taylor-Brown Co-founder, CEO & Head of Content: Heather Catchpole Managing Editor: Gemma Chilton Digital Editor: Cassie Steel Production Editor: Louise Meers Deputy Editor: Pippa Duffy Art Director: Katherine Power

What’s that STEM job?

SUBSCRIBE AND ORDER COPIES: CareerswithSTEM.com/subscribe EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: Email: info@refractionmedia.com.au or +612 9188 5459

Our free 8-page Job Kits will give you the complete low-down on specific STEM careers. Start with these if you’re dreaming of a career in science or space

bit.ly/SpaceJobKit

Writers: Ben Skuse, Cassie Steel, Gemma Chilton, Louise Meers, Nadine Cranenburgh, Louise Denver, Angela Crompton, Amelia Caddy

POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 154, Oyster Bay, NSW 2225, Australia CareerswithSTEM.com ISSN 2209-1076

bit.ly/FutureScienceJobKit 27

Flip over for space SCIENCE