Exhibition winners
Exhibition winners have earned the Faculty's highest academic distinctions. These students achieved the highest grade across one year of their degree program.
Pharmacy
Close
Exhibition winners have earned the Faculty's highest academic distinctions. These students achieved the highest grade across one year of their degree program.
This award is proudly supported by Guild Insurance and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Natalie Chua is currently completing her pharmacy internship at a Chemist Warehouse.
Natalie completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University where she developed an interest in pharmacology and physiology. As pharmacy offers a good balance between her interests and opportunities for patient interaction, Natalie decided to pursue the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)/Master of Pharmacy course.
As a graduate entry student who was keen to explore the various aspects of pharmacy, Natalie involved herself in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout program and gained some exposure working in the hospital pharmacy dispensary. Having tried these different areas of pharmacy, Natalie finds working in the community pharmacy brings her the most joy as it allows her to assist patients in addressing their primary care needs. Although working in a community pharmacy can be fast paced most of the time, she enjoys getting to know her regular customers and serving her local community.
Post internship, Natalie would like to develop her leadership skills with a goal of being a pharmacy owner in the future. She is also keen to explore opportunities in education such as mentoring students in the community pharmacy setting and potentially at the university.
"It is an honour to receive this prize. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the people who have supported me throughout this challenging yet rewarding pharmacy journey. I will continue to strive for excellence throughout my pharmacy career and provide the best possible care to the individuals whom I come across."
Julia is currently completing her internship and master's degree in community pharmacy. Her main interests within pharmacy include infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and psychotropics.
"Thank you to my friends, family and colleagues who have supported me over the past few years."
This award is proudly supported by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Jessalyn Tan is currently a fourth year Pharmacy student. Her passion to pursue a career in pharmacy has been cultivated by her enthusiasm to help members of the community. With experience working at Eastern Health and in a fast-paced community pharmacy, Jessalyn’s therapeutic knowledge and growth stems from being trained by nurturing pharmacists and a drive to exceed in all aspects of her life.
Jessalyn recently completed her fourth year placements and inquiry project, with her clinical placement at the Mercy Hospital for Women being a highlight experience. During these four weeks, Jessalyn developed a unique appreciation for women’s and neonatal medicine, two specialised areas of clinical practice that she had not been exposed to in the past.
She is excited to see what the future of pharmacy has to offer, as she is considering the opportunities for her internship in 2024. She aspires to advance her professional development in hospital pharmacy in particular, as she enjoys the challenge of learning about rare conditions and finds patient interactions in the acute care setting to be extremely rewarding.
"Studying pharmacy has allowed me to explore many avenues in the industry, enriching my studies as a future healthcare professional. I would like to thank my family, peers and university leads for continuing to support and inspire me, as I look towards the beginning of my career as a pharmacist."
This award is proudly supported by Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Thi Khanh Vy Nguyen is currently a student in the third year of her pharmacy degree. Her interest in healthcare and supporting people inspire her to pursue pharmacy, a rewarding and diverse career with a myriad of possibilities and paths to aspire for.
The pharmacy course at Monash University, alongside the opportunities to work in different roles as a pharmacy student, has empowered her to enjoy a stunning learning journey with new knowledge and skills and self-development, with which she feels grateful for the support and encouragement from family, teachers, supervisors, peers and colleagues.
She looks forward to building a career in clinical pharmacy and research, and is dedicated to life-long learning, with a passion for pursuing further education and training to make a positive difference in people’s healthcare journey.
"Learn from everyone including yourself."
This award is proudly supported by Pharmaceutical Defence Limited.
Elaine Tan is a diligent second year pharmacy student. Her passion for pharmacy began from a young age, when her local community pharmacists offered trusted advice and guidance to her family. Elaine is constantly intrigued by the complexity and variety of medicines, as well as the evolving landscape of pharmacy within the healthcare team. She is particularly interested in learning about how medicines work, and subsequently applying this knowledge to clinical respiratory and dermatology cases in her comprehensive care units.
Elaine prides herself on her attention to detail and dedication to providing patient-centred care when working as a student pharmacist in her community. Elaine finds her role particularly rewarding, as she creates meaningful interactions with her patients that optimise management of their medication. This hands-on experience continues to complement her professional and personal growth, as she actively brings content from the classroom to real-world practice and people.
Elaine is looking forward to her upcoming placements, welcoming the opportunity to learn from other pharmacists and healthcare professionals in various settings. In the future, Elaine is keen to explore the vast careers pharmacy has to offer, including hospital, compounding and consultant pharmacist roles.
"I am incredibly grateful to receive this award and I would like to thank my family, teachers and peers for all the support and knowledge they have empowered me with. I highly anticipate what is to come in my journey and development as a pharmacist."
This award is proudly supported by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Thuy's interest in chemistry and biology, along with her curiosity about drug mechanisms, led her to undertake a course in pharmaceutical science at Monash Parkville. Through her studies, she acquired essential technical knowledge and skills. Participating in multiple research projects at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) exposed her to world-leading scientists and cutting-edge research. Equipped with this foundation, Thuy is prepared to contribute to the field and hopes to make a significant impact on improving human health through the development of innovative therapies.
Thuy is currently an Honours student in the Johnston group at MIPS. Her research project focuses on the directed evolution of proteins. Specifically, she is investigating a gene editing system that enables targeted mutations in DNA regions within mammalian cells. The work in her project can be used to evolve therapeutic proteins tailored for specific purposes in drug discovery and development.
"It’s never too late to pursue your dream. Believe in yourself and believe that you can do it."
This award is proudly supported by Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists.
Chunyi (Bessie) Qian is currently a third year Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (Advanced Honours) student. With a strong passion in science, she would like to commence her honours year in 2024 and pursue a research pathway in the future. She found herself interested in structural biology during the past two years but also looks forward to exploring the different aspects of pharmaceutical science.
Alongside the course, Bessie strives to participate in various extracurricular activities and improve her soft skills. Elected as the 2023 president of Monash Parkville Student Union (MPSU), she leads a team of like-minded students to improve the student wellbeing in the Parkville campus of Monash University. As a peer mentor and student volunteer, she also enjoys meeting new students and tries to make their university experience a memorable one.
"I would never have made it without all the support from my old and new friends, my family and the lovely staff members I met in Monash. Thank you for sharing this journey with me - this award is not only for me but also for you all."
This award is proudly supported by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Ashley Ting is a second-year Pharmaceutical Science and Chemical Engineering student who is eager to learn how the applications of process engineering are relevant to the wider manufacturing and formulation of medicines. In her first year she developed an interest in understanding human physiology and applying her knowledge to a research project on the mechanism of action of hypertension-targeting therapies.
Ashley is thoroughly enjoying the challenges in her Chemical Engineering studies, despite initially only intending to pursue Pharmaceutical Science. She has long valued hard work and dedication in her studies and believes that effort and persistence will always overcome individual shortcomings. Now, she is seeking to expand her horizons by taking up leadership opportunities and focusing on professional development. She looks forward to completing a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management in August and has also joined the Society of Monash University Chemical Engineers as a Second-Year Representative.
Ashley is eager to return to her Pharmaceutical Science studies next year, armed with improved skills in problem solving and critical thinking that she can apply across the rest of her degree and future career.
"It is an honour to have received this award while embarking on a new journey filled with both excitement and uncertainty. I would like to thank my family and friends who have continuously believed in my abilities and reminded me that doing my best is to not doubt myself."
This award is proudly supported by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Caitlin is a highly motivated and accomplished Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science/Chemical Engineering student who has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic and professional excellence throughout her academic journey. She has a strong interest in the biomedical and pharmaceutical field and has a passion for innovation in the chemical engineering industry especially for novel drug development and formulation.
With a strong academic foundation and a deep understanding of pharmaceutical science and chemical engineering principles, Caitlin has consistently excelled in her coursework, achieving top grades. Her commitment to learning extends beyond the classroom, as she actively engaged in research projects and participates in extracurricular activities such as peer mentoring and club committee activities that enhance her practical knowledge and skills.
Caitlin is currently employed at IDT Australia (Institute of Drug Technology Limited), an ASX listed pharmaceutical company that specialises in API and Final Dosage form R&D and manufacture. Working in a pharmaceutical engineering role has not only given her valuable experience but has also brought to life everything she has learned in university, helping her to apply her knowledge and also find purpose in her learning.
"Pharmaceutical science at Monash has given me so many opportunities to further my knowledge in the field of pharmaceutical science and also develop my skills as a professional. The course design is excellent and the lecturers are passionate about their field and also teaching, so that I was able to understand, fully apply and develop an interest in the topics."