Encouragement award winners September 2025

ATA Scientific would like to thank all those that participated in our recent Encouragement Award promotion.

“May every young scientist remember the possibility that an irritating failure of their apparatus to give consistent results may conceal an important discovery”, (Patrick Blackett English Physicist, Nobel Prize winner 1897-1974).

Our latest competition asked students whether they had ever encountered inconsistent or unexpected results in their experiments and how did this affect their way of thinking?

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 3 WINNERS!

Three entries were selected to receive our award– first prize at $1500 and 2 runners up at $750 each.

Congratulations to Samara Bridge, PhD candidate from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney, working with her supervisor A/Prof Charles Cranfield.

Samara’s research focuses on developing a biosensor that uses lipid membranes to detect phospholipase A2 as a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Samara intends to use the award to attend the Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) Annual Conference.

This award will allow me to communicate the final part of my project at the ASB Annual Conference and refine my work as I move towards completing my thesis. I am very honoured to receive this award, and I aim to continue a career in diagnostics and biophysical research, shared Samara.

See Samaras YouTube video: Meet Our Scientists: Samara’s Journey as a UTS Pharmaceutical Sciences Alum

Saba Altaf in labCongratulations to Saba Altaf, a final-year PhD candidate in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, working under the supervision of Professor John Mattick.

Saba’s research explores the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the brain, focusing on their localisation within neurons and how they interact with proteins to influence neuronal function. She combines RNA biology with neuroscience by performing in vivo lncRNA knockdown experiments in rats, followed by cognitive and behavioural analyses. Using cutting-edge techniques such as single-molecule fluorescence, super-resolution microscopy, and RNA-protein interaction mapping, her work aims to uncover novel molecular mechanisms underlying brain function and disease.

This award will support my attendance at the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) Meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, later this year, where I will give an oral presentation of my PhD research, said Saba.  I am very grateful to ATA Scientific for this encouragement award. Attending the ANS meeting will allow me to share my work at the intersection of RNA biology and neuroscience, connect with leading researchers, and build networks that will support the next stage of my career.

Zarnab AsifCongratulations to Zarnab Asif, PhD Candidate at the University of South Australia, Clinical and Health Sciences under the supervision of Dr Paul Joyce.

 Zarnab is currently working on the project “Understanding the digestibility of meat and dairy fat analogues: implications for nutraceuticals absorption”, which focuses on how the structure and composition of novel fats influence nutrient bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Her long-term career goal is to contribute to the development of healthier, sustainable fat systems for the food industry while pursuing an academic career in food and nutritional sciences.

This award will support Zarnab’s attendance at the Fats and Oils: Food, Health, Industry & Innovation conference in Melbourne (10-12 November 2025), hosted by the American Oil Chemists’ Society. Participation in this conference will allow me to present my research, engage with leading experts in the field, and gain insights that will directly inform my project and future career, said Zarnab.

We would like to thank all those that participated. The next Encouragement Award will be posted on our website soon.

For more information or to stay informed of other upcoming promotions please ‘Like us” on Facebook or contact us.