Welcome New Members Update- May 2021

We would like to welcome all new NSW members who joined the RACI in May 2021. As a professional membership organisation, we provide networking and special interest events during the year. Details of all Branch events can be found on the website.

Name Member Type
Mr Sarfaraz Ali Postgraduate Student
Ms Irene Moroni Postgraduate Student
Dr Maren Theresa Scharbert MRACI
Miss Emily Job Student Member
Dr Ben Laws MRACI CChem
Mr Weicong Huang Student Member
Miss Bridget Thurn Student Member
Ms Vivien Li Student Member
Mr Haedam Mun Student Member

 

New Member Interviews

  

  1. Tuong Vi Voung

  • How did you learn about RACI?

    I came to know about the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) through the President of the New South Wales Branch of RACI, Dr Danny Wong, who is my supervisor for a research project that I have undertaken since February 2020.  I became aware of the organisation through conversation with him.

  • Why did you decide to join RACI?

    RACI is a group of chemists across the industry, academic, and government sectors with special interests in many topical subjects in chemistry.  Being a part of RACI is the best opportunity for me to expand my knowledge about chemistry and to enhance my social connections, which would be beneficial to my career ladder.

  • What degree program are you studying?

    I am currently pursuing a Master of Biotechnology and Business at Macquarie University.  This degree provided me advanced approaches, techniques, and in-depth knowledges in molecular biotechnology, which can be applied to solving many current issues such as disease, famine, pollution.

  • What made you get into chemistry?

    A few years ago, I completed several fundamental subjects in pharmacology that have provided tremendous background information and its connection to toxicology.  The study of toxicology is central to the assessment of drug safety in drug development and in the explanation of toxicology.  Of course, all these have involved a great deal of chemistry in different aspects.  I have since long developed an interest in gaining in-depth understanding about toxicology.

  • Do you use chemistry in your everyday life? If so, how?

    The applications of chemistry can be realised on a regular basis, such as my use of lactic fermentation to prepare pickled vegetables and yogurt.

  • Do you have a favourite reagent or a reaction?

    My favourite reaction is lactic fermentation.  Fermented foods have reportedly been associated with several positive health effects, including improved digestive health, stronger immunity, and increased availability of beneficial nutrients.  In fact, fermented foods are often more nutritious than their unfermented form.

  • What do you like to do outside of chemistry?

    I enjoy reading and have always been a voracious reader.  I read books of many genres such as detective, adventure, fantasy, horror. Reading helps me relieve stress and sleep better.

  • How can the RACI help you in your current role?
    Through RACI, I really like to build a strong network in the chemistry community. Specifically, I welcome many opportunities to learn and update myself with the latest development and progress in Australian chemistry, considering that RACI is a group of chemists across the industry, academic, and government sectors. While I am broadly interested in chemistry, I have a special interest in activities organised by the Pharmaceutical Science Group, which match with my current interest.

 

2. Twisha Sevek

  • How did you learn about RACI?
    I first heard about RACI from my lecturers at Macquarie University.  RACI would come into conversation and announcements of activities by multiple lecturers.  I was intrigued by the concept but was sceptical about committing to it without knowing more.  Therefore, I checked their social media accounts and websites for events that were applicable to me before making the decision to become involved.
  • Why did you decide to join RACI?
    Before I officially joined RACI, I attended a few career development-related events, during which not only did I find many like-minded people, but also the welcoming atmosphere of support and encouragement.  This extended to online communication as well.  I have found RACI to be a safe place to challenge myself, to step out of my comfort zone and to grow.  They provide a great support system, especially for younger scientists starting out their careers!
  • What degree program are you studying?
    I am currently studying Masters of Radiopharmaceutical Science at Macquarie University.  My experience has been nothing short of incredible.  I have learnt so much and, through this program, I have been able to further my knowledge in many scientific areas, not just in chemistry.  This program has also pushed me out of my comfort zone, with essential units in study areas I have not seriously considered before such as entrepreneurship.  Surprisingly, I enjoyed the challenge and as I had strategically picked projects I was already curious about, I was able to excel in them.

My experience with the social side of Macquarie has been equally exciting, even with the added challenges of 2020, distance learning, and other commitments.  I participated in multiple university clubs before the lockdowns.  I also participated in the award-winning Global Leadership Program (GLP) which has helped me develop my soft skills and open my mind towards current major global issues.

All in all, studying at Macquarie has helped me to become a more well-rounded person, both in my chosen field and in life.

  • What made you get into chemistry?
    I have always been a curious person and really enjoyed science in high school.  I was also intrigued by the medical field.  Therefore, I pursued a Bachelor of Medical Science at Western Sydney University.  In the first year, there were two essential chemistry units in the program.  At the time, I honestly didn't think I would end up liking university level chemistry, which then influenced me in deciding a major in medicinal chemistry and sub-majoring in microbiology.  However, the more I learnt, the more curious I became and the more I wanted to learn.  So here we are! 
  •  Do you use chemistry in your everyday life?  If so, how?
    Yes!  And in so many ways.  Two examples that come to mind are:

Ingredients in consumer goods: I have always paid attention to these ingredients, from food to skin care/cosmetics to household essentials. I have noticed that, since I started studying chemistry, I have been able to choose what to consume/buy with greater confidence. I know I can rely on my knowledge base, research and analytical skills gained from my degrees.

DIY gardening supplies: For as long as I can remember, gardening has been my hobby and, due to personal reasons, I have never liked using commercial fertilisers and sprays on my plants. The younger version of me would routinely experiment and try to find suitable organic fertilisers, with mixed successes.But, no plants were severely harmed in these experiments. In more recent time, I have achieved more improvements with my chemical and microbiological knowledge and experience. In fact, my plants are thriving!

All in all, chemistry knowledge does certainly come in handy in day-to-day life.

  • Do you have a favourite reagent or a reaction?
    Not so much a favourite reaction but I am partial to benzene.  I remember this was among the first structure I drew in chemistry class and a common component of many of my assignments.  I also like the structures of caffeine and serotonin.  It is always nice to put structures to the molecules we encounter in day-to-day life.
  • What do you like to do outside of chemistry?
    I can be found either spending time with family and friends, gardening, learning whatever catches my fancy, planning, watching movies, going on adventures of various descriptions or just relaxing and taking a walk in nature.
  • How can the RACI help you in your current role?
    I would greatly appreciate the supportive network and mentorship opportunities that RACI provides, especially as I am finishing my degree and will be entering the field in the near future. 

 

3. Fengwang Li

  • Why did you decide to join RACI?
    RACI is the largest community for chemists in Australia.  Joining RACI means opening a door to this big family and get connected with family members.  This would undoubtedly bring new opportunities for collaboration and boosts my career development as a chemist. 
  • What is your current occupation?
    I'm a Lecturer and an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Award Fellow with the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney, where I joined in April 2020. 
  • What made you get into chemistry?
    Well, just the freedom to try out any ideas in your head is fascinating enough for me.
  • Do you use chemistry in your everyday life?If so, how?
    The answer is definitely a yes as I cook for my family – reactions, thermodynamics, and kinetics ...
  • Do you have a favourite chemical reaction?
    Ammonia synthesis, which significantly shapes the world we are in now.  Also, this is the reaction that brought most pains for my high school chemistry study.
  • What do you like to do outside of chemistry?
    If only naming one – playing soccer.
  • How can the RACI help you in your current role?
    I believe I can benefit from the network and dynamic information from RACI, bringing about new opportunities for interdisciplinary research.

 

4.  Changzhuang Bai

  • How did you learn about RACI?
    I learnt about RACI form the senior members of my research group (Thordarson group) at UNSW. Some of our group members are also members of RACI. They introduced RACI to me.
  •  Why did you decide to join RACI?
    As an international student, I am keen to learn about all chemistry related fields in both academia and industry in Australia, and also information for future career and opportunities.  I believe RACI is a perfect avenue for all these.
  • What degree program are you studying?
    I previously completed my bachelor and master degree in polymer science in China.  In order to expand my knowledge and to improve my academic skills, I have decided to pursue a PhD program.  I am now in my 2nd year of my PhD.  In my PhD project, I am researching into visible light switchable supramolecular peptide-based hydrogel for cell culture.  The mechanical property of this supramolecular hydrogel could be tuned in a non-invasive way through visible light, and then stem cells would respond to the changes of surrounding matrix at the same time.   In this way, we hope this “smart” hydrogel could provide a platform for the study of the development of stem cells.
  • What made you get into chemistry?
    I was intrigued by the “magical” aspects of chemistry and I found chemistry really interesting when I was at high school.  Just like the flame test, where the colour of the flame can be easily tuned by simply introducing samples of different elements to the flame.  It really impressed me a lot when I was a high school student and this opened the gate of the world of chemistry to me.
  •  Do you use chemistry in your everyday life? If so, how?
    An example is the handwash soap I use every day.  Soap has a history of over 4000 years and the earliest evidence of soap can be traced back to 2800 B.C.  Soap is made from the mixture of fat and aqueous alkali by the action of heat, which is known as saponification.  The fat-like substances are amphiphilic and could help to remove common dirt in our daily life.  And it could even dissolve the fat membrane of Covid-19 and make the virus fall apart.  So, wash your hands everyday with soap!
  •  Do you have a favourite reagent or a reaction?
    I have a stronger background in materials engineering after completing my bachelor and master degrees.  However, I am now more in touch with chemistry in my PhD project.  My favourite reaction is solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), which involves a covalent attachment step that links a nascent peptide chain to an insoluble polymeric resin.  Subsequently, the anchored peptide is extended by a series of addition cycles.  After attaching all of the amino acids, the product could be easily cleaved from the resin and purified to obtain the targeted peptide. The reaction is relatively simple, but it is quite efficient!
  • What do you like to do outside of chemistry?
    I like to read and watch movies in my leisure time, mainly in the scientific fiction genre.  One of my favourite movie series is “The Lord of The Rings”, which depicts an amazing world created by J.R.R. Tolkien.  And my favourite book series is “The Dune”.  In the world of Dune, the spices are even much more cherished than gold.  Chemists with experience in natural product total synthesis must be extremely welcomed in the world of Dune. 
  •  How can the RACI help you in your current role?
    I am keen to interact with chemists in the field of supramolecular chemistry through RACI to learn more about the research frontiers.  I really look forward to attending national and international chemistry conferences organised by RACI when we are allowed to resume these activities.  For example, I have gathered that a national congress by RACI will be held in Brisbane in 2022.  In addition, it would also be exciting and useful to hear about views and experiences from established chemists in terms of career direction and development.