Graduate videos

Sam: Lisa, so firstly… what is a cochlear implant?

Lisa: A cochlear implant is what we call an active electronic medical device. Many people suffer hearing loss because their hair cells in the inner ear (which is your cochlea) are damaged. The cochlear implant takes over the job of the hair cells to electrically stimulate the nerve which sends sound signals to the brain, which enables you to hear. So they pick up sounds and transform them into electrical pulses which stimulate the hearing nerve, mimicking the process of natural hearing.

Sam: So it’s not a hearing aid?

Lisa: No, a hearing aid works by simply making the sound louder and sending the sound down the ear canal. It sits in your outer ear. They do not restore normal hearing, but instead detect sounds and amplify them to levels that make speech easier to hear. A cochlear implant is implanted under the skin so you can’t see it, and the electrodes sit in the cochlea. It does need an external sound processor to capture the noise, and sends a signal to the implant. Often you can’t see the sound processor either, we have a variety of colours and options.

Sam: Why do you love what you do?

Lisa: Hearing is important for so many reasons – it is one of our five main senses. It has been shown that by losing your hearing which can happen suddenly (possibly caused by a virus) or over time, affects your social interactions, learning and speech.
So why I love what I do… Maybe it’s easier I show you…. this guy [as seen in the full video above] is hearing for the first time.

Sam: Do cochlear implants get made here on site?

Lisa: Absolutely, a lot of people don’t realise we make all the implants here in Australia. Cochlear implants are made up of so many interesting materials – metals, ceramics, plastics and integrated chips (or the brains). The people here are putting all the components together to build the implants. They have very strict processes and instructions to follow.

Sam: What did you study?

Lisa: I started with a Bachelor of Science at UTS majoring in Material Science, and then moved on to my Masters of Science, also at UTS.

Sam: If cochlear implants are already in use, as in, they’ve already been invented… isn’t your job as a scientist already done?

Lisa: Of course not! We want to make them better, more efficient – I mean look how far we’ve come already. The materials, chips, and software technology are getting better so we are getting smaller, lighter and with more functionality. We are now enabling connectivity through our iPhones – even find my sound processor!

Sam: Finally, what’s the biggest misconception about science?

Lisa:  That it’s boring. It definitely isn’t.

[inspiring music playing]

[Shot of Jasmine with numbers projected over her face, sequence of shots of Jasmine working]

As a data analyst I solve real life problems every day, whether it be reviewing IT or overall controls or building fundamental restructures. My name is Jasmine, I am a mathematician and a senior analyst at Deloitte.

[Shot of Jasmine talking and walking with other colleague, discussing work in group around table]

As an analyst I assist financial services institutes with their problems that may arise through the investment process so this includes any risk that may arise from capital, market or liquidity risks that can happen.

[Jasmine talking to camera]

I think there’s a huge stigma of banks ripping people off and general bad practices and I want to reshape the financial services industry so that people have trust in where they’re putting their money and where they’re investing their money for the future.

[Jasmine working on computer, discussing work]

Having done a maths degree at UTS, it’s really helped the way I approach a problem. For others looking to do analytics at UTS I’d say take advantage of your lecturers- they are the most friendliest, biggest support that you could have throughout your university career.

[Jasmine talking to camera]

Since graduating from UTS, I’ve utilised the skills that I’ve learnt from my maths degree. A mathematician’s skillset does not lie with the numbers of formulas that you learn but more so a way of thinking and a way you approach problems.

[Uplifting music playing]

[Shot of Clare in laboratory]

I work with amazing people everyday

[Sequence of shots, Clare walking, scientists working with models of bones and artificial joints]

I work with phenomenal minds. I’m working in a really interesting field that’s just progressing constantly. The technology’s changing, the clinical outcomes are improving. Every day you see something new and different- that’s what inspires me.

[Shot of Clare talking to camera with banner- Clare Bodimeade, Territory Manager Arthroplasty, Stryker]

My name is Clare Bodimeade, I work for Stryker a medical devices company. I take care of arthroplasty for large joints so hip and knee replacements

[Sequence of shots- joint replacements, Clare discussing work

We’re part of an aging population, everyone knows someone that’s had either a hip or knee replacement. These surgeries are becoming more and more common place, and being part of the team to improve patient outcomes and to make healthcare better is really rewarding.

[Clare with surgical light, demonstrating with models of bones, talking to people]

The biggest proportion of my time is spent in hospitals within the theatre setting. Another aspect of my role is education. Education around helping the nursing staff learn the new instruments and the procedure, it can also be helping to teach junior orthopaedic registrars and coordinating training for orthopods too.

[Clare talking to camera}

At UTS I learned to analyse things, think critically and question the information before me. It was because of the teachers that I had that I was able to explore all of these things, and it’s something that I’m able to use in my current role and enhances my experience every day.

Emma Davis Biotechnology

[upbeat music, shot of laboratory corridor pans to Emma Dawson in lab coat speaking]

Oh hey, you’re here come on in, my name’s Emma.

[Camera shot fast-forwarded follows Emma into lab]

Text: The Graduate Tour Biotechnology

[Interviewer] Okay so biotechnology- what is that?

[Shot of Emma working in lab]

So biotechnology is the application of biology to a number of different processes that are both industrial and medicinal.

[Interviewer] So if I became a biotechnologist, what exactly would that mean I do?

[Emma speaking while working in lab]

You can do a number of different things; you can work for something like Sydney Water doing waste water management, you could even work for a cheese factory or a brewery, you could even work for a company developing new drugs. Come with me into my lab!

[Camera follows Emma walking through laboratory]

[Interviewer] When you finish studying what do you think you’ll do?

[Emma works in lab, injecting fluid into a vial while responding to question]

So I want to be an independent scientist studying bacteria and all the things that they can do, but my lifelong dream really has always been to open my own science café where I can serve homemade beer and homemade cheese.

[Interviewer] Talking about bacteria, what is something that I probably wouldn’t know?

Actually, something really cool about bacteria is that they can change their shape; do you want to come see?

[Interviewer] Yeah absolutely.

Follow me!

[Camera follows Emma walking through corridors to microscopy room]

Come on in and take a look

[Interviewer] What just stand here?

Yep just look down the microscope

[shot of bacteria]

[Interviewer] So what exactly am I looking at here?

So you’re looking at bacteria changing their shape from something really small, to something that looks like spaghetti

[Interviewer] So why are they changing shape?

So they’re changing their shape so that they can hide from the immune system. It makes you more sick, and makes you sick for longer. Come with me.

[Zoom out from microscope, camera follows Emma to different room in lab]

[Interviewer] Right, so what exactly did you study?

So I studied chemistry in my HSC, but my love for biology didn’t come til I was in my Bachelor of Biotechnology here at UTS

[Interviewer] And what is probably the biggest misconception you think there is about science?

So a big misconception about science is that it is dominated by males. There are plenty of females that succeed and do really well in science, so as long as you’re passionate and determined you can definitely do science.

[Interviewer] All this chatter about bacteria has got me feeling like I want to wash my hands, so I’m going to show myself out.

Definitely, thank you so much.

[camera fast-forwards exiting lab]

Megan Phillips - UTS Environmental Biology

[Shot of UTS tour Building, panning to shot of Megan on science building roof]

Hi, you made it- thanks so much for coming! If you’d like to follow me.

Text: The Graduate Tour Botanical Science

[Camera fast-forwarded following Megan walking across roof]

Hey you’ll need one of these

[Megan hands interviewer lab coat]

[Interviewer]: Thank you

You’re welcome and here’s my research greenhouse

[Camera follows Megan into greenhouse which shows various potted plants]

[Interviewer]: Well this is impressive

Thank you

[Interviewer]: So environmental biology- what is that?

So environmental biology is the study of the natural world so it can be anything from ecosystems and global patterns right down to microscopic cellular organisms

[Interviewer]: Right, so why is that important?

Well a lot of people really like “whys” but I’m really interested in the “hows” and how things work, so environmental biology basically explores how things work together in nature and from that you can get things like solar panels and water purification.

[Interviewer]: So what’s one thing I wouldn’t know about botanical science?

Would you like some plant trivia?

[Interviewer]: Absolutely!

Okay so, the fastest growing plant that we know of is a species of bamboo and it can grow up to 90cm in a single day.

[Interviewer]: So what are you working on here?

This is a phytoremediation experiment, so I’m looking at plants that can extract contaminants from surface landscapes.

[Interviewer]: And if you had to simplify that a little bit more?

Okay so basically what I’m interested in is measuring how plants can absorb nasty things like heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons from soils and then you have a look at the effects of the contaminants on the plants. So if you want to have a look at this leaf for example, can you see all those little yellow spots there?

[Interviewer]: Yeah

That’s basically where there’s a lot of contaminant in that leaf and it’s starting to show signs of distress and it might die and drop off in a couple of days.

[Interviewer]: Wow, so what did you study?

I studied environmental biology and followed it up with a PhD in invasive plants

[Interviewer]: I’m guessing you studied all three sciences in high school.

I did, so I studied geography and chemistry and biology.

[Interviewer]: And what’s a misconception about science?

I think a lot of people think that science is laboratories and Bunsen burners and that’s all it is, but there’s actually a lot of travel involved and you can see a lot of the world depending on what you’re doing so a lot of my work as a botanist is in forests, but I’ve also measure coral species and fish on the Great Barrier Reef and a pod of whales swam by while we were doing that- it was magnificent.

[Interviewer]: Well thank you so much for giving us a tour, we’ll show ourselves out!

My pleasure, thanks for coming!

[camera fast-forwards exiting greenhouse]

[Inspiring music playing]

[Shots of waves crashing against rocks in slow motion, Rebecca walking on shore, Rebecca looking out to sea, close-up Rebecca’s face]

It’s important to me to take an active role in helping the environment. Working in the environmental industry is really interesting because I get exposure to a lot of different people and help them to work in a way that is more sustainable or that helps them to reduce their impact on the environment.

[Shot of Rebecca talking to camera in lab, banner reads: Environmental Management Assistant, UBS]

My name is Rebecca Pagnucco and I am a student in the Master of Science at UTS.

[Close up of laboratory work, pouring liquids, Rebecca talking to camera]

Typically to clean up oil spills you would be using synthetic products, things that are made from plastic fibres and recently there’s been a big push towards using natural materials instead.

[Rebecca walking towards sacks, handling hair, putting on gloves and lab glasses]

As part of my Masters degree I’m working with Sustainable Salons Australia, looking at how hair can be used as a crude oil absorbent. It’s exciting because we’re taking something that is normally waste and giving it a beneficial second life.

[Rebecca carrying, connecting and using hose, puts sacks of hair in container of water]

UTS has played a major role in shaping who I am today by giving me the practical experience, the exposure to industry and tools I needed to succeed in my chosen field.

[Rebecca speaking to camera]

My advice to students who are looking to get involved in the environmental industry is to look out for where there’s innovation and investment because those are the projects that are going to shape our future.

[Dr Chadwick talking to camera]

[music playing]

My name is Dr Scott Chadwick and I’m a lecturer here at UTS and I lecture in first year chemistry and forensic science.

[student in laboratory looking into microscope, students examining fingerprint on computer screen, Dr Chadwick talking to class in laboratory setting, working with students]

I studied the Bachelor of Forensic Science way back in 2006 and from there I did my honours degree and then I continued on to my PhD here at UTS. During that time I was able to get involved in some teaching of some undergraduate subjects and from there I really enjoyed the teaching side of things as well as the research.

[chemistry trolley with various liquids being wheeled into lass, Dr Chadwick addressing the class, students conducting experiments in groups]

The most rewarding part of my job is really being able to interact with the students and see them grow as learners in the field of forensic science. So the best advice that I could give the students is to be open to all the different opportunities available here at UTS

[shot of crime scene tape, students conducting practice investigation]

So while you may start off wanting to go into a particular area or career, really opening up to new adventures and new experiences is what UTS offers their students

[Shot of UTS Tower building, Dr Chadwick in lab, Dr Chadwick talking to camera]

I’ve been here for 11 years, both as a student and a staff member. UTS is really a part of who I am, it’s a part of my DNA.

Text: Where Are Our UTS Science Graduates Now?
(Aerial shot panning into beach, shot of person’s legs as they walk on sand, sequence of shots of Justin walking on beach in scuba suit with flippers and snorkel
For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a passion for the ocean. Ever since I was a kid I can remember taking my snorkels, my fins and just being one with the waves. I was going for a dive and being at peace with the sea.
(Justin diving and swimming in ocean)
 Ever since then I’ve wanted to incorporate my inquisitive nature with my passion and marine biology has essentially been able to do that for me.
(Shot of Justin talking to camera, walking through facility)
My name’s Justin Tierney, I studied a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at UTS, I currently work here as a fisheries technician with Port Stephens Fisheries Institute. Studying at UTS science was fantastic. It gave me the opportunity to be able to move my theoretical knowledge, learnt in class, into the field.
(Close-up of fish being processed, measured, weighed and Justin consulting with other workers)
As part of the curriculum we’re able to stretch our theoretical knowledge on many field trips including Heron Island and Stroud. UTS Science also gave me the opportunity to be able to study abroad in Peru for our sub-biodiversity for a month.
(Shot of Justin feeding fish, walking through facility)
 Part of my daily routine here at Port Stephens Institute is general fish husbandry and maintenance. This might include feeding and cleaning. I also take a lot of data samples and look after the research trials as they are carried out. We provide the science to be able to better strategise fish-growth efficiency and we then use that data in conjunction with aquaculture companies.
(Shot of Justin speaking to camera)
My goal for the future is to be a part of a 100% sustainable fishery. To be able to sustain such a large population there needs to be a shift towards aquaculture.

Text: UTS Science Future Innovators
 

[Upbeat music playing, shot of entrance to lab, Hannah opens door]

Hi you’re here- I’m Hannah come this way.

[Camera follows Hannah through corridor]

Text: The Graduate Tour Medicinal Chemistry

[Interviewer] So medicinal chemistry… what is that?

Medicinal chemistry is the intersection of biology, pharmacology and organic chemistry.

[Interviewer] Okay say you have to simplify that a little more?

Yeah sure. So we use those three sciences to be able to design drugs for the treatment of disease, infection and other illnesses. Here, you’ll need this.

[Hannah hands interviewer a lab coat]

[Interviewer] Thanks

[Hannah opens door and enters lab with interviewer]

So basically I work in antibiotic drug design. I take the understanding we have of bacteria and look at new ways to design drugs to stop them in their tracks.

[Interviewer] So is that because humans are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics?

Yes. So I’m not sure about you, but I’ve actually taken antibiotics before and stopped before the course was over. Whilst this treats the symptoms, it doesn’t actually get rid of all of the bacteria in your body. On top of that, the bacteria has actually learned how to fight off the antibiotics in future treatment.

[Interviewer] So are you curing disease?

Not quite- disease is caused by infection, so what I’m trying to do is stop the infection once it’s inside the body.

[Camera fast-forwards following Hannah through lab to a computer, which Hannah is working at]

[Interviewer] What are we looking at here?

Right now I’m drawing up drugs that we already know stop bacteria. I’m hoping to use this in order to create new drugs that will do it even better.

[Interviewer] So what I can see on that screen right now is the science behind a drug that I might one day take?

Hopefully. Unfortunately, it does take up to ten years from discovery until it’s at the consumer’s shelf because of all the obstacles we go through. However, even if they don’t create the new drug it will help contribute to further research.

[Interviewer] So why did you pick medicinal chemistry?

I had a passion for organic chemistry and I really feel like drug design will be able to contribute to society

[Shots of Emma working in lab]

[Interviewer] I’m guessing you did all three sciences in high school, right?

No actually, I studied photography, literature and psychology in high school, but after a couple of years off I developed a love for nutrition which led me to chemistry.

[Interviewer] Okay so it looks like you’ve got your hands full here, are we right just to show ourselves out?

Yeah no worries, the door is just that way

[camera fast-forwards exiting lab]

(Fast forward walking through corridor, Title reads: The Graduate Tour Medicinal Chemistry)
(Upbeat guitar music playing)
(Doors to laboratory open, showing Camilla walking in lab)
Interviewer: Hey Camilla
Camilla: Hey, good timing, I’m just in the middle of an extraction.
Interviewer: Oh perfect- can’t wait to see it! So what is medicinal chemistry?
Camilla: Medicinal chemistry is when we take drugs or other compounds that we know already work and we bring them into the lab and we either add things or take them away to make them even better than they already are.
Interviewer: So what does that mean you actually do here?
Camilla: So what we do is we get these chemicals and we add new things to them or take them away and we make them react to change them.
Interviewer: So what’s in there right now?
Camilla: In here is an antibiotic compound in the making.
Interviewer: So that’s something that I might see in a hospital one day?
Camilla: Hopefully one day. Come with me over here.
(Camera follows Camilla through the lab)
Interviewer: So what are you working on just here?
Camilla: This is an antibiotic compound which I’m trying to change up at the moment.
Interviewer: What does this machine do?
Camilla: This machine is going to take off all the excess solvent from my product to make it nice and smooth.
Interviewer: Cool! So why do you love what you do?
Camilla: I just find it so amazing that I can add all these little bits and pieces to different chemical compounds to make all these amazing medicines.
Interviewer: And how did you get into this?
Camilla: I’ve always been a bit of a chemistry nerd and I’ve just found it really super interesting. 
Interviewer: Perfect! Well you seem to be pretty busy here so thanks for having me and I’ll talk to you later.
Camilla: Thanks for coming!
(Camera fast forward walking out of lab)
 

Text: Where Are Our UTS Science Graduates Now?
(Aerial shot of workers walking through facility, Michael Walz peaking to camera)
Studying at UTS Science was a real hands-on experience and this is something that’s really valuable when you’re studying nanotechnology. I’m Michael Walz and I studied a Bachelor of Science in Nanotechnology at UTS. 
(Sequence of shots Michael and co-worker walking through facility
I’ve always had an inquisitive way of looking at the world, I’ve loved physics, chemistry, maths and how things function on a molecular level and to me nanotechnology is the bringing together of physics and chemistry, and as an emerging field it really appealed to me.
(Michael speaking to camera, walking up stairs )
UTS Science gave me a really good skill set in solving problems. It taught me how to break down a problem into its separate components then look at those components, analyse them, put them back together and get the correct answer. 
(Michael training a group of workers, working on computer)
As an Asset Data and Reporting Engineer here at Veolia I get to go on site, train operators, deal with site and the best way is to collect data then go back to the office, look at that data and the relationships between it and produce reports that influence business decisions.
(Michael sharing data with colleagues, taking measurements, walking outside facility- aerial shot)
And that’s one of the many reasons why I love what I do. I want to drive efficiency and reduce waste in business. Looking at what we’re currently doing, how we’re currently doing it and how we can improve on this. Not only is that good for the business, it’s good for the environment and it’s good for the planet. 

Text: UTS Science Future Innovators