Two students from The University of Western Australia have been chosen to join the prestigious inaugural cohort of Quad Fellows, a diverse and dynamic group of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians from the Quad countries of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
Environmental science student Maddie Hunter and PhD candidate Natasha Berthold will join 98 exceptional master’s and doctoral students in being sponsored to study in the US.
Maddie, who is passionate about biodiversity conversation, recently conducted research on the effects of fire on small mammals in the Little Sandy Desert in Western Australia. Originally from Scarborough she is excited to further her studies in the US with a master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture.
“I’m very excited to be selected as a Quad Fellow, it feels like an amazing privilege and to be honest it is taking time to really sink in – I’m from a big family and everyone was thrilled to hear that I will be able to study in the US,” Maddie said.
PhD student Natasha, who grew up in Fremantle, is researching the genetics of eating disorders with UWA and the Perron Institute and in the future would like to increase understanding of psychiatric disorders to help develop personalised therapeutics.
She’d just undertaken a summer fellowship at the University of North Carolina’s Centre of Excellence for Eating Disorders and was at the airport getting ready to come home to Australia when she learned she’d been selected a Quad Fellow.
“I was half crying and half laughing but I’m honoured to be part of this inaugural cohort and to have the chance to go back and study in the Northern Hemisphere, it’ s a fantastic opportunity to further my study,” Natasha said.
UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor David Sadler said the University was proud of the new Fellows who would have the opportunity to build important ties across partner institutions in Quad countries by taking part in an opportunity that would help shape them as future STEM leaders.
“I am delighted that Maddie and Natasha have been awarded the prestigious Quad Fellowships,” Professor Sadler said.
“Having already worked exceptionally hard to make their mark, they now have the opportunity to be advocates for UWA and Australia, while continuing their studies in their chosen areas of expertise.”
The inaugural recipients, who are pursuing studies in 16 disciplines and 49 specialisation areas, were selected after a rigorous process by Schmidt Futures with fewer than eight per cent of applicants advancing to interviews.
