Careers that Started in Science

careers that started in
www.science.uq.edu.au/career-profiles

www.science.uq.edu.au/career-profiles

Science is basically about making
discoveries, identifying problems
and finding real solutions.
Experiencing what it takes to practice the discipline of
science provides unique insights that can later be applied in
many areas beyond the range of what we normally think of
as science.
A close involvement in study design, data generation and
writing-up for publication provides a very particular spectrum
of expertise, whether it be learned from an involvement in
cancer research, marine biology, virology, experimental
physics, astronomy or whatever.
Apart from a long-term career in a particular area of research
and development, that type of training with its respect for
data and evidence based reality, opens other opportunities
in areas where innovative, effective leadership is important.
While life as a researcher will obviously be very satisfying for
some, the past decades have seen a number of scientists
emerge as high-tech business entrepreneurs. Others have
been very successful in occupations like investment banking
and the public service, and we definitely need more people
in politics who have a basic understanding of science.
With innovation being an economic driver, society needs
lawyers who are scientifically literate, and it can actually
help to know something before taking a degree in business
management.
Apart from that, if you are passionately committed to
environmental issues, having a grasp of the underlying
science is important when it comes to taking appropriate
actions. The same is true for those who are committed to
ensuring the sustainability of water resources, arable land,
forests and the food supply. And, last but not least, we can
never have enough inspired science teachers in our schools.
Professor Peter C Doherty AC FAA FRS
Nobel Laureate
3 June 2013
Careers
that started
in science
Professor Peter Doherty graduated from The University of Queensland in Veterinary Science and became a
veterinary officer. Moving to Scotland, he received his PhD from the University of Edinburgh Medical School.
He is the first person with a veterinary qualification to win a Nobel Prize which he shared with Swiss colleague,
Rolf Zinkernagel in 1996 for their discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells.
3

We need science.
It’s part of our lives – all day, every day and everywhere –
in the food we eat, clothes we wear, medicine we ingest,
money we spend and devices we use.
Science is so deeply entrenched in our lives that many people
who use the wonders of science do so without thinking,
understanding or observing that these products arose from
the work of scientists.
Science is exciting. It lets you dream, lets you make and test
hypotheses, and teaches you to think analytically. Science
leads to new ideas, new understandings and new and better
applications. Scientists know that we can’t understand
everything about the world, but they try anyway because the
search is exhilarating.
From acoustics to zoology and everything in between,
a multitude of today’s jobs require a science background.
The rewarding careers profiled in this book demonstrate
the huge range of jobs available in science. In fact, over the
past decade, the number of Queenslanders employed in
occupations related to science, technology, engineering and
mathematics has increased by 106,000, and the demand for
these skills is likely to continue.
Today’s science students will need to tackle tomorrow’s
problems – and they will be significant – but with a strong
foundation of scientific knowledge I know we will be in
good stead.
Whatever career path you choose in science,
I wish you all the best.
Dr Geoff Garrett AO
Queensland Chief Scientist
Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist
Queensland Government
Office of the
Queensland
Chief Scientist
4

Science qualifications are your springboard to a new
world of career opportunities. Training in science opens
the doors to an array of occupations you may have not
considered.
A solid science background can lead you on a career
path into research, teaching, industry and business,
government, consulting, project management…
the potential is almost endless.
This book shows you the pathways that many of
UQ’s science graduates have taken in fields including
chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science,
biochemistry, biomedical science, ecology, genetics,
geographical, geological, marine and environmental
sciences, psychology and statistics.
The scientists profiled here have used their qualifications
as a stepping stone to catapult them into exciting
and diverse roles across the globe that are financially
rewarding. For some, it is fulfilling a dream, while others
have embarked on a journey into senior management
and leadership.
A high proportion of well-paid government, business and
industry leaders globally have science qualifications.
A science degree has many benefits because you can
use your skills and training to make a difference in the
global challenges that confront us in the 21st century.
Reducing the impacts of climate change, curing
illnesses, advancing economic policy, developing new,
life-saving drugs, protecting the environment, exploring
space frontiers – all goals are achievable with a strong
base of scientific knowledge as the starting point.
UQ Science graduates are in demand because the
structure of the programs they study gives them a broad
range of skills across diverse disciplines and the ability to
specialise in the majors or dual majors of their choice.
This book demonstrates the human face of science.
Put your face here too.
Why study
science?
A science degree equips you to have a fulfilling career and maximise
opportunities in your chosen field of endeavour.
7

There are two key steps in focussing on a career:
1. Defining your interests and
2. Talking to people for further advice and direction
The career profiles showcase real examples of UQ
graduates at different stages of their careers. Each
profile presented includes a salary range for the current
job, the qualifications of each person and a snapshot
of their career path. Salary ranges were sourced from
CareerOne, Seek, Graduate Destination Survey and our
graduates themselves.
What interests you and what are you good at?
There can be a difference between what really interests
you and what you are good at. If science is what really
interests you, then follow this path.
Remember however that science can be combined with
other disciplines, such as business, law, communication,
sales, marketing and commerce.
This means that you can be in an industry that really
interests you and using the skills that you are good at.
If you like science then continue with it in your final
years of high school.
When thinking about which course to take at university,
identify which subjects interest you and take a course
that meets those interests.
A science degree allows you to follow your interests into
more specialised areas in second and third year.
Define your interests first – not a profession
Defining your interests is a continual process. Don’t feel
pressured to define yourself professionally too early if
you’re not sure what you want to be. It is more important
to define your interests than your profession. Talk to as
many people as you can in those areas, then investigate
all your options before making study or career decisions.
Start by making a list of topics that interest you.
Keep adding to the list as you progress in your high
school studies. This will help you redefine potential
careers as your interests mature or change.
Making decisions
about your career
The primary aim of “Careers that started in Science” is to inspire
and reveal to you the broad range of opportunities available both
within science and many other industries.
8

Leigh uses her communications
skills to create healthier
waterways for Queensland.
Successfully communicating with scientists and the
community to improve water quality outcomes for Queensland
waterways provides immense job satisfaction for Leigh
Bennett each day.
As a Senior Policy Officer within the Healthy Waters Policy
unit of the Queensland Department of Environment and
Heritage Protection, Leigh liaises with internal and external
stakeholders to develop water quality guidelines which will
ultimately improve the health of local waterways throughout
the state.
Her role relies heavily on her ability to listen and communicate
clearly and Leigh attributes her success in the position to the
skills she gained while completing her Honours project.
“The need to properly communicate the key findings of
scientific research to the community and management is a
really important part of environmental science,” she said.
“Through my Honours project I developed an understanding
of how to translate what was going on outdoors or in the
lab, into a context that most audiences would be able to
understand.”
Since graduating from UQ, Leigh has worked for a number of
employers and gained valuable experience.
“I was responsible for reporting on the BHP Billiton Artesian
Spring Invertebrate Monitoring Program in South Australia.
Some species of invertebrates, including snails, are found
only in specific artesian springs,” she said.
“They are perfect indicators for detecting changes in the
environment. I analysed samples of invertebrates from different
sites to examine the potential impacts of water extraction.”
“This was a really exciting project where I could directly apply
the skills that I learnt at UQ to produce an environmental
report for a leading company.”
Leigh enjoys being able to move seamlessly between the
office and the laboratory and the diverse opportunities that
come with her job.
“I’d encourage all students to consider a career in
environmental science if they have an interest in the world
around them. It can be a tough and sometimes dirty job,
but it’s worth it,” she said.
FROM THE
BENCH TO
THE BEACH
Leigh Bennett
Senior Policy Officer
Healthy Waters Unit
Department of Environment
and Heritage Protection
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Environmental Science
(Ecology) with Honours 2008
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $62 000
Maximum $107 000
Average $79 500
10

TAKING SCIENCE
TO PARLIAMENT
INFLUENCING POLITICAL DECISIONS
WITH scientific advice IS A CAREER
HIGHLIGHT FOR STEFAN.
A passion for the environment and a successful career in
research has led Stefan Klose around the world and now into the
political arena. As a Scientific Advisor to the Federal Minister of
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Stefan
is based in the former German capital of Bonn and provides
scientific advice to the Minister and the German Government
on policy decisions which affect the environment. Through his
work he travels frequently to Brussels and Berlin, and enjoys the
diversity of challenges he encounters.
“It is critical to explain science to politicians in a way that
simplifies the very complex issues and enables them to fight for
the environment using the best scientific knowledge,” he said.
Stefan’s career began with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in
Zoology at UQ. He transferred from a university in his home country
of Germany in order to develop his language skills, study a range of
exciting ecosystems not found in Europe, such as reefs, rainforests
and deserts, and immerse himself in the Australian culture. UQ’s
range of courses, reputation and location within the sunny subtropics
made the choice easy for Stefan. He found that the Bachelor of
Science program gave him the flexibility to follow his interests and
develop the skills he needed to support his career goals.
“My UQ degree laid the foundations to help me understand how
people and ecosystems interact in a global context,” he said.
“This was an important step in my personal and academic
development, as well as an important addition to my CV and
personal network. It certainly contributed to my success in
securing my current role as a Scientific Advisor.”
Stefan also completed a Masters and PhD in Ecology at Ulm
University in Germany, with co-supervisors from The University of
Queensland and Cambridge University in the UK. He conducted
his field work in Panama and Australia and received two Australian
Government Endeavour Awards for his research on flying-foxes in
northern New South Wales. On completing his PhD, Stefan worked
for the Global Environmental and Consumer Safety branch of the
world’s largest chemical company, the Germany-based BASF,
assessing agricultural product risks to wildlife.
He then moved to West Africa to coordinate a German Research
Foundation (DFG) research program into diseases transmitted to
humans by animals.
While Stefan’s career has been shaped by a number of unique
experiences, assisting politicians to make better decisions about
the environment with his scientific advice is still the highlight.
“I have written texts and provided environmental assessments
which have decisively shaped and become part of legal documents,
and have contributed to European-level political decisions and
implementations through National Action Plans,” he said.
Stefan Klose
Scientific Advisor
German Federal Ministry of
Environment, Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety
UQ Qualifications
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (ZOOLOGY) 2002
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $45 000
Maximum $55 000
Average $50 000
11

Eleanor’s expertise in modeling
and planning brings efficiencies to
the surface for major brands.
Using the latest mathematical modeling and optimisation
techniques, Eleanor Foxcroft provides cutting edge solutions
to businesses to increase their efficiency and profitability.
As part of the team at Biarri Commercial Mathematics,
she uses her knowledge to help numerous clients make
improved decisions and solve complex business problems.
Since graduating in 2011, Eleanor has worked with Schweppes
Australia as a client, to optimise existing beverage delivery
routes using a software tool developed by Biarri.
“The orders that need to be satisfied change every day. Each
day presents a new challenge to come up with routes that
are robust, close to the actual optimal solution but which also
consider driver preferences,” she said.
“Overall the planning process has been completely
overhauled, resulting in the need for fewer vehicles travelling
lower kilometres.”
“I love building models that make clients happy and
developing good software can be incredibly satisfying.”
Eleanor enjoyed the flexibility of her Bachelor of Science
program because it enabled her to try a diverse range of
subject areas while also providing a great preparation in
operations research.
“The courses offered at UQ provided an excellent introduction
to relevant problems and different solution techniques which
are very applicable in my role”
Eleanor also credits her current position to the strong links
which UQ has with the company.
“My Honours supervisor had strong ties with Biarri and
suggested I apply for a casual position while I was still
studying and from there I was made a permanent staff
member,” she said.
“Biarri has hired a number of UQ graduates and the success
of those employees has ensured that UQ qualifications are
highly valued.”
Eleanor has proved that mathematics is a fresh, exciting
and innovative discipline that can be applied in a business
context, and not just in the classroom or an engineer’s office.
She plans to continue in a technical role, but in five years
hopes to be leading major projects and complete a PhD in
the field.
“I am really excited to continue learning in my job. This field is
constantly evolving so there are always opportunities to learn,
which keeps things very interesting,” she said.
Career in
mathematics an
optimal choice
Eleanor Foxcroft
Optimisation Consultant
Biarri Commercial Mathematics
UQ Qualifications
Honours (Mathematics) 2011
Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) 2010
Salary
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $150 000
Average $80 000
12

Looking out
for our pets
Catherine is exploring how vets
can protect animals from domestic
violence.
While studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Catherine
Tiplady worked part-time as a vet nurse, an animal attendant
and had also been actively involved with the RSPCA as a
volunteer foster carer and call centre worker.
After graduating as a veterinarian and performing various
surgical procedures, administering pain relief, undertaking
diagnostic tests and caring for hospitalised animals, the daily
contact with patients and their owners made a lasting impact.
“Consultations were a large part of my work and it was good
to see evidence of a positive emotional bond between people
and pets,” she said.
“However, it can be both distressing and confronting for
practice staff when cases of animal abuse and neglect are
presented.”
Returning to UQ to study a PhD, Catherine has used this
opportunity to examine the negative outcomes of pet
ownership and find ways to address these.
“As part of my study I am combining the two topics of
domestic violence and animal abuse to see how people and
animals are affected by violence and, importantly, how vets
can help,” she said.
“Anecdotal reports suggest that dogs from violent homes
are more traumatised and fearful and I want to examine
statistically if that is true.”
Catherine also believes that as part of the domestic violence
cycle, pets are often hurt or threatened as a way of controlling
the abused partner.
The combination of both veterinary and social sciences makes
her research unique and in 2012 she was a recipient of one
of only four scholarships offered by the American Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to learn about
veterinary forensics.
She hopes to create protocols for the treatment of
traumatised pets and assist vets to recognise the signs of
trauma, and has collaborated with world renowned experts to
write a book on this topic which was published in 2013.
During her time at UQ, Catherine also participated in the
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition where she was
required to explain her research in just three minutes.
“Making it to the UQ 3MT finals was a huge achievement for
me as I was quite nervous about speaking in public,” she said.
“The competition helped me gain confidence in presenting
my research to a large and diverse audience.”
Catherine Tiplady
PhD Candidate
Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics
UQ School of Veterinary Science
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Applied Science
(Animal Studies) 2009
Bachelor of Veterinary Science 2008
SALARY RANGE
PhD Scholarships available –
please check with
UQ for details
13

Chiara hopes to settle future
planning disputes out of the courts.
A love for geography and legal studies during high school,
combined with the urge to pursue a career with a difference,
was all the inspiration Chiara Wood needed to study a Bachelor
of Regional and Town Planning and a Bachelor of Laws at UQ.
As the Senior Legal Officer at the Queensland Department
of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Chiara is
always seeking the best solutions for her community.
She provides advice to the Minister, Director-General and
other departments on planning development law, projects and
infrastructure and also advises on amendments to legislation
administered by the department.
“I work in the planning law team of the Legal Services division
and my Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning definitely
helped me to secure this job, as a good understanding of the
planning system is required,” she said.
Chiara believes the most satisfying aspect of her work is
being able to have her say on legislation on a daily basis
and have her decisions help shape the future of planning
in Queensland.
“I review amendments to existing legislation to see if they are
legally viable and I review entirely new pieces of legislation or
subordinate legislation,” she said.
“Most pieces of legislation are around for at least five years,
so in the future I will be able to say that I had some input into
that Act or that regulation which had an impact on directing
the planning industry.”
Chiara graduated with Honours from the Bachelor of Regional
and Town Planning in 2003 and then continued her studies for
a further three years to complete a degree in law, creating a
customised “dual degree” program.
“The ability to take planning subjects as electives within my law
degree gave me the flexibility to tackle both fields,” she said.
She was able to commence her professional career even
while at university by having one of her essays published as
an article in the Queensland Planner.
In her busy schedule Chiara still manages to find time to tutor
at UQ in a course on regulatory frameworks for environmental
management and planning, passing her knowledge and
experience to the next generation of graduates.
Chiara hopes to continue to work in the field of environmental
and planning law and branch out to alternative dispute
resolution, or work as a mediator in the Planning and
Environment Court.
Mapping
successful
solutions
Chiara Wood
Senior Legal Officer
Department of State Development
Infrastructure and Planning
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws 2007
Bachelor of Regional and
Town Planning (Honours) 2003
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $58 008
Maximum $140 000
Average $90 620
14

Protecting
the world all
in a day’s work
Preventing the transmission
of animal diseases to humans is
Andrew’s prime goal.
Fruit bats, Avian Influenza and protecting the world from
diseases transmitted by animals are all part of Andrew
Breed’s job as a Veterinary Epidemiologist.
Andrew started his career as a veterinarian, working in
private practices and zoos around Australia and the UK after
completing his veterinary degree at Murdoch University.
While working, he completed a Master of Science in Wild Animal
Health at the Zoological Society of London, collaborating with
the Queensland Department of Primary Industries to develop
a test for the detection of Hendra virus antibodies.
Andrew decided to return to study full time to complete his
PhD at The University of Queensland.
He wanted to gain a more active involvement in science and
research projects and contribute to the study of wildlife diseases.
He chose UQ for the opportunity to work with a unique
team of people on an exciting area, with support from the
Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre.
“I really enjoyed the opportunities presented by my PhD to
collaborate with scientists and animal health officers from
around the world and share knowledge and skills,” he said.
“One of the highlights of my project was carrying out fieldwork
in remote parts of Papua New Guinea, East Timor and
Indonesia.”
On completion of his PhD Andrew moved to the UK to work
in his current role with the Animal Health and Veterinary
Laboratories Agency.
In this role he manages projects in national and international
veterinary public health, writes scientific research reports, and
is on call for outbreaks of notifiable disease in the UK.
Andrew recently spent time in Cyprus, capturing fruit bats
that were roosting in caves to test for emerging zoonotic
viruses with pandemic potential such as coronaviruses
(SARS and MERS) and filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg).
“My PhD at UQ allowed me to work with world leaders
in my field who supported and encouraged me to seek
opportunities and gain recognition for my work,” he said.
“I now work with a range of teams to improve animal and
human health and increase understanding of wildlife diseases.”
“I enjoy doing work which provides evidence for government
policy and improves understanding of disease transmission
among animals and humans in order to prevent outbreaks.”
Andrew Breed
Veterinary Epidemiologist
Animal Health and Veterinary
Laboratories Agency
United Kingdom
UQ Qualifications
PhD (Veterinary Science) 2013
SALARY RANGE
Minimum 35 000 GBP£
Maximum 57 000 GBP£
(British Pound)
15

Tiffany connects with rural
Australians to help them grow
their businesses.
A strong connection to rural Australia, combined with a solid
understanding of Animal Production, has steered Tiffany
Jorgensen to her current role as the Rural Manager of
Rabobank Dalby.
She manages and grows the bank’s lending portfolio in the
rural sector, travelling across the Darling Downs to assist
clients with their banking needs.
“The best thing about my job is that I am working with
rural Australians every day, whether I am lending money or
discussing the current seasonal conditions,” she said.
“I am privileged to work with such wonderful people and it is
the fantastic spirits and personalities of the client base that
keeps me wanting more.”
Tiffany was offered her first job before she completed the final
semester of her Bachelor of Applied Science at UQ.
She started as a management trainee for AMH (now Swift
Australia) in the feedlot operations at Caroona in New
South Wales.
“The UQ name has a strong reputation within the rural
industry which put me in a strong position when applying
for jobs. AMH had employed a number of UQ graduates in
the past, knowing they possessed the necessary skills and
attributes to suit the company,” she said.
Tiffany enjoyed the hands-on practical experience and
industry connections that her program at UQ offered.
Working with lecturers who were actively involved in the fields
they taught was also a highlight.
The diverse set of skills Tiffany gained in her program
contributed to her success in her first job with AMH, and
those that followed.
After AMH, Tiffany moved into the cadetship program at
Landmark, gaining experience in all facets of the business
over 12 months. She contributed to the development of the
Landmark Classic horse sale, and was able to watch the
event grow.
Her experiences provided a solid foundation for her move to
Rabobank, and within four years she was promoted to her
current position as Rural Manager.
“My time spent a UQ provided me with a diverse set of skills
that are easily adapted to any situation,” she said.
“There is always some piece of information that I can draw on,
which may have seemed insignificant at the time, that helps
me to understand and connect with my clients.”
Growing rural
economies a
prime role
Tiffany Jorgensen
Rural Manager
Rabobank Dalby
UQ Qualifications
(Animal Production) 2006
SALARY
Minimum $56 000
Maximum $170 000
Average $92 889
16

SOLID FOUNDATION
FOR A VARIED CAREER
Managing exploration operations
for a multinational mining company
is a natural fit for Duncan.
For Duncan Scott, geology field trips were the best part of
his Bachelor of Science at UQ. Now, as a Principal Geologist
with Vale Exploration, he organises and manages field
exploration operations.
Duncan completed a dual Bachelor of Economics and
Bachelor of Science program, majoring in Geology and
Earth Science.
Duncan has never had trouble finding work in his chosen
field. In his final year of study, he gained industry experience
by working part-time in two different jobs.
When he finished studying he continued in both roles working
four days a week in a geological consultancy, performing
data processing and quality checking, and one day per week
with Queensland Transport, working on transport economic
analysis.
Before securing his current role with Vale, Duncan worked as
a Geophysics Processing Coordinator for G-tek and as an
Underground Production Geologist at the North Goonyella
Mine, plus various other exploration roles for BHP Billiton
Mitsubishi Alliance.
“Since I started working at the age of 15, the longest I’ve
been unemployed is two weeks,” he said.
“During those two weeks a Geologist I studied with at UQ
assisted me in finding a job with G-tek where I was detecting
unexploded ordinance on military sites using magnetics.”
“Detecting weapons buried underground was certainly an
exciting and different experience for a geologist!”
As part of his current role, he develops mine feasibility studies
and ensures that work is carried out safely on site and
exploration data is collected and managed appropriately.
“The broad range of skills I gained in my dual degree at UQ
have helped me to adapt to change and manage multiple
tasks,” he said.
Recently, Duncan has been studying mining methods in
China, Germany and Russia for suitability in difficult mining
environments in Australia.
“Studying Economics alongside Science gave me extra skills
that I have used in project budgeting and mine feasibility
studies. Studying at UQ provided the foundation for the rest
of my career,” he said.
He enjoys the variety of his work which includes developing
creative solutions and successfully coordinating and
completing projects.
Duncan Scott
Principal Geologist and
Site Senior Executive
Vale Exploration
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Science
(Geology and Earth Sciences) 2003
Bachelor of Economics 2003
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $130 000
Maximum $190 000
Average $150 000
17

Carmel’s research will improve
the quality of commercial pearl
production and potentially lead
to outcomes in human health.
Discovering how to grow the perfect pearl for industry is just
one part of Carmel McDougall’s research.
While working on pearl boats and visiting the Great Barrier
Reef are part of her industry-focussed project, contributing
to knowledge on human bone growth is part of a wider
research agenda.
Carmel is a geneticist and marine biologist, working at
The University of Queensland.
She studied Zoology and Genetics during her Bachelor of
Science with Honours at UQ, and was awarded a scholarship
to Oxford University to do a PhD.
Immediately after finishing her PhD, Carmel was offered a
job at UQ. She heard about the position through her UQ
contacts.
“Studying at UQ, and then going to Oxford, gave me a real
competitive edge to continue my scientific career,” she said.
“In my program at UQ I particularly enjoyed being able to
specialise into smaller classes and be taught by some of the
best scientists in their fields.”
In her industry project, Carmel is currently researching the
genetics of shell formation in pearl oysters.
The aim of the project is to develop ways to improve pearl
quality, but this research goes beyond a perfect pearl.
“Pearl shells are very different to human bone, but some of
the processes and genes which produce these structures are
surprisingly similar,” she said.
“Some of the mollusc genes I research can be used to
promote human bone growth in the laboratory.”
Some of the genes Carmel studies are also being investigated
in nanotechnology and materials science for their ability to
control the shape of microscopic structures.
Comparing the mollusc genes to similar genes in other
animals also provides an understanding of how bone and
shell forming structures have evolved.
Carmel finds her role very rewarding.
“I really enjoy the opportunities to travel to exotic locations
to obtain specimens and the challenging nature of scientific
research.”
MARINE CAREER
PROVIDES A
PEARLY FUTURE
Carmel
McDougall
Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
The University of Queensland
UQ Qualifications
HONOURS (ZOOLOGY) 2003
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
(MARINE BIOLOGY AND GENETICS) 2002
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $60 000
Maximum $90 000
Average $70 000
18

Sights set
on global
sustainability
Studying at UQ connected Jorge
with world leaders.
Making the move from Mexico to Australia to study was a big
decision for Jorge Acevedo, but one that has enabled him to
pursue his passion for a more sustainable environment.
After considering many programs in Canada, the USA and
Latin America, Jorge embraced the opportunity to study
Down Under.
“Australia is globally recognised for its environmental
leadership,” he said.
“I chose The University of Queensland because it offered
the best courses in carbon management and sustainability
business practice.”
In his final semester Jorge completed a research project in
conjunction with UQ’s Sustainable Management Alliance in
Research and Training (SMART) program on blue carbon
opportunities in Mexico.
He was then selected to promote the benefits of blue carbon
projects at the United Nations Convention of Climate Change
(UNCCC – COP 16) in Cancun.
“The experience provided me with the opportunity to see
and hear from great personalities in climate science, such
as Nobel Prize winner Dr Mario Molina, Chairman of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr Pachauri
and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon” he said.
“As a participant I was able to make contact with leading
Non-Government Organisations such as Wetlands
International, Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund,
CDM Watch, and several others.”
Since graduating from UQ, Jorge has found employment at a
consultancy firm in Brisbane.
“I am an Environmental Scientist for CDM Smith which is a
global environmental and engineering consultancy,” he said.
In this sustainability role Jorge provides a range of
environmental services, contaminated land solutions and
engineering strategies for his clients
In the long term, Jorge hopes to work with parent company,
CDM Smith, on large overseas projects.
Jorge Acevedo
Environmental Scientist
CDM Smith
UQ Qualifications
Master of Environmental
Management 2010
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $60 000
Maximum $200 000
Average $124 449
19

Rural communities in Guyana share
in Akilah’s vision for development.
While working with economically vulnerable men, women and
children in rural Guyana, Akilah Dorris imagined the difference
a development planning and management strategy could
make to the people in these communities.
Realising that she needed to equip herself with more
advanced knowledge and skills to help the communities,
Akilah enrolled in a Master of Rural Systems Management.
“Rural development is a fairly new field of work and study
within my country, therefore I wanted to gain additional skills,
knowledge and experiences and bring those back to Guyana
to incorporate them into my work,” she said.
While finding the program challenging, Akilah balanced her
studies with extra-curricular activities such as volunteering
with student associations and off campus community
groups. As part of her research project, Akilah attended an
international congress in Beijing, China.
Akilah now works for the Ministry of Local Government &
Regional Development as the Community Monitoring &
Development Officer, planning and implementing initiatives for
the socio-economic development of rural communities.
“My role specifically has to do with planning, monitoring and
implementing regional development plans and conducting
research on developmental issues within the ten regions of
Guyana,” she said.
“I have the opportunity to travel and explore my entire country
as 70% of the population is dispersed throughout the rural
and regional areas.”
“The Master of Rural Systems Management Program has
certainly complemented my role within the Ministry. Though
Australia and Guyana are vastly different, I can apply what the
courses offered in a practical sense.”
“Studying at UQ is one of the most prestigious opportunities
you can have and the quality of work by the staff is remarkable.”
Akilah Dorris
Community Monitoring and
Development Officer
Ministry of Local Government &
Regional Development, Guyana
UQ Qualifications
Master of Rural Systems
Management 2012
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $30 000
Maximum $180 000
Average $86 838
Knowledge
brings
empowerment
20

TAKING SCIENCE
TO INDUSTRY
Caroline assists with the transition
of new scientific technologies into
private industry.
Working with new and different scientific technologies is
Caroline Chan’s favourite part of her job.
After completing her PhD at The University of Queensland,
Caroline returned home to Singapore to work as a Technical
Support and Application Specialist with QIAGEN, a company
which produces molecular research products.
As part of this position she was involved in customer training
and helped solve any technical difficulties that customers
encountered while using the company’s products.
“I have found the transition from a research laboratory to a
commercial company very interesting,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed learning how companies are run and learning
about the scientific products they produce.”
After three years at QIAGEN, Caroline was approached
by a recruiter to work at Affymetrix, a company which
manufactures DNA microarrays for genomic research.
Genomics is a discipline in genetics that applies
recombinant DNA, DNA sequencing methods, and
bioinformatics to sequence, assemble and analyse the
function and structure of genomes.
In her current role, Caroline is a Field Application Specialist
at Affymetrix. Her job is to understand the technology
and products that the company produces to provide
customer support.
She conducts on-site product training for customers, attends
road shows and visits customers to promote the company’s
products or troubleshoot problems.
Caroline feels that the critical thinking skills gained during her
PhD studies at UQ have particularly helped her advance in
her career.
“My PhD has equipped me with better problem solving skills
and the ability to work independently,” she said.
.
Caroline Chan
Field Application Specialist
Affymetrix
UQ Qualifications
PhD (Developmental Biology) 2009
SALARY RANGE
Minimum 55 000 SGD
Maximum 90 000 SGD
Average 70 000 SGD
(Singapore Dollar)
21

Maithili uses maths to
improve the commute for
public transport users.
A family tradition and a love of solving problems led Maithili
Mehta into the broad field of Software Engineering.
“My father and uncle both have PhDs in Mathematics and
I’ve always really enjoyed mathematics,” she said.
“It’s been part of my everyday life for as long as I can
remember. There are so many people who have done amazing
things in mathematics and I knew it was a field I wanted to
study and work in.”
Maithili completed a Bachelor of Science at The University of
Queensland, studying physics, philosophy and psychology in
combination with her mathematics courses.
She completed Honours in Mathematics and then continued
into a PhD.
“It tested my ability to innovate and understand complex
problems, skills which are highly valued by my employer,”
she said.
While completing her PhD, Maithili was approached by
a company called Opcom and offered a position as a
software tester.
The company heard about Maithili through a network of PhD
students with whom she studied at UQ.
The company is now owned by Jeppesen Australia and Maithili
has progressed to the position of a Senior Software tester.
Her role involves developing new algorithms to solve complex
software problems and maintaining current algorithmic code.
“I love the challenges and the problem solving,” she said.
“You think you’re not going to be able to solve a problem,
so you sit and look at it and you think that it’s going to be
impossible. Then, all of a sudden, something just clicks and
it’s a great feeling. I love that feeling!”
One of the most exciting and rewarding career challenges for
Maithili was developing algorithms to run journey plans over
entire countries.
“There’s a huge amount of data involved in journey planning
across an entire country,” she said.
“Handling that data, and optimising it so that our software can
run efficiently, was a real challenge and really enjoyable”
“If you’re considering a career in mathematics or statistics I
would advise you to go for it! A career in maths will always
provide interesting and varied work.”
NO PROBLEMS
ONLY SOLUTIONS
Maithili Mehta
Senior Software Engineer
Jeppesen Australia
UQ Qualifications
PhD (Mathematics) 2003
Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)
with Honours 1997
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $120 000
22

Taking
the plunge
A love of science and research
takes Cameron to new depths.
Five years ago, Cameron Schofield and his father identified
the need in Australia for infrastructure to support innovative
marine science research. Together they made the decision to
take on the challenge to rectify this.
Today their company, Australian Oceanographics, provides
the tools and expertise needed to support critical research
into our oceans.
“Knowing that I can potentially make a difference to the
understanding, health and management of Australia’s marine
ecosystems and wildlife is the most exciting and rewarding
aspect of my job,” he said.
“We work in a leading edge industry that is constantly
evolving, which also makes each day more interesting than
the last.”
Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of submersibles,
other oceanographic technologies and their operation is part
of Cameron’s role.
This element of the business lead him to live and work in
Florida for over a year to oversee the major refit, sea trial and
pilot training of two single-occupant submersibles.
“After completely stripping back and rebuilding the
submersibles with improved equipment and software,
we tested them from a vessel in the Bahamas and were
trained as pilots,” he said.
“They only fit a single occupant, so it was quite daunting
hopping in for my first dive. But since then, I have been
hooked and always look forward to the next opportunity to
go for another dive!”
Cameron believes his UQ program was integral to his
success as a young entrepreneur.
“The interactive learning across a number of disciplines
made my program well rounded,” he said.
“The demands of a research intensive honours year also
helped prove that I was capable of managing several aspects
of a project at once.”
In the future Cameron hopes to continue to develop and grow
the family business, increasing its involvement in exciting and
state-of-the-art scientific projects.
Cameron
Schofield
Operations Manager
Australian Oceanographics
UQ Qualifications
Honours (Zoology) 2010
Bachelor of Science
(Ecology and Zoology) 2009
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $40 000
Maximum $120 000
23

A degree in agribusiness is growing
Stephanie’s career.
For Stephanie Cook, the agricultural sector is where she loves
to work, and her UQ Bachelor of Agribusiness is helping her
to achieve her career goals.
After finishing high school, Stephanie worked for four years in
retail and administration for stockfeed and cotton companies,
before deciding what she really wanted to do.
“It was here I realised that I really wanted to work in
agriculture, and that completing an agribusiness degree
would be the best way to work my way up in this industry,”
she said.
She enrolled in a Bachelor of Agribusiness at UQ and thrived
in the ‘real-life’ teaching environment.
“We often went out of the classroom to farms and
agribusinesses, and also to the port,” she said.
“Applying what we were learning to real life contexts and
actual businesses made it much more interesting, and it
showed me how I could use what I was learning.”
A month before finishing her degree, Stephanie was offered a
job as a Graduate Farm Marketer with AWB (Cargill), a major
marketer of Australian grain and oilseeds.
She met AWB representatives at a UQ careers event and was
encouraged to apply for the position.
Stephanie’s job involves speaking to growers about prices,
creating contracts, estimating supply and demand, finding
out about yields and quality, and building relationships with
her growers
“I use my degree every day!” she said.
“It taught me skills in everything from marketing and sales to
investment project appraisal. The UQ Agribusiness degree is
tailored to equip you for your career, and almost everything I
learned has relevance to my work now.”
While at UQ, Stephanie was the President of the UQ Gatton
Agribusiness Association and established a useful network of
friends and colleagues.
“I have called them to find out information and learn about
their areas, what they’ve planted, what they’re harvesting and
how it’s looking,” she said.
“Not only have they been a wealth of information for me, they
often put me in contact with their parents, neighbours or an
agronomist from the area who can then help me further.”
“The networks I have gained from studying at UQ are
definitely priceless for me in the agribusiness industry.”
AGRIBUSINESS
DELIVERS A HIGH
YIELD CAREER
Stephanie Cook
Graduate Farm Marketer
Australian Wheat Board (Cargill)
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Agribusiness 2012
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $64 000
2424

Where art
meets science
A love of art and an interest in
science combine in Chris’s career.
With a background in art, Chris Maddox moved to Australia
for a change of scenery and to enjoy the stunning beaches.
His postgraduate studies at UQ in Geographical Information
Science (GIS) have since brought him a lot closer to the
ocean than he expected.
Chris is a Senior Geospatial Analyst with Geoimage Pty Ltd
and has just completed a project funded by the National
Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) to
climate-proof the nation’s seaports.
The project aims to enhance the resilience of Australia’s
seaports and examined how they might adapt to future
climate change.
“During the project I was working with researchers at UQ and
the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) to generate
spatial GIS data and subsequent 3D visualisations of the
infrastructure assets at Port Kembla, Wollongong,” he said.
“I have been in my role at Geoimage for nearly three years
and I work within a small team consulting on large projects
for a range of clients around Australia and Southeast
Asia, providing solutions for both marine and terrestrial
environments.”
“Projects vary from client to client and regularly include
environmental, planning, cartographic and remote sensing
based work.”
Chris developed contacts with highly respected researchers
and industry peers while studying at UQ, which he has since
found to be useful in his work. Many of his workmates are
also UQ graduates.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying at UQ, the knowledge
and contacts I gained set me up for a smooth transition to
working in the spatial industry.”
“My degree prepared me with the Remote Sensing and
GIS background theory I needed to transition into a more
senior position.”
In 2012, Chris launched StudioSpatial, a cutting edge design
firm that utilises satellite imagery to create ‘GeoArt’ pieces.
Using Landsat satellite (NASA) data sets, he has already
created countless artworks for homes and workplaces.
“My GeoArt artworks demonstrate the close link between
science and art,” he said.
“The natural environment has a fantastic wealth of beautiful
areas around the globe that we can turn into art for living spaces.”
Chris Maddox
Senior Geospatial Analyst
Geoimage Pty Ltd
Artist and Creative Director
StudioSpatial
UQ Qualifications
Masters of Geographic
Information Science 2010
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $150 000
Average $80 000
25

A love of biology and technology
allows Lauren to sequence a
successful career.
At ten years of age, Lauren Bragg began creating “silly little
computer games” inspired by an older brother, who taught her
the basics of computer programming.
While at high school she also discovered a love of biological
science and on considering her university options, decided to
find a program that fused these two strong interests together.
“Over the past decade, the demand for trained bioinformaticians
has grown rapidly as biologists generate larger and more
complex datasets,” she said.
After completing her Bachelor of Science (Bioinformatics) program
at the University of Sydney, Lauren briefly worked as a software
developer for a financial research organization called Capital
Markets CRC Limited. She then became a bioinformatician at
CSIRO and undertook a jointly supervised PhD through CSIRO
and the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) at UQ.
“Having access to world-class research facilities, brilliant
academics and cutting-edge technologies were some of the
best aspects of my program,” she said.
As part of her PhD, Lauren made her mark as an up-and-
coming female researcher with the development of new
software called Acacia, which finds errors in the DNA code of
amplicon sequences produced during gene sequencing. In a
simple analogy, the Acacia software works like a “computer
spell checker” to automatically detect errors in the sequencing.
In May 2012, her discovery was published in the prestigious
journal Nature Methods.
“It’s exciting to be published in a journal like Nature Methods but
I get more satisfaction from hearing how my software is helping
biologists fix sequencing errors,” she said.
The method, or algorithm, that Acacia uses took 18 months
for Lauren to fully develop and test, and she uses it as part of
her ongoing research career. Lauren is currently conducting
postdoctoral research at CSIRO in the area of metagenomics,
where DNA sequencing is applied to diverse communities
of microbes, instead of homogeneous cultures, resulting in
discoveries of new species, interactions and biochemical functions.
“Metagenomics is an exciting but challenging new application of
DNA sequencing,” she said.
“If analysing DNA sequences from an individual microbial
genome can be considered analagous to solving an individual
puzzle, metagenome analysis is like trying to simultaneously solve
thousands of different puzzles mixed together, with many of the
pieces either shared between puzzles or missing outright.”
The outcomes of metagenomic studies often yield exciting
results, such as discovery of microbes linked with human
disease, or new proteins with exciting industrial applications.
Breaking
the code of
success
Lauren Bragg
Research Bioinformatician
CSIRO Computational Informatics
UQ Qualifications
PhD (Bioinformatics) 2013
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $140 000
Average $70 000
26

AG SCIENCE
GRADUATE
A BREED APART
Kieren’s knowledge of the
beef industry will strengthen
Australia’s position as a leading
food producer.
Bachelor of Agricultural Science graduate and current PhD
student, Kieren McCosker, is part of a new breed of beef
cattle researchers.
“I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to work on
projects such as Cash Cow which examines factors affecting
the reproductive performance of beef breeding herds,”
he said.
“A number of factors have been identified as impacting on
reproductive performance of beef cattle and the project aims
to quantify the effects they have.”
He credits his university studies to his success in conducting
the Cash Cow project.
“My fourth year research project was my first insight into life
as a researcher, so it was an important part of my studies and
one of my most memorable experiences at UQ,” he said.
Kieren was employed soon after graduation as a Beef Cattle
Research Officer for the Department of Primary Industry and
Fisheries in the Northern Territory.
At present, he works with four other Agricultural Science
graduates from UQ in the Department where his research
abilities have been recognised by his employer and local
producers.
In 2010 he was recognised as a ‘Young Achiever’ by the
North Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC) for his
important contribution to the industry and showed that young
researchers have the knowledge and practical skills to make
a difference to current breeding practices.
Kieren encourages all students to make the most of every
opportunity while at university.
“It gets a lot harder when you have to teach yourself in the
real world,” he said.
“Having had some practical experience in the past,
I enjoyed the theoretical component of my degree and the
chance to learn new skills.”
Kieren
McCosker
Beef Cattle Research Officer
Department of Primary Industry
and Fisheries
Northern Territory Government
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Agricultural Science
(Honours) 2001
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $48 930
Maximum $140 000
Average $85 615
27

Rose’s career in the cotton
industry continues to grow.
Rose Brodrick knows that her job as a CSIRO crop scientist
is right for her, because even under difficult conditions, she
really enjoys what she does.
“I think that if I can be ankle-deep in mud, measuring soil
water for my experiments in 44 degree heat, and enjoying it,
then I must be in the right field,” she said.
Rose was awarded a CSIRO PhD scholarship and completed
her PhD with joint supervision from CSIRO and UQ.
“My PhD project was based at the CSIRO Cotton Research
Unit in Narrabri, so I had the best of both worlds,” said Rose.
“My UQ supervisors were fantastic in providing support and
direction and I conducted my research in the heart of the
cotton industry at the research station in Narrabri.”
“This broadened my experience during my PhD studies,
helped me to form excellent connections with industry and
developed the skills which I use in my current job.”
During her PhD Rose investigated how cotton grows under
different row spacing and plant density.
The aim of her research was to improve the understanding of
growth and development differences in cotton planted in
conventionally spaced (1 metre) rows, and ultra-narrow rows
which are used in high-input production systems in Australia.
Before completing her PhD thesis Rose was offered a
postdoctoral fellowship position with CSIRO.
She then moved to a commercial seed company and spent a
year as a Trials and Seed Increase Agronomist, before moving
back to CSIRO where she completed a second postdoctoral
fellowship.
Rose is currently employed by CSIRO Plant Industry as
Research Scientist. In this role she leads research into cotton
crop irrigation, looking at the relationship between plant
stress, soil water levels and climate.
The aim of this research is to develop a new approach to
irrigation scheduling, using water more efficiently while
maximising the yield for cotton growers.
“Working with growers and the industry, getting their
feedback and having a real impact on improving production
practices is the best thing about my job,” she said.
“The close collaboration with industry, and seeing successful
outcomes, is what makes my work feel relevant.”
Crop science
the basis for
a blooming
career
28
Rose Brodrick
Research Scientist
CSIRO Plant Industry, Narrabri
UQ Qualifications
PHD (AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH) 2006
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $90 000
Maximum $150 000+
Average $100 000
28

Hearing the
call into
Audiology
Shannon diagnoses hearing
loss and provides rehabilitation
options for a range of patientS.
For Shannon Culley, the Bachelor of Science program at
UQ was the perfect start to a calling in Audiology.
“When I started university I wasn’t entirely sure what career
path I wanted to follow, but I knew I wanted to work in the
health sciences,” she said.
“Starting out with a degree that was so flexible allowed me
to try a few different areas and then zero in on what I really
enjoyed.”
“My Bachelor of Science was the first very important step
in my career.”
Shannon made the most of the broad range of choices,
mixing up her science courses with two electives in
Australian Films and Popular Culture.
A Masters in Audiology Studies was the essential
qualification to allow Shannon to progress to a career
in the field.
Shannon secured a graduate position with Neurosensory
in Toowoomba prior to completing her Master’s degree.
In this 12 month graduate internship she was closely
supervised by a Senior Audiologist.
During that time she was trained in a variety of diagnostic
tests and rehabilitation options for patients.
“These included vestibular assessments, auditory brainstem
response tests on newborns and learning about the latest in
hearing aid technology,” she said.
Shannon now works as a Clinical Audiologist with
Neurosensory and provides a range of hearing health care
to newborns, children and adult patients.
She also supervises a graduate audiologist, passing on her
experience to someone who is just starting out in the field.
29
Shannon Culley
Clinical Audiologist
Neurosensory
Medici Medical Centre
UQ Qualifications
Master of Audiology Studies 2010
Bachelor of Science
(Biomedical Science) 2008
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $60 000
Maximum $100 000+
Average $80 000

Kirsten’s expertise and passion
bring big rewards.
If you envisage a job that is ‘larger than life’, then working
within the global resources industry may be just the career
path for you.
UQ Science graduate Kirsten Aitken works for BHP Billiton
Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Australia’s pre-eminent supplier of
premium metallurgical coal to the global steel industry.
BMA owns and manages seven mine sites in Central
Queensland and a major coal loading port at Hay Point near
Mackay.
As a Senior Geologist at BMA’s Blackwater Mine, one of
the world’s largest open cut coal operations, Kirsten works
to optimise the efficiency of metallurgical and thermal coal
recovery.
“Blackwater Mine has a production capacity of around 14
million tonnes per annum, which is exported to customers
around the world,” she said.
“BMA geologists are responsible for conducting geological,
geochemical and geophysical field surveys, collecting
samples, and running drilling programs to collect data for
research or application.”
“We then use the latest computer software to estimate
probable resource locations.”
Kirsten believes her qualification from UQ gave her an
excellent foundation across the sciences, but also taught her
technical and report writing skills, which are highly valued by
employers.
After attending a Careers Fair at UQ in her final year of study,
Kirsten applied to the BHP Billiton Graduate Program.
“I was offered a place in the program six months prior to my
graduation and when I commenced the two year graduate
program, I worked at two of BMA’s operations, Peak Downs
Mine and Norwich Park Mine,” she said.
“After completing the graduate program I was offered a full-
time position at Blackwater Mine.”
Kirsten’s passion for her work was rewarded quickly by her
employer and in November 2011, she was promoted to the
role of Senior Geologist.
In her spare time, Kirsten relishes the opportunity to mentor
other passionate graduates and vacation students.
“I enjoy the ability to grow and develop people who are keen
to learn, and helping people understand geology is one of the
most exciting parts of my role,” she said.
Resources
industry
provides
career boom
Kirsten Aitken
Senior Geologist
Blackwater Mine
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Science (Geology and
Geographic Information Science) 2008
SALARY RANGE*
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $250 000
Average $140 000
*source MyCareer
Salary Centre
30

Building a
career from
the ground up
The challenges of creating the
world’s best communities inspires
Jaryd to excel.
Flying in a helicopter above a newly completed project gives
Jaryd Collins the ultimate job satisfaction.
Since completing a Bachelor of Regional Town Planning at
UQ, he has successfully gained roles with some of Australia’s
largest property and infrastructure companies. Now, as a
Development Manager at Cedar Wood Properties, Jaryd is
responsible for the design and delivery of residential land
and housing at Williams Landing, a landmark master planned
community in Melbourne’s west.
“What I love most about my job is that I can influence how
future communities will live and interact,” he said.
“It is incredibly important to get this right because a home is
the biggest purchase and largest decision most people will
ever make.”
Prior to this role, Jaryd worked on the iconic Lend Lease
project ‘Springfield Lakes‘, part of Australia’s largest master
planned community, situated between Brisbane and Ipswich.
“Ultimately, Greater Springfield’s population is set to be
105,000 people, residing in 30,000 homes,” he said.
“In 2011, Greater Springfield was named the World’s Best
Master Planned Community. To play a part in shaping the
world’s best master planned community was an amazing
experience.”
While working on this project, Jaryd liaised with numerous
consultants, local governments, investment partners and
internal staff to ensure efficient and timely design, approval,
construction and registration of residential subdivision
and non-residential lots. Town planning, development and
construction is an industry influenced by global economic
trends, but Jaryd believes that as a UQ graduate he is well
placed to respond to any downturns in employment.
“During a difficult market a few years ago, my UQ network
proved invaluable,” he said.
“Having such a great network of highly respected industry
professionals from my classes at UQ has ensured that I can
perform at my best through the good and the bad.”
Jaryd encourages prospective students to be bold and to chase
after interests that may be a little out of their comfort zone.
“Remember, baby steps will only ever get you short distances.
Making mistakes is OK, just don’t make the same mistake
twice,” he said.
Jaryd Collins
Development Manager
Cedar Woods Properties
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Regional and
Town Planning 2006
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $80 000
Maximum $120 000
Average $100 000
31

Annastasia’s vision is to manage
invasive weeds for smallholder
farmers in Papua New Guinea.
After two years of postgraduate study in Australia, Annastasia
Kawi returned home to Papua New Guinea to lead a large
scientific research project combating invasive weeds.
Annastasia received a fellowship from the Australian Centre
for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) which
allowed her to study a Graduate Diploma and Master in Plant
Protection at The University of Queensland.
These fellowships support students to gain knowledge and
research skills in agriculture so they can make a positive
difference in agricultural production in their home countries.
Currently, as the in-country Project Leader for an ACIAR-
funded project on invasive weeds with the National Agricultural
Research Institute (NARI ) in Papua New Guinea, Annastasia’s
focus is on the biological control of the invasive weed Mikania
micrantha which causes yield losses to crops and trees.
“I was promoted to the position of in-country Project Leader
upon my return to Papua New Guinea and I enjoy my
research because it will benefit rural farming communities
and improve their livelihood,” she said.
“My study at UQ with experienced lecturers and supervisors
was the opportunity of a lifetime, enabling me to graduate
with a Dean’s Commendation which was very memorable.”
Annastasia studied at the UQ Gatton campus and lived
in Gatton where she and her family became part of the
community.
“Moving here with my three young children was a wonderful
experience and one they will always remember,” she said.
“As a member of the Gatton International Student Association
(GISA) I gained the confidence to communicate, discuss and
share ideas on academic issues with other students.”
In addition to her experiences in Australia, Annastasia’s
science career has taken her on a number of overseas
adventures.
“I feel privileged to have travelled the world and presented
papers at international symposiums and conferences in
Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Hawaii, Fiji and Vanuatu,”
she said.
Annastasia’s combination of expertise and experience has
provided a solid foundation as she pursues her research
goals to help rural communities.
WIPING OUT
WEEDS SECURES
ECONOMIC FUTURE
32
Annastasia Kawi
Senior Scientist, Crop Protection
National Agricultural Research
Institute (NARI), Papua New Guinea
UQ Qualifications
Master of Plant Protection 2008
Graduate Diploma in
Plant Protection 2007
SALARY RANGE
Minimum 29 035 PGK
Maximum 35 487 PGK
(Papua New Guinea Kina)
32

Research skills foster
next generation of
Malaysian scientists
Fazren brought his research skills
back to Malaysia to help develop
the country’s future scientists.
UQ Bachelor of Biotechnology graduate, Fazren Azmi,
returned to Malaysia to share his passion for research with
a new generation of Malaysian scientists.
Fazren majored in Drug Design and Development and
completed an Honours project under the supervision of UQ’s
Professor Istvan Toth, a world renowned drug delivery expert.
Within a month of returning to Malaysia, Fazren was offered a
job as a Product Specialist in a pharmaceutical company.
Six months later he was offered a Research Fellow and
Lecturer position at the National University of Malaysia.
“Being a graduate from such a prestigious university as
UQ was an advantage in securing an interview with my
employer,” he said.
“UQ is recognised as one of the top universities for medical
research. Expertise in certain areas of medical research is
greatly needed in Malaysia.”
The Bachelor of Biotechnology program provided a good
grounding in basic science and pharmacology, as well as
providing Fazren with laboratory experience and skills in
commercialisation.
His Honours project added to his employability and gave
him the edge when applying for jobs.
While employed by the Faculty of Pharmacy at the National
University of Malaysia, Fazren researched drug design and
development, taught students and participated in outreach
activities.
Fazren wants to continue to shape the minds of future
generations of scientists and is now taking study leave to
pursue a PhD qualification.
A doctoral degree will assist his promotion to a Senior
Lecturer position, as well as enabling him to develop
innovative new research projects and supervise students at
undergraduate and postgraduate level.
“Being a researcher and lecturer allows me to pursue my
interests in science, to learn something new, to hone my
problem-solving skills and to challenge myself in new ways,”
he said.
“Sharing my knowledge for the benefit of others is what I love
most about my job.”
Fazren Azmi
Lecturer and Research Fellow
Faculty of Pharmacy
National University of Malaysia (UKM)
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Biotechnology
(Drug Design and Development)
with Honours 2011
SALARY RANGE
Minimum 3500 MYR
Maximum 30 000 MYR
Average 10 000 MYR
(Malaysian Ringgit)
33

A passion for the environment took
Sophie from observer to manager.
Sophie Clay has taken her passion for marine conservation to
a new level with a Master of Environmental Management at UQ.
She previously completed a Business Management degree at
the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom
before moving to Thailand to work in the SCUBA diving industry.
Then, after several years working for a non-Government
organisation (NGO) in food security and livestock health in the
Horn of Africa, she returned to university to pursue a career in
Environmental Management.
“Completing a Master of Environmental Management at UQ
has enabled me to direct my passion for the oceans and
conservation into a long term career,” she said.
“A large part of my decision to study at UQ was based on UQ’s
excellent reputation in the field of environmental studies.”
“Being so close to the extraordinary marine environments off
the Queensland coast was also a factor!”
With her lecturers holding roles in global organisations,
Sophie found their ability to draw links between theoretical
concepts and real situations invaluable in putting what she
learnt into context.
She gained further experience in her field by volunteering to
assist at the IUCN Oceania Regional Conservation Forum and
secured an internship with The Nature Conservancy, one of
the leading global conservation NGOs.
After completing her Masters degree, Sophie moved to
Koh Rong Island, Cambodia, for her current role as Project
Manager for the Cambodia Coral Reef Conservation Project.
She works with the Coral Cay Conservation Head Office in
the UK, staff in Cambodia, the Fisheries Administration of the
Royal Government of Cambodia, and other project partners
to develop and implement Cambodia’s first effectively
managed Marine Protected Area around Koh Rong Island.
Sophie hosts workshops and training events, develops
new partnerships, oversees the scientific survey monitoring
program, writes project updates and works with the local
community to develop alternative livelihood programs for
those who used to fish in the area.
“My studies at UQ gave me a strong background in
environmental management which is essential to my role,”
she said.
“Establishing Marine Protected Areas informed by scientific
data is a way to meet environmental challenges and help to
create a more sustainable future for all.”
Conserving
reefs a long
term career
Sophie Clay
Project Manager
Coral Cay Conservation, Cambodia
UQ Qualifications
Master of Environmental Management
(Natural Resource Management) 2012
SALARY RANGE
Minimum 8,000 GBP
(Great British Pounds)
34

Realising
a dream
Waking up in paradise each morning
is a dream come true for this
veterinarian.
In a small rural vet practice in the beautiful location of Golden
Bay, New Zealand, Guy Weerasinghe is part of a team
ensuring the wellbeing of all animals, both great and small.
Each day he is presented with a variety of cases, making no
two working days ever the same.
“In one day I can treat a lame cow, examine a sick guinea
pig and stitch up a wounded dog that has been in a fight,”
he said.
“The rural aspect of my job also requires me to look after
the welfare, health and production of dairy cattle on farms in
Golden Bay.”
“This can be from basic ambulatory call outs to consultancy
roles; for example, helping farmers manage their milk
production by reducing the rate of mastitis in their herd.”
In addition, Guy is also responsible for managing the health
and welfare of pets in Golden Bay, performing routine
surgeries, treatments and providing general advice.
He believes that his Bachelor of Veterinary Science from
UQ gave him the best possible advantage to succeed as a
young veterinarian.
“I loved the veterinary science program and my employer also
appreciates that I still maintain ties with the university,” he said.
“Our training required us to gain practical experience in all
aspects of animal health and I also travelled around Australia
to work on some highly memorable projects.”
“I particularly enjoyed the sense of collegiality amongst not
only students, but the staff as well.”
During his five years program Guy made the most of every
extracurricular activity and was the Valedictorian of the
graduating class of 2011.
As a student, he attended multiple conferences, including
the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary
Leadership Experience (AVMA VLE) in Post Falls, Idaho.
“I believe that this support during and after university is the
key towards having a fulfilling career in veterinary science,”
he said.
Guyan
Weerasinghe
Veterinarian
Rural Service Centre
Golden Bay, New Zealand
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Veterinary Science 2011
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $40 000
Maximum $100 000
Average
(dependant on
experience)
35

A ten day study tour was enough
inspiration for a five year stay in
the jungle.
In the third year of her Bachelor of Applied Science program,
Rachael Nasplezes travelled to South Africa for a ten day
study course at the Southern African Wildlife College.
This life-altering experience inspired her to return a few
months later when she graduated to work on social ecology
and conservation projects for a further five years.
During this time, Rachael worked with rural communities
bordering one of Africa’s largest and most popular national
parks, the Kruger National Park.
“I helped communities to benefit from the Park and the large
tourist trade generated by developing eco business options,”
she said.
“I also undertook fieldwork with the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) on a buffalo tuberculosis project and was a research
assistant on a project to reintroduce chimpanzees to
Fisilagpo Island, Cote d’Ivoire.”
“Having a connection with UQ was a critical factor in securing
work in South Africa.”
Since her return to Australia, Rachael has held various
conservation roles with local councils, regional bodies and
National NGO WetlandCare Australia.
She is now a Senior Community Engagement Officer for
Healthy Waterways, a not-for-profit organisation based in
Brisbane.
In this role she communicates and educates communities
on the science behind waterway health in South-East
Queensland.
“We work collaboratively with communities, government,
industry, researchers and businesses to address threatening
processes that can affect waterway health,” she said.
“Depending on the action required, we can provide formal
education resources and implement behaviour change
campaigns to encourage positive action and improve our
waterways.”
Rachael enjoys her work as it integrates many social,
economic and environmental factors. To further extend
her knowledge she is currently completing a Graduate
Diploma in Environmental Management at UQ.
Life on the
wild side
36
Rachael
Nasplezes
Senior Community
Engagement Officer
Healthy Waterways
UQ Qualifications
(Animal Studies) 2004
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $63 000
Maximum $75 000
Average $69 000
36

Science degree
a ticket to travel
Meggie finds her science skills are
transportable and INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNISED.
A UQ Science degree has been a ticket to travel for
Dutch-Australian Meggie Voogt, who now lives and works
in Germany.
Meggie completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring
in Biomedical Science, and completed Honours in
Neuroscience at UQ.
“My Bachelor’s degree had a good combination of theory
and practical classes,” she said.
“The program offered a broad range of subjects which
allowed me to follow my interests while covering the
essentials.”
“My Honours program was an intense but rewarding year.
It was a lot more specialised and provided a good insight
into the research world.”
After completing Honours, Meggie spent ten months
travelling around Europe, undertaking volunteer work in
France, Italy and Greece.
When she returned to Australia, she worked as a Research
Assistant at the Queensland Brain Institute in the same lab
where she completed her Honours degree.
Within three months of returning to Australia Meggie was
ready for further adventure and made a big move to Frankfurt,
Germany.
“The University of Queensland is a respected university
world-wide and my degree was valued when looking for
work overseas.”
Meggie’s current job involves preparing, executing and
documenting the production of clinical medical products
in accordance with current good manufacturing practices,
operating machines to manufacture medications, taking
samples to verify aseptic processing and carrying out In-
Process Controls.
She enjoys the mix of office and practical work and being
immersed in a foreign culture.
“Speaking German every day certainly makes it a challenge!
Having a science background has provided me with flexible
employment options, whether in research or industry based
employment.”
“I gained a lot of experience in my UQ Science degree which
has allowed me to follow my career interests in Australia and
overseas.”
37
Meggie Voogt
Laboratory Technician
Good Manufacturing Practice
Employed through PHAST GmbH,
Germany
UQ Qualifications
Honours (Neuroscience) 2009
Bachelor of Science
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $34 000
Maximum $83 000
37

Julia enjoys the challenge of
inspiring her students in their
study of science.
A dual degree in Science and Secondary Education gave
Julia Bruerton the experience and skills to teach Physics and
Mathematics at one of Brisbane’s most prestigious private
schools.
Julia completed a major in Physics and a minor in
Mathematics alongside her studies in Education.
“Completing a dual degree gave me the opportunity to
experience two very different forms of higher learning,” she
said.
“I really enjoyed the contrast of the experimental and
analytical focus I experienced in my Physics and
Maths courses with the focus on societal and cultural
understanding I gained in my Education courses.”
Shortly after graduating Julia found a job as a Physics and
Maths Teacher at Kenmore State High School.
She spent a year in that role before moving to Cavendish
Road State High School to teach Maths.
Julia’s UQ qualifications were an advantage when applying
for her current role as a Physics and Maths teacher at
Brisbane Grammar School, and her UQ colleagues provided
advice and references which supported Julia’s application.
“My UQ degree provided me with a solid grounding in my
curriculum areas and pre-service placements at well-
respected schools,” she said.
“It also helped me to form an excellent network that has
helped me in my career.”
Julia’s current role involves preparing and delivering lessons,
managing assessment and practical work, pastoral care of
students and extra-curricular activities such as taking a team
of year 10 students to Singapore to compete in the Junior
Youth Physics Tournament.
One of the most interesting experiences she has had was
working on the new National Curriculum.
“I was involved in writing units of work and assessments, as
well as training primary teachers in science to prepare them
for the transition into teaching year seven students as part of
a high school syllabus,” she said.
“The best part of my job is interacting with all kinds of people
every day and being constantly challenged by inspiring
young people.”
Teaching
combines
interest in
science & people
Julia Bruerton
Senior Physics and Mathematics Teacher
Brisbane Grammar School
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Science
(Physics and Mathematics) 2010
Bachelor of Secondary Education 2010
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $50 000
Maximum $80 000
Average $67 563
38

Research with
future world
impact
Paul’s expertise in bioinformatics
and genomics is improving
commercial crops.
Paul Berkman is a young scientist working on a very large
global puzzle.
He is discovering how sugarcane can be improved for both
food and fuel consumption and to potentially create a more
sustainable future for millions of people across the world.
It’s a very complex puzzle, as sugarcane is renowned for
having a challenging DNA code that is more than three times
the size of that of the human genome.
“While most species have only two copies of their genome,
sugarcane has between eight and twelve copies making it
particularly tricky to investigate,” he said.
“I use the problem solving skills I learnt at university to
develop new ways of thinking about sugarcane genetics
and genomics.”
One of the highlights of Paul’s career was travelling to Europe
in September 2012 to present his current research to an
international conference.
“The most exciting part about this trip was having my own
research ideas affirmed by world-renowned scientists whom I
had never met,” he said.
“This proved to me that I am working right at the forefront of
scientific discovery in my field.”
As a PhD student, Paul also presented his research along
with his supervisor at a CSIRO seminar series, which turned
out to be a highly rewarding experience.
“When I applied for an advertised position with CSIRO, my
work was already familiar to them,” he said.
“I succeeded in gaining my current position due to the strong
overlap between my studies and the requirements of the role.”
Paul still maintains regular contact with the network of friends
and connections he established at UQ and they are a source
of personal and professional support as he continues to solve
this important genomic puzzle.
Paul Berkman
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sugarcane Genome Bioinformatics
CSIRO Plant Industry
UQ Qualifications
Graduate Certificate in Research
Commercialisation 2012
PhD (Plant Genome Bioinformatics) 2012
Bachelor of Science (Genetics) 2005
SALARY
Minimum $75 825
Maximum $85 785
Average $80 805
39

Anneline is revealing the mysteries
behind what we eat.
Whether you like your carrots black or orange, baby or full-
sized, food scientist Anneline Padayachee has revealed how
fruit and vegetable fibre is more than just a bowel scourer
using this humble vegetable.
While undertaking a PhD in Nutritional Food Science, Anneline
used black carrots to discover that the fibrous makeup of
fruits and vegetables plays an important role in the release,
trafficking and function of antioxidants, and may be involved in
protecting the colon from health conditions including cancer.
For her world first discoveries in human nutrition and fruit
and vegetable-antioxidant science, she was named overall
best performer and winner of the national “Fresh Science”
competition for early career researchers in 2012.
“My discovery was that fibre acts as an antioxidant trafficker
by safely transporting antioxidant nutrients through the
stomach and small intestine to the colon where they may be
involved in improving gut health and protecting against health
conditions such as colon cancer,” she said.
Anneline attributes her success to her knowledgeable PhD
supervisors, undergraduate lecturers and the practical
components of her degree as well as the opportunity to
collaborate with leading research scientists during her
PhD studies. Her first job offer came within two weeks of
graduating from her program.
“Once potential employers heard that I had completed my
studies at UQ, they were very impressed,” she said.
UQ has a reputation for being world class and really preparing
students well for practical roles.”
“My undergraduate course coordinator is still a valuable
mentor to me and is highly respected in the industry.
My PhD advisors are now my collaborators.”
Before completing her PhD in 2012, she had roles in Quality
Assurance and as a Research and Development Technologist
in the food industry.
Now, as a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne,
Anneline will continue her research on the role of fruit and
vegetable fibre and polyphenols on nutrient absorption and
cardiovascular disease.
“Whilst my research has found that fibre can transport
Polyphenols to the colon where they may be involved in health
mechanisms, this next stage of research will be focusing on
understanding and defining what these mechanisms are and
how we can apply it to our food supply and dietary intake in
Australia,” she said.
Anneline’s best piece of advice for science students is to
remain curious, and to never stop seeking the answers to
your most imaginative questions.
Careers in
food science a
healthy choice
Anneline
Padayachee
Research Fellow
The University of Melbourne
UQ Qualifications
PhD (Nutritional Food Science) 2012
Honours (Food Science and Nutrition) 2004
(Food Science and Nutrition) 2003
SALARY
Minimum $65 000
Maximum $100 000+
Average $85 000
40

Environmental
focus for
global career
Assisting in the management of
major projects brings career
satisfaction for Jasmin.
Jasmin Lightbody is using her UQ qualifications to encourage
environmentally sustainable, eco-friendly development.
By studying a Bachelor of Environmental Management
majoring in Sustainable Devlopment, she was well prepared
for a diverse career with an environmental focus.
“The interdisciplinary nature of the degree gave me the
foundation to explore a couple of potential career paths
before deciding ecology was the field for me,” she said.
“The program allowed me to gain skills in a range of areas
that have proved invaluable to my current role, such as
Geographic Information Systems and Environmental
Regulatory Frameworks which I now use regularly.”
Jasmin also enjoyed the flexibility of the program and the
opportunities it afforded.
“I was able to spend a semester studying abroad at the
University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and a semester
studying by correspondence from a beautiful bay-side town
in Tasmania,” she said.
“I had opportunities to go on field trips, including a two week
field trip to Far North Queensland, and I was able to complete
an industry placement which helped me secure a rewarding
graduate position.”
Jasmin’s first job was with the Urban Development Institute
of Australia (UDIA) as the part-time coordinator of their
EnviroDevelopment program.
She started working with UDIA in her final semester of
study and then transitioned to a full time role after she had
completed her exams.
After twelve months with UDIA, Jasmin secured her current
position as an Ecologist for Environmental Resources
Management (ERM), a global environmental consultancy.
As a consultant, her role is varied and provides opportunities
to travel throughout Australia and internationally.
“Since joining ERM I have helped prepare a rehabilitation
management plan for a gas pipeline in Queensland;
undertaken baseline ecological assessments and threatened
species searches for proposed wind farms; and conducted
field surveys to investigate threats to natural heritage values of
Commonwealth Heritage Listed properties.”
Jasmin is currently based in Jakarta, assisting in the
preparation of environmental management plans for a major
energy development in Indonesia.
Jasmin Lightbody
Ecologist
Environmental Resources Management
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Environmental Management
(Sustainable Development)
with Honours 2011
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $55 000
Maximum $65 000
41

Rehabilitation of injured animals
gives Bonny a rewarding career.
Rehabilitating injured Australian wildlife is a labour of love for
Bonny Cumming. It is also her job as a Wildlife Veterinarian at
the RSPCA QLD Wildlife Hospital.
Bonny studied a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with
Honours at UQ.
“It was a very hands-on program with an emphasis on
learning practical skills,” she said.
“It was also a very social program! There was good rapport
between the staff and students.”
While studying, Bonny worked as a Veterinary Nurse at
Australia Zoo, gaining valuable experience for her current role.
She was offered her first job as a Veterinarian at the
Kangaroo Island Vet Clinic before she graduated.
It was a mixed practice and the only vet clinic on the island,
so she worked with a wide variety of cases from dogs and
cats, to horses, sheep and wildlife.
Bonny returned to university to study a Master of Veterinary
Conservation Medicine and spent three months on an
Antarctic expedition as part of her studies.
She was the veterinarian on a project to capture and track
elephant seals, responsible for sedating the seals while the
team attached state-of-the-art satellite trackers to monitor a
suite of biological data.
“The Antarctic research trip was an incredible opportunity for
which I am so very grateful,” she said,
“The aim was to use data collected from the seals’ trackers
to monitor the effects of climate change on the fragile
Antarctic environment.”
Bonny now works with RSPCA Queensland, assessing and
treating native wildlife species which are found injured, ill or
orphaned.
She enjoys the variety of her work through the different
species and needs of the animals she treats, and feels
a sense of pride with every animal that’s successfully
rehabilitated and released.
“The best thing about my job is seeing a rehabilitated
animal being able to be released back into the wild, thereby
contributing to the conservation of our incredible native
wildlife,” she said.
Treating
wounded wildlife
provides a
dream role
Bonny Cumming
Wildlife Veterinarian
RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Veterinary Science
with Honours 2008
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $45 000
Maximum $100 000
Average $70 000
Photo by Chris McCormack
at News Queensland.
42

A colourful
career choice
Devi’s interest in colourful lizards
has led to an international career.
A combined Science/Arts degree at UQ introduced
Devi Stuart-Fox to a breadth of ideas and disciplines which
has led her to a successful career in Zoology research. Devi
has been the recipient of a L’Oreal-UNESCO International
Fellowship and has just received another L’Oréal-UNESCO
International Special Fellowship, awarded in memory of
famous female scientist, Marie Curie.
“I had no firm ideas about my career path when I left school,”
she said.
“My Science and Arts degrees allowed me to discover what
truly interested me. Both degrees encouraged me to think
critically and develop important research skills which would
have been useful in any field.”
Devi majored in Philosophy, Anthropology and Zoology,
choosing to pursue Zoology in her Honours degree and then
with a PhD. After completing her PhD, Devi spent four years
working in South Africa, researching her favourite animal: the
lizard. She studied colour change in chameleons and found
that this ability evolved due to social and territorial displays,
not as camouflage.
Devi then returned to Australia to take up an ARC Australian
Research Fellowship and Lecturer position in the Zoology
Department at the University of Melbourne. She is now a
Senior Lecturer and leads an active research group which
investigates animal colour patterns and colour change.
“I’m just really fascinated by animals with fabulous colours
and ornaments!” she said.
“Coloration is so important for how animals survive,
communicate, adapt, and evolve - it’s the phenomenon which
creates diversity - that’s why it is so interesting to biologists
like me.
“My career in science has given me opportunities to travel and
experience places in a way that is very different to how a tourist
might experience them – though I enjoy being a tourist too!
“Through my UQ degrees and subsequent career I have
participated in scientific expeditions in Borneo, Papua
New Guinea and Madagascar, and have done field work
in countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Malaysia and
Portugal. Having the opportunity to experience this diversity
of environments – both natural and cultural – is a bonus of
my career.”
Devi Stuart-Fox
Senior Lecturer and ARC Australian
Research Fellow
University of Melbourne
UQ Qualifications
PHD (ZOOLOGY) 2003
HONOURS (ZOOLOGY) 1998
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (ZOOLOGY) 1996
BACHELOR OF ARTS
(PHILOSOPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY) 1996
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $106 980
Maximum $123 353
Photo by SDP Media.
43

Tia is improving environmental
outcomes for an international
mining company.
With a passion for science and the great outdoors, Tia
Northfield is an Environmental Advisor helping to manage
environmental impacts at Rio Tinto’s Alumina Refinery in
Gladstone, Central Queensland.
While completing the Bachelor of Environmental Science at
UQ, Tia realised that positive environmental outcomes could
be achieved by working in industry.
“At Rio Tinto, I work with a range of professions to look for
innovative ways to maximise production whilst maintaining
and improving our environmental objectives,” she said.
Tia also enjoys the hands-on experience that comes with her
role and she doesn’t spend too much time in the office.
Her daily tasks include water sampling and analysis, air
quality monitoring, wildlife management, contaminated land
management and obtaining environmental approvals.
She says the Bachelor of Environmental Science provided
a strong foundation for her transition into the workforce.
“My degree equipped me with skills and knowledge I use
every day,” she said.
“It gave me insight into the many facets of environmental
science and I was also able to tailor my degree to include
other areas of interest such as ecology, environmental law
and soil science.”
An interest in soil science led her to undertake an Honours
research project focusing on contaminated land management,
the findings of which were published in a scientific journal.
“My Honours year at UQ was a highlight, I really enjoyed the
opportunity to study my topic area in-depth and work with
experts in the field,” she said.
“Both the technical and theoretical aspects of my honours
research have definitely assisted me in my current role.”
AN OUTDOOR
OFFICE IS
NEVER DULL
Tia Northfield
Environmental Advisor
Rio Tinto
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Environmental Science
(Ecology) with Honours 2009
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $60 000
Maximum $150 000
Average $80 000
44

Developing
a successful
career in R&D
Elise works on innovative R&D
projects for a range of industries.
Elise Webb enjoys the variety and challenges her role as a
Research and Development Tax Incentives Consultant at
KPMG provides.
It’s also what drew her to study a Bachelor of Science at UQ.
“I particularly enjoyed the range of subjects offered within
the Biomedical Science major of the Bachelor of Science,”
she said.
“I was able to study neuroscience, biology, genetics and
anatomy. It gave me the chance to broaden my knowledge
base and develop skills from different disciplines which have
helped with my chosen specialisation.”
Elise completed a Bachelor of Science dual degree with a
Bachelor of Business Management and was offered a job
during her final semester of study.
“My UQ qualifications were recognised by all the potential
employers I interviewed with in Queensland, Australia and
the Asia-Pacific,” she said.
“Additionally, the core problem solving and analysis skills
that I acquired by studying science are highly valued in all
industries, and gave me a definite advantage.”
In her current role, Elise works with local, national and
multinational clients who are conducting Australia’s most
innovative Research & Development (R&D) projects.
“My clients range from huge IT firms, engineering and mining
firms, to plant cloning companies,” she said.
“My job means I am exposed to the technologies and
developments at the forefront of almost every industry one
could imagine. Each day is different, and the challenges that
arise are always interesting.”
She interviews clients about their projects, reviews their
eligibility for research and development tax incentives,
provides advice about qualifying for the incentive and assists
with project management.
“Many of the clients I deal with are in technical roles and my
UQ Science degree enables me to understand, interpret
and present this information in a form which people without
scientific training can understand,” she said.
Elise Webb
Research and Development Tax
Incentives Consultant
KPMG
UQ Qualifications
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Business Management
(Marketing) 2011
SALARY RANGE
Minimum $50 000
(Graduate consultant)
Average $120 000
(Management level)
45

Combining an interest in business
and biotechnology puts Ahilya on
a career trajectory across many
countries.
Ahilya Mathew has travelled the world and lived in four
countries while pursuing her studies and working in the field
of biotechnology.
She completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at the
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, majoring in Biotechnology,
and undertook a one year Industrial Placement with Novartis
Pharma AG in Switzerland, studying mouse models of
Alzheimer’s disease.
She then moved to Australia to complete a Master of
Biotechnology at The University of Queensland.
“I chose to study at UQ because it is ranked in the top 50
universities world-wide for its strength in biosciences research
and commercialisation,” she said.
“My Master’s program gave me the chance to work in several
labs, on research projects into cutting-edge biotechnology.”
“As well as gaining practical lab skills, I completed business
courses which gave me a sound understanding of business
planning and management, product development, intellectual
property and regulatory affairs.”
Immediately after graduating, Ahilya was offered a position as
a Vacation Research Scholar at the Queensland Brain Institute.
She then relocated to India to work as a researcher at
Aurigene Discovery Technology.
Ahilya returned to Australia to study further at UQ and
completed a Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation
and a Master of Technology and Innovation Management.
“I found the business and commercialisation courses in my
Master of Biotechnology so interesting that I wanted to study
this area further,” she said.
“The skills I gained in strategic management, technology
and innovation strategy, product development and
entrepreneurship have equipped me for upper management
positions in a biotechnology company or research
commercialisation organisation.”
After spending five months as an intern at a corporate
consultancy, Ahilya is now intending to take her education one
step further by completing a PhD at UQ.
Biotech and
business a
successful
combination
Ahilya Mathew
Applying for PhD candidature (UQ)
UQ Qualifications
Master of Technology and
Innovation Management 2011
Graduate Certificate in Research
Commercialisation 2010
Master of Biotechnology 2005
SALARY RANGE
PhD Scholarships available –
please check with UQ
for details
46

Finger on
the pulse
Michael provides INNOVATIVE, medical
therapies on a global scale.
Working across international borders is one of the aspects
of his job that Michael Bodner enjoys as the Divisional Vice
President, Endovascular Global Market Development, of the
global health care company Abbott Vascular.
His broad range of responsibilities spans the global strategy,
portfolio management, therapy and market development for
Abbott Vascular’s Endovascular business.
With a strong interest in science and business, Michael chose
to combine the two with a Doctorate in Biotechnology at UQ.
“An advanced degree in Science is well respected by both
internal and external stakeholders – particularly working
within the medical device industry and the program provided
me with a good biotechnology, biology and business skills
foundation,” he said.
Michael enjoyed the close interaction with his professors and
other students during the degree and still benefits from the
knowledge of how to integrate business and science offered
by the program.
“This was the only program that I was aware of that looked
not just at business skills or application of science but on how
to commercialize biotechnology.“
Michael took his first steps into the Biotechnology industry by
obtaining an internship while still at university.
“Program coordinator, Professor Ross Barnard, helped me
to find an internship with PanBio, a producer of point-of-care
diagnostic test kits for infectious diseases such as West Nile
virus and Dengue Fever.”
Since leaving university Michael has had a number of roles in
sales and marketing with great mentors along the way.
One of the highlights of his career so far has been the
launch of Abbott’s innovative ABSORB Scaffold across
Southeast Asia.
“This is the world’s first commercially available bioresorbable
vascular scaffold – it does the same job as a drug eluting
stent but disappears after its job is done,” he said.
After more than 10 years in the industry, Michael has never
lost his enthusiasm for mixing science and business to
introduce new medical therapies for better patient outcomes.
Michael Bodner
Divisional Vice President
Endovascular Global Market
Development
Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara,
California
UQ Qualifications
Doctor of Biotechnology 2003
SALARY RANGE
Salaries are negotiated by
contract and may vary
depending on location and
size of organisation
47

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