最新糖心Vlog

最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide Alumna Olivia Johnson was captivated with genetics from a young age because of her sister鈥檚 Cystic Fibrosis.

鈥淕enetics has always been something that鈥檚 naturally clicked for me,鈥�Olivia Johnson

Going from a Bachelor of Science to Honours, then a PhD, Olivia鈥檚 research topic was clear, she would conduct a study to 鈥渄evelop genome-wide selection scanning technologies to detect genetic selection in ancient and modern genomes.鈥� Her study aspires to obtain a deeper understanding how selection shapes human diversity and disease.

Determined to continue studying and to avoid an unappealing desk job, she considered scholarship opportunities to support her PhD. Most scholarships offered placements abroad, but Olivia was passionate about her life in Adelaide and was relieved to discover the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship would accommodate this.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to move away from home, and a lot of the scholarships required moving overseas. Westpac was one where you could stay in Adelaide. It was such a perk, I figured why not go for it?鈥�

Earlier this year, the 22 year old was selected as a Westpac Future Leader Scholar. The scholarship, valued at $120,000 over three years, is designed to develop leadership potential in tomorrow鈥檚 leaders, includes a nine-month bespoke Leadership Development Program and the opportunity to spend up to six months abroad to gain global experience.

Prior to commencing the scholarship program, Olivia didn鈥檛 consider herself a leader and preferred an introverted lifestyle. It was the five-day intensive Leadership Program, offered with the scholarship, which allowed her to recognise her leadership potential.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 ever think I was a leader because I didn鈥檛 fit that stereotype of the person with the loudest voice. But it鈥檚 ok if I鈥檓 not that because there are other ways to be a leader that are just as effective, if not more,鈥� she said.

Incredibly, the gender gap in STEM hasn鈥檛 discouraged the scholar, instead it鈥檚 ignited her.聽

鈥淚鈥檝e been told that women shouldn鈥檛 be in science, it鈥檚 not rewarding and you won鈥檛 get far. I鈥檝e personally tried to use this to spur me on.

鈥淭ell me that I can鈥檛 be a woman in STEM and I鈥檒l tell you that I can, and I鈥檒l show you that I can. But this shouldn鈥檛 be anyone鈥檚 introduction to STEM. We need to see women making their mark,鈥� she continued.

Olivia credits the supportive network of scholars for her new found confidence.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about having someone believe in you and support you. These people believe that I can be more than how I see myself.鈥�

Now she advocates for others, particularly women in STEM, to believe in themselves even if others don鈥檛.

鈥淒on鈥檛 let anyone tell you what you can or can鈥檛 do, because people like to do that. Just prove them wrong.鈥�