Royal Society of NSW
2023 Student and Early Career Research
Award Presentations 

Dr Jaime Alvarado-Montes, Macquarie
Ms Sasha Bailey, Sydney
Mr Jaydon McKinnon, Wollongong
Dr Jacinta Martin, Newcastle
Dr Abhimanu Pandey, ANU
Dr Shoujin Wang, UTS

Date: Wednesday, 13 March 2023, 6.30 pm AEDT
Venue: Western Sydney University Parramatta South Campus, Old Female Orphan School (Building EZ), Cnr James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road, Rydalmere NSW 2116
Registration: Registration through Membes is required (Link to Follow)
All are welcome

The evening’s program comprises six short talks presented by PhD Research Candidates who have been awarded the Society’s Jak Kelly Award and the Royal Society of NSW Scholarships for 2023 and early career researchers who have been awarded Royal Society of NSW Early Career Citations.  Mr Robyn Williams AM FRSN FAA of the ABC Science Show will chair the presentation of awards and will conduct a discussion with each of the postgraduate students and ECR speakers.   Please follow the links below to read a summary of each presentation and a brief biography of the presenter.  

Dr Jaime Alvarado-Montes (Jak Kelly Award) — Evolution of planetary systems under strong gravitational forces

Ms Sasha Bailey (Scholarship Winner) — Title: TBA

Mr Jaydon McKinnon (Scholarship Winner) — Title: TBA

Dr Jacinta Martin (Early Career Researcher Citation) — Title: TBA

Dr Abhimanu Pandey (Early Career Researcher Citation) — Title: TBA

Dr Shoujin Wang (Early Career Researcher Citation) — Title: TBA

Presentation Summaries and Brief Biographies of the Presenters

Evolution of planetary systems under strong gravitational forces
Dr Jaime Alvarado-Montes
PhD Graduate, Macquarie University

The study of different types of solar systems can help us test the models that explain how planets form and evolve, as well as the interior structure of stars and planets. Considering the discovery of thousands of planets over the last four decades outside our Solar System, in this talk I will explain how gravitational forces affect the evolution of planetary systems and how these bodies release energy to their surroundings. In the most extreme cases, I have found that very strong forces could make planets undergo orbital motion, deforming their physical shape and inevitably leading to their destruction. My research can help us improve our understanding of planetary evolution using all types of solar systems discovered to date.

Jaime Alvarado-Montes is a professional astronomer, originally from Colombia. He is a recent PhD graduate from Macquarie University and is passionate about computing techniques, software skills, writing, and learning about science and its constant evolution. His research interests are in the planetary sciences, with an emphasis on extrasolar planets, moons, rings, asteroids, and comets. Most of his work is about how planetary systems evolve: this study can give us valuable information about their formation and can subsequently help us understand more about the history of our own Solar System. Jaime plans to continue in academia to become a full-time researcher and professor.

Title: to be announced
Sasha Bailey
PhD Candidate, University of Sydney

Talk Summary to follow

Brief Biography to follow 
 

Title: to be announced
Jaydon McKinnon
PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong

In the current pursuit of science, there is an undeniable shift towards molecular imaging techniques approaching a resolution capable of capturing the metabolic intricacies of a single cell. At the forefront of advancing such a movement, Mass Spectrometry Imaging is an analytical technique that can not only provide a snapshot of the spatial distribution of hundreds to thousands of molecules in a single experiment throughout complex biological landscapes but concurrently their identity. The challenging aspect of any molecular imaging technique, like Mass Spectrometry Imaging, is the finite material that is sampled at a spatial resolution required to image a sample the size of a single mammalian cell. During this presentation, Jaydon will take us on a journey through his current research focus and explore an approach that will allow us to peek within the molecular ensembles that drive the complexity of the cell.

Jaydon McKinnon is a second-year as a PhD candidate in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the Molecular Horizons Research Institute, University of Wollongong. His academic journey began with the completion of a Bachelor of Medical Science in 2021, from which he graduated with Distinction and Honours. During his Honour’s year, he conducted research culminating in a thesis focused on mapping the spatial distribution of antioxidants within the ageing human lens. Since embarking on his doctoral studies in 2022, his research trajectory has evolved to centre around advancing mass spectrometry imaging techniques. His goal is to enhance both molecular coverage and spatial resolution, with a specific focus on single-cell imaging and elucidating cellular heterogeneity associated with the onset of cancer. His dedication and contributions to this field were recognised in late 2023 with a Royal Society of New South Wales Bicentennial Post Graduate Scholarship for his ongoing doctoral work.

Title: to be announced
Dr Jacinta Martin
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Newcastle

Talk Summary to follow

Jacinta Martin is a Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Newcastle UoN) in the College of Engineering, Science and Environment and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Infertility and Reproduction Research Program. She works with a multidisciplinary group of researchers using human and animal models to characterise the processes of gamete, fetal, and offspring development and how environmental exposures (e.g. per- and polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) and heat) affect these processes.

After graduating from UoN with a PhD in 2019, Jacinta has established a strong academic record that includes 24 research articles and nearly $1 million in research funding. During her PhD, Jacinta received the “Best HDR Publication Award” in 2016 and 2018 and received several travel grants that allowed to to present her work at major international meetings. Following her PhD, she undertook post-doctoral research at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada from 2019–2021. Dr Martin’s academic career extends beyond her personal research performance into the development of her discipline. She has served the Society for the Study of Reproduction (USA) on the Board of Directors as their trainee representative and has had significant professional roles at McGill University, HMRI, and the University of Newcastle as a facilitator, chair, adjudicator, and committee member.

Title: to be announced
Dr Abhimanu Pandey
Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University

Talk Summary to follow

Brief Biography to follow 
 

Title: to be announced
Dr Shoujin Wang
Lecturer in Data Science, University of Technology Sydney

Talk Summary to follow

Brief Biography to follow 
 

Mr Robyn Williams AM FRSN FAA
Science Journalist, Broadcaster, and Presenter of the ABC RN Science Show

Robyn Williams AM FRSN FAA, British/Australian science journalist and broadcaster, will chair the presentation of awards. Over the decades since he hosted Innovations and Investigations from 1974 — The Science Show on ABC Radio National (RN) in 1975, and created Ockham’s Razor in 1984, he has become one of Australia’s best-recognised science communicators. He brings clarity, judgement, and humour to the complexities of scientific research.