John Monash Scholarship recipient Darcy Dunn-Lawless, a Flinders University biomedical engineering researcher, plans to head to the University of Oxford next year.
The prestigious $225,000 three-year scholarship will support Mr Dunn-Lawless through his DPhil in Engineering Science and help his ambition to develop a ‘real-world’ medical device with new knowledge and insights into commercialising research.
Under the supervision of Professor Karen Reynolds, Mr Dunn-Lawless has excelled in his Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (Honours) and Master of Engineering (Biomedical) studies.
His next career move follows his completion of a MedTech Actuator Menzies Scholarship this year, which gave him insights into the research and commercialisation of an implantable ultrasound device that he developed as a Masters project.
“I’m looking to eventually turn my work into a real system, and would one day like to run a medical device start-up company,” Mr Dunn-Lawless says.
The Masters project involved designing components for a new implant that uses ultrasound to monitor and provide therapy to cancer patients after they’ve had orthopaedic surgery.
Earlier this year, Mr Dunn-Lawless presented progress on his research in the relatively new field of implantable ultrasound at the Australian Biomedical Engineering conference. He has also tutored in engineering at Flinders University since 2019.
The General Sir John Monash Foundation, which is now in its 20th year, has given outstanding academic opportunities to 233 scholarship recipients across a range of disciplines. Some of Australia’s best and brightest young minds have gone on from these scholarships to become renowned medical professionals, experts in sustainability and clean energy, world-class educators and leaders in Indigenous health and community.
Among the 18 scholarships for 2022, several have been awarded to health sector recipients who specialise in medical research, health policy and allied health – including Flinders University Bachelor of Speech Pathology graduate Rebecca Keeley, who also is heading to Oxford University to study a Master of Business Administration.
After completing a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders, Ms Keeley was the first speech pathologist to undertake the Allied Health Rural and Remote Generalist Training Program with James Cook University.
In future, she plans to use her new skills in business modelling to redesign the way allied health services are delivered in geographically isolated locations, such as within the Northern Territory.
The foundation of the John Monash Scholarship applauded her work. “Rebecca (Keeley) is a proud advocate for early career allied health professionals in rural and remote areas, having established the mentoring support group Outback Allies. She believes in empowering young allied health clinicians to best support their patients and communities.”
Ms Annemarie Rolls, CEO of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, says the scholars “are, as always, exceptional Australians whose range of expertise and great promise fill us with confidence that they will make profound contributions to a bright future for us all. They will be studying at various universities in the US, UK, Europe and also in Singapore, where they will be great ambassadors for Australia while also building valuable international networks.”