The School of Biomedical Sciences' 2022 Postgraduate Symposium provided an opportunity for postgraduate students to present their research and celebrate their progress.
The event featured a 10-minute speech competition, three-minute speech competition, poster competition and two keynote speakers.
Professor Miguel Quiñones-Mateu, the School's Associate Dean of Research and organiser of the event, is grateful to everyone who “contributed to bringing the symposium into reality.”
“The two speech competitions involved postgraduate students, from honours through to PhD's, presenting their research in a dynamic way for a period of three or 10 minutes,” Professor Quiñones-Mateu says.
Professor Miguel Quiñones-Mateu, the School's Associate Dean of Research and organiser of the event.
“This gives them a platform for the valuable work they are doing to be shared and recognised by both senior academics and fellow postgraduate students.
“With a total of 28 students presenting on the day and 49 submitting posters, the Symposium was a fantastic day of learning and fun.”
The 10-minute speech competition winners:
- First place – Celine Camon (Department of Anatomy)
- Second place – Valeria Mereacre (Department of Physiology)
- Third place – Kate Harding (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
The three-minute speech competition winners:
- First place – Rory McGregor (Department of Physiology)
- Second place – Geena McKenzie-Goldsmith (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
- Third place – Joan Chan (Department of Physiology)
The poster competition winners:
- First place - Berivan Temiz (Department of Anatomy)
- Second place - Sofia Moreira (Department of Biochemistry)
- Third place – Rebecca Grimwood (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Celine Camon (left) and Berivan Temiz (right).
Celine Camon was elated to win the 10-minute speech competition on her PhD research into neuronal estrogen signalling in metabolic health and ageing.
“Being in the second year of my PhD, I was so glad to have the opportunity to share what I have spent my time working on,” Miss Camon says.
“Winning the competition was the absolute cherry on top of the cake and great motivation for me to continue my research journey forward. I am especially grateful to my supervisors Dr Mike Garratt and Professor Rebecca Campbell for their support both this far and looking ahead.”
The events keynote speakers were Associate Professor Khoon Lim, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Christchurch, and Dr Sean Coffey, Department of Medicine.
Associate Professor Lim spoke about the collaborative approach his research took on building tissues as well as sharing some personal advice with attendees.
“I would encourage young researchers to build a solid support network because this will help you greatly when you face issues,” Dr Lim says.
“Having different support people in varied areas is most helpful, especially if they can be truly honest with you and offer meaningful advice.
“Most importantly, never forget to enjoy science! You need to get value out of completing your pathway and the journey it takes to get to where you want to go.”
Acting Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences, Professor Neil Gemmell, attended in his former role as Dean of the School of Biomedical Sciences.
Acting Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences, Professor Neil Gemmell.
He acknowledges that it has not been an easy time for students and so it was truly special to have everyone come together.
“Traditional wānanga (universities) have the view that people come together to share their knowledge and so my hope is that we would do the same here at this Symposium,” Professor Gemmell says.
“By sharing our knowledge and findings, we test our ideas, receive feedback, and improve and enhance our work. I am so very pleased that everyone embraced this day as an opportunity to give as much as they could, gaining plenty in return.”
Korero by School of Biomedical Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Schutte.