3 Minute Thesis Final 2025

Meet our 2025 finalists

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• Hanwei Yu (FEIT)

  Thesis topic:

  Upgraded ion screening: VIP access for lithium

  Developing high-selectivity capacitive deionization methods for sustainable lithium recovery from seawater desalination brine.

  Hi, I'm Hanwei, a final-year PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney, specialising in sustainable resource recovery through electrochemical water treatment. My research develops capacitive deionization (CDI) systems for the selective extraction of lithium from seawater desalination brine, addressing the low concentration and high ion-competition challenges of unconventional resources. Driven by the global demand for critical minerals and the environmental impacts of traditional mining, her work advances low-energy, high-selectivity recovery methods aligned with circular economy principles. 

• Samara Bridge (Science)

  Thesis topic:

  Trust Your Gut: How a Poo Sensor Could Detect Cancer Early

  By detecting bowel cancer from stool samples before it worsens, this simple sensor could save lives through earlier diagnosis.

  Hi, I'm Samara, and I am a final year PhD candidate in the School of Life Sciences, researching in the field of membrane biophysics. I completed my Bachelor of Advanced Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences) in 2022, where I became fascinated by biosensor research. My current research focuses on creating a stool-based biosensor using the enzyme Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) to detect early signs of bowel cancer. Through this work, I hope to improve early detection and reduce the burden of bowel cancer on individuals and the healthcare system

• Clare Colquhoun (Law)

  Thesis topic:

  Access to Justice and Secure Care in NSW

  How children and young people in secure care have access to justice

  Hi, I'm Clare, and I  have a strong commitment to social justice and the representation of children and young people involved in legal processes. With over 20 years of experience in the child protection field, I have served in various roles, including social worker, project leader, and solicitor. I have degrees in Social Work, Bioethics, and Law, and have dedicated over a decade to representing children within state child protection jurisdictions, the Family Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of NSW.  I have a deep commitment to advocating for children's rights and well-being.

• Hannah Mullen (ISF)

  Thesis topic:

  Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Clothing: The Case of Silver Nanoparticles

  This research explores the barriers and enablers for clothing brands in taking responsibility for hazardous chemicals in everyday clothing.

  Hi, I'm Hannah, a PhD candidate at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney (UTS). My research explores how clothing brands can have product stewardship over hazardous chemicals in their clothing, with a specific focus on silver nanoparticles. My research seeks to understand the current role brands play in chemical management, the challenges they face and the enablers to transition to pro-active chemicals management strategies. My background is in sustainable fashion, with over five years of experience working in the industry.

• Adam Hayson-McDowell (Health)

  Thesis topic: 

  Investigating the therapeutic potential of phytoceuticals in respiratory diseases

  I seek to answer how natural plant-derived compounds, known as phytoceuticals, can be harnessed to combat chronic and inflammatory lung diseases, with a particular emphasis on non-small cell lung cancer. 

   

  Hi, I'm Adam.  I feel that I bring a unique perspective to my research, drawing on over a decade of clinical practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine and nutrition, offering a translational perspective to scientific inquiry, connecting traditional therapeutics with modern pharmacological understanding. 

  In the laboratory, I conduct in vitro experiments to identify the actions and mechanisms of phytoceuticals such as fisetin from strawberries, nobiletin from citrus and Australian native plants such as Lemon Myrtle. Additionally, a key aspect of my research is the development of advanced nanoparticle delivery systems to enhance the bioavailability and function of phytoceuticals. I am passionate about communicating complex concepts clearly, both in academic settings and broader public health discourse.

• Priya Soi Pulickal (Business)

  Thesis topic:

  From Home to Host: The Lived Experience of Intersectionality among Skilled Migrant Workers in Australia and Saudi Arabia

  How overlapping identities like gender, ethnicity, and migrant status shape skilled migrants’ work experiences in Australia and Saudi Arabia, and tests whether simple nudges can reduce hiring discrimination against Indian women in Australia.

  Hi, I'm Priya, a PhD candidate pursuing a collaborative doctoral research degree at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, India. I hold a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and have extensive teaching experience in colleges across India. My research focuses on skilled migration, gender, intersectionality, and human resource management. 

• Ahmed Da’na (Design and Society)

  Thesis topic: 

  From Scan to Step: Custom Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthoses (KAFOs) for Polio Survivors

  Using additive manufacturing and 3D scanning to create patient-specific KAFOs, validating them through testing and assessing their clinical and material impacts to advance digitally fabricated orthoses.

  Hi, I'm Ahmed.  I’m a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, working with Korthotics, an orthotics clinic in Sydney, to research how additive manufacturing can transform custom-made orthotics, particularly Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFOs) for polio survivors. My work combines human-centred design, 3D scanning, finite-element-analysis, and sustainable manufacturing to deliver personalised, efficient, and eco-conscious devices. Alongside my research, I teach product design as a Casual Academic at UTS and bring industry experience in 3D printing, end-to-end manufacturing, and urban furniture design. My background in teaching marital arts honed my ability to connect across ages and cultures—a skill I now apply to inclusive, collaborative problem-solving in design and healthcare innovation.

   

• Eric Duku (Design and Society)

  Thesis topic: 

  Solving the crisis in small-scale fisheries: the case of Ghana  

  Inclusive, participatory, and collaborative governance is essential for a healthy and sustainable blue economy, supporting vibrant small-scale fisheries in Ghana and beyond.

   

  Hi, I'm Eric.  I  was born and bred in Ghana's coastal zone, making me well-connected with riparian and fishing communities. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Regional Planning and a Master of Philosophy in Integrated Coastal Zone Management from the University of Cape Coast. I was part of the first cohort of scholars for the World Bank-funded Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR).

  I have developed an extraordinary passion for integrated and interdisciplinary research, where I can apply knowledge from social and natural disciplines to understand and contribute to the human-nature connection debate. 

• Sarah Mould (Design and Society)

  Thesis topic: 

  How writers can use literary science fiction to create fat hope

  I challenge the negative portrayal of fat women in the future through a collection of science fiction short stories, each of which depict the fat body as a positive symbol of hope, and provide writers with a framework on how to represent fat women as complex humans fully entitled to respect and recognition. 

  Hi, I'm Sarah, a creative practice PhD candidate and recipient of a Research Excellence Scholarship here at the University of Technology Sydney. My research investigates how writers can use literary science fiction to create positive futures for fat women, and I am passionate about the powerful impact that inclusive representation can have on fat and queer folk. As a writer, I'm super proud to have been shortlisted for the Monash Prize at the Emerging Writers’ Festival and the B&T Award for Diversity. I've also been a TikTok Young Lions finalist, and written multiple industry-recognised advertising and advocacy campaigns. 

• Lucy Allen (TD)

  Thesis topic:

  Learning that moves: Embracing our bodies in the classroom

  A practice-led inquiry into nurturing the potential of embodied approaches in transdisciplinary higher education.

   

  Hi, I'm Lucy and I am a Lecturer and final-year doctoral candidate in Transdisciplinary School at UTS. With a background in the arts and innovation, I lead creative education and research with a focus on facilitating transformative learning experiences. Through my PhD, I have been exploring the challenges and possibilities for using embodied learning to support transdisciplinary education that brings together students and educators from across disciplines.