Infrared Scientist

• Jun 2020 - Present

I am now working in soil remediation with Ziltek. Working to help cleanup soils that have been contaminated with petrochemicals. I am now working in soil remediation with Ziltek. Working to help cleanup soils that have been contaminated with petrochemicals.

PHD Student

• Jul 2017 - Present

Botany honours project

• Jul 2015 - Jun 2020

This year I completed an honours project in botany with Latrobe University. I was also working part time at subway restaurant. The botany project I was working on was studying a genus of native plants that accumulate high levels of heavy metals in their leaves. The opportunity to study these interesting plants gave me a lot of incite into how a research project is run. I was able to experience many aspects of scientific research as the project involved field study, laboratory analysis of collected samples, genetic analysis and even model building. As well as having the privilege of working with my honours supervisors, Pete Green and Denise Fernando on this project I was able to collaborate with many other experts to examine other aspects of the study such as entomology and statistics. I have learnt so much from this project, not just about the study subject itself, there will always be problems to overcome on a project such as this, with a low budget and little background knowledge to start with. Learing how work with whatever there is and find alternative ways to get a job done are part of the process of an honours project in biological science. Show less

Laboratory Assistant

• Nov 2013 - Feb 2014

I participated in a summer internship with Vintessential, a wine analysis lab in Dromana. At this placement I was able to gain experience with many laboratory techniques and learned to use analytical equipment such as plasma, gas and liquid spectrometers and NIR machine. My main duties were testing the daily wine samples. Before wine can be sold the levels of preservatives such as sulphur and malic acid must be tested to make sure they full within safe levels. Some other components such as alcohol levels must be displayed on the lable of the wine. Many of the tests were done by machine but the sulphur was measured by hand titration. Over the summer farmers would send in petiole samples of their vines to test nutrient levels. The samples had to be dried, ground, dissolved in acid and analysed using ICP spectrometry. All glassware used in this process then had to be washed in concentrated acid to remove any residue for the next round of testing. Because of the danger of chemical burns it was important to be vigilant and meticulous in handling the glassware. Show less

customer service representative

• Nov 2012 - Feb 2013

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity of working on a ryegrass program with the department of primary industries in Hamilton. During this time I assisted with a GM program and a SNP marker breeding program. I learned about how to care for the experimental plants. Weeding, re-potting, spraying and watering. I helped collect data and complete stock takes. I also helped run a cross-pollination experiment for the SNP marker ryegrass, this involved bagging individual inflorescences and counting seeds. My time in Hamilton gave me invaluable experience in experimental fieldwork. I learn that much care and attention must be shown in working with GM plants. Rules and regulations must be followed strictly to avoid contamination of pollen or seeds of GM plants. Hygiene measures were also very important to avoid introducing any outside contaminants such as insects or fungal pathogens. Teamwork and good communication were vital in the daily running of the project. 15 February 2011 until 17 February 2012, Medibank Private,; , A bit about the role. Involves answering calls for medibank members and answering in regards to their health insurance policy. Important to have good memory for facts, keen attention to detail and high customer service skills. What I've learned from this job. Working for Medibank has been a great experience in that it has taught me the importance of time management, at a call centre it is vital that you are always on time, don't take days off without notification and stick to your correct break times, nobody likes having to wait when they call up to speak to their provider so it is vital to have enough people at any one time to deal with the call volume. Show less

Call centre operator

• May 2010 - Dec 2010

A bit about the role. Fairly similar to my job at medibank except the calls were about tax rather than health insurance. What I've learnt from this job. Apart from the very handy bonus of understanding how tax works for the first time in my life, this job helped me learn the importance of having a keen eye for detail, following correct procedures and protocol, and conflict resolution. A bit about the role. Fairly similar to my job at medibank except the calls were about tax rather than health insurance. What I've learnt from this job. Apart from the very handy bonus of understanding how tax works for the first time in my life, this job helped me learn the importance of having a keen eye for detail, following correct procedures and protocol, and conflict resolution.

Assistant Manager

• Jan 2008 - Feb 2010

A bit about the role. IPR is a sanctuary for ex pet and ex lab monkeys, many of them have behavioural problems as a result of trauma, the sanctuary houses about 100 small to medium primates, mainly marmosets. I originally started in this role as a paid volunteer, it was a very new sanctuary and for the first 2 months I was the only volunteer, Sue Mousley, the founder of the sanctuary was impressed with my work and asked that I look after the sanctuary while she went to the UK for 2 weeks. This went well so I staid on for the next 2 years as a volunteer staff member. I assisted in the general care of the primates, cleaning the cages, preparing the food, health checks and medication, and providing enrichment. Sometimes we would get in orphaned baby monkeys that needed to be hand reared and carefully introduced into a monkey family. At the end of 2009 we moved the sanctuary from Polokwane, a small town near the border of Zimbabwe to Pretoria a large city near Johannesburg, the move took many months and was only just completed when I returned to Australia, While the two sanctuary sites were operating I was in charge of the new site. What I learnt from this job. I learned a lot about primates social behaviour, the importance of diligence, routine and patience when working with animals, how to hand rear many different kinds of babies, the locals would bring in all sorts of orphaned and stray animals, as there simply isn't enough sanctuaries of any kind in Africa. Show less

Volunteer

• Mar 2008 - May 2008

A bit about the role. Eco Centare Beli is a sanctuary for Griffin Vaulters in Croatia. The Vultures has become critically endangered and is one of the rarest birds in the world. The Centre monitors the wild population but also cares for injured vultures that are unable to be returned to the wild. The sanctuary also took in sheep and donkeys that were too old to be of any use to people and cared for them until they died of old age, they were never killed unless it was more humane to do so than let them live, this was the main food source for the captive vultures. My role as a volunteer was to care for the vultures and domestic animals, provide them with food and water, keep their living areas clean and provide enrichment. I also spent a lot of my time in Croatia going on long walks through the forest with the numerous sanctuary dogs that had been taken in as there were no other animal sanctuaries in the area. What I learnt from this job I learnt a lot about the social behaviour of vultures and the care of captive birds. I learnt the basics of clicker training dogs as the sanctuary had many dogs who had to be strictly trained not to chase sheep. Show less

Volunteer

• Sep 2007 - Nov 2007

A bit about the role. The Swamp iguana is only found on the small island of Utilla in Honduras, its numbers have been drastically reduced by hunting and loss of habitat. One of the main problems in that although the iguana lives in the swamp it lays it's eggs in the sand of the beach, the eggs are often trampled by unsuspecting tourists. The Sanctuary had a captive breeding program for the iguanas, there was about 20 breeding pairs but also when the wild females laid their eggs on the beach they were collected and incubated, when the young hatched they were released straight into the swamp for an optimal chance of survival. As a volunteer I helped care for the captive iguanas, cleaning the enclosures and preparing food, but also helped monitor the wild population. What I learnt from this job. I learnt a lot about the care and upkeep of reptiles, the importance of keeping enclosures clean and to prevent outbreaks of illness or pests. Show less