Young Researchers Forum “Got PhD, What Next?”

12:00-12:50

Networking & Light lunch

12:50-13:00

Welcome & Introduction

Dr. Tich-Lam Nguyen
Chief Operating Officer, ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies

13:00-14:30

Careers in Academia Session

Prof Madhu Bhaskaran

Associate Dean for Higher Degree by Research, School of Engineering, RMIT University

Professor Madhu Bhaskaran co-leads the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group and is Associate Dean for Higher Degrees by Research in the School of Engineering at RMIT University. She completed her PhD in electronic materials engineering in 2009 and her work seeks to transform conventional hard electronics into soft and unbreakable products, thin enough to create electronic skin.

She has been named as one of Top 10 Innovators under 35 for Asia (MIT Technology Review 2016). She has also been recognised with a 2017 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher, 2018 Batterham Medal, and 2018 APEC Aspire Prize.

Dr Torben Daeneke

ARC DECRA Fellow, FLEET Associate Investigator, RMIT University

Dr Torben Daeneke received his PhD in Chemistry from Monash University, Australia in 2012. After graduating he held postdoctoral appointments at the CSIRO and at RMIT University (Australia). In 2015 he received an RMIT Vice Chancellor’s postdoctoral fellowship. In 2018 he joined RMIT’s School of Engineering as a faculty member and is now a Senior Lecturer.

He has authored over 65 peer-reviewed journal articles and has been awarded several awards, fellowships and grants, including an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project and an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). His research interests span from the chemistry of liquid metals over the synthesis and functionalisation of 2D materials to materials for energy and electronic applications. In recent years he has developed novel techniques for the synthesis of 2D materials using liquid metal solvents, leading to publications in Science, Nature Communications and JACS, among others.

Dr Tien Huynh

Senior Lecturer, School of Science Cluster, Biosciences and Food Technology, RMIT University

Dr Tien Huynh completed her doctorate at the University of Melbourne and postdoctoral research overseas (England and Italy) in Evolutionary Phylogenetics and Conservation Biology before returning to Australia to focus on her postdoctoral research in Cancer, Tissue Repair, Neuropharmacology and Drug Discovery Technologies. She is co-founder with A/Professor Danilla Grando of the Centre for Health and Biological Innovations Lab at RMIT. She has established industry and community transformative projects for endangered and medicinal plants, environmental sustainability and agricultural upcycling.

Most recently, Dr Huynh has been acknowledged and rewarded for her academic rigor and passion for science; rewarded with the highly esteemed Superstars of STEM award. In conjunction with universities of global excellence and industry partners, Dr Huynh also spearheads international study programs throughout Asia; allowing students to utilise their skills and knowledge gained through their experiences at RMIT.

14:30-15:00

Afternoon Tea

15:00-16:30

Careers outside of Academia

Dr Vicky Au

National Lead, Engagement and Strategic, CSIRO

Vicky is currently the National Lead for Engagement and Strategy for CSIRO Futures, the strategic advisory arm of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. In this role, she is responsible for driving sustainable growth through external engagements, internal strategy, practice development, and overseeing marketing activities.

Vicky has over a decade of broad industry exposure in a professional services consulting environment through national and international senior management and executive roles. She was previously a Director with PwC Australia and PwC HK and Mainland China for several years, where she was responsible for establishing a new R&D and innovation business advisory practice for the Central China region.

Dr Christian Potzner

Project manager, MiniFAB

Christian received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Melbourne in 2011. Since then, he joined MiniFAB as a development engineer, and has been a project manager there for the past 4 years. Founded in Melbourne, MiniFAB is a contract-engineering firm that provides custom development and manufacturing of polymer microfluidic and micro engineered solutions to international blue chip companies and start-ups in the field of diagnostics, medical devices and environmental monitoring.

Christian is a R&D engineer with in-depth expertise in nanoscale systems, colloid chemistry and analytical techniques for optical, structural and elemental characterisation. His interests are in micro and nano engineered product development for future smart devices.

Dr Emma van Embden

Patent attorney, FPA Patent Attorneys Emma joined FPA Patent Attorneys in 2010 and is a patent attorney within the chemistry and biotechnology teams. She focusses mainly on patent matters in the chemistry, materials, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals areas.

Her practice includes drafting and prosecution of Australian and foreign patent applications, preparation of evidence in opposition proceedings, as well as providing infringement and freedom to operate advice.Prior to joining FPA, Emma completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, specialising in nanotechnology and biochemistry.

Emma’s PhD studies involved the development of biocompatible semiconductor nanocrystals for use as bio-labels in cancer detection.Whilst undertaking the Masters of Intellectual Property Law at the University of Melbourne, Emma was awarded the IPTA student prize in 2013 and the Frank Pinkerton Scholarship for best result in Designs Law and Practice.