Griffith University Bachelor of Science (Advanced with honours- chemistry) student Kimberley Clack has been awarded the 2021 Griffith University medal for academic excellence, securing a prestigious PhD scholarship.

We congratulate our recent first-class honours graduate Kimberley Clack who has won the 2021 Griffith University medal for academic excellence, after previous acceptance into the Golden Key International Honour Society. The University medal is an award of rare excellence, not automatically granted in any given year. Membership to the Golden Key International Honour Society recognises students who are at the top 15% of their class.

“I am honoured to receive the university medal because it represents the work that I dedicated to my studies, serving as a way to thank my teachers and supervisors for believing in me- It is as much their achievement as it is mine.” Kimberley said.

Kimberley’s honours research topic was based on developing a nucleic acid biomarker-based electrochemical assay (detecting HOTAIR long non-coding RNA) for the early detection of ovarian cancer. After graduation, Kimberley was immediately offered a prestigious PhD scholarship at the School of Environment and Science (ESC) at Griffith University and is now a PhD student in our Laboratory (Shiddiky Research Group), affiliated with the Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC). She has also been a member of our research group since 2018. Her PhD research incorporates the latest nanotechnology and novel biomarker assays for the development of an inexpensive handheld device for the detection of cancer-associated gene mutation.

“I chose to continue my PhD studies at Griffith University because as a member of the Shiddiky Research Group, I have access to friendly and supportive experts with extensive research backgrounds in electrochemistry, biology, physics and engineering, and this is exactly what’s required for helping me to realise my dream of fabricating biosensors for the early detection of disease.” Kimberley said.

“If I have an idea for an assay design, I can message my supervisor (Associate Professor Muhammad J. A. Shiddiky) and he will meet with me within a few days, giving me the guidance and expertise, I need, so I can put my idea into practice if it’s feasible. I love the instant feedback and years-worth of experience that can’t be found in existing scientific literature or online.”

Kimberley said that she had dreamed of becoming a top-class researcher and creating a positive impact on the world since her teens. After the completion of her PhD, she hopes to follow in her dreams, overseeing her own bioengineering and nanotechnology laboratory and carrying out research in fields of precision and personalised care, where patients will be screened and monitored for detailed molecular signatures that indicate their specific diseases.

We can't wait to watch Kimberley’s progress in her journey, and we wish her all the very best.