Summer Research Scholarships 2025

Now in its fourteenth year, the prestigious Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarships program attracted 57 applications in 2025, reflecting strong interest from students eager to explore multidisciplinary approaches to health and wellbeing.

This year’s cohort represents the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Health, Science, and the Sydney Business School, working under the guidance of 32 supervisors from numerous schools and disciplines.

Charles Perkins Centre Joint Interim Academic Directors, Professor David James and Professor Natasha Nassar, commended the high calibre of applicants and the diversity of their research projects.

“The 2025 projects span a remarkable range of topics from insulin impact on type 2 diabetes, to food security and socio-economic disadvantage, eating disorder outcomes in behavioural weight management trials, and the development of an integrated AI platform for metabolic omics data and discovery,” said Professors James and Nassar.

“It’s inspiring to see students bringing creativity and rigour to complex health challenges.”

Several students are applying emerging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to issues in cardiovascular health and liver disease, showcasing the Centre’s focus on innovation and collaboration.

Since its inception 14 years ago, the Summer Research Scholarship program has supported more than 185 students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher research degrees and fellowships at the Centre. Open to both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, the program encourages participants to design and conduct independent research aligned with the Centre’s mission to improve health through multidisciplinary discovery.

The program continues to be supported by the Nicholas Catchlove Early Career Researcher Development Fund, generously endowed by Dr Barry Catchlove AM and Professor Louise Sylvan AM in memory of Dr Catchlove’s son, Nicholas.

The Summer Research Scholars present their final projects at a ceremony at the Charles Perkins Centre in 10am–12pm | Thursday 12 February 2026.

Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholars 2025

Meghna Anand

Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Supervisors | Professor Oliver Fuller (Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences) | Associate Professor Melkam Kebede (Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences)

Project | Validating Machine Learning–Based OGTT Estimates of Tissue-Specific Insulin Resistance

This project aims to validate machine learning models that use oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) data to accurately estimate tissue-specific insulin resistance (IR), a key factor in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Insulin resistance varies across liver, muscle, and adipose tissue and influences disease progression and treatment response. The gold-standard method for measuring tissue-specific IR, the hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp, is costly and impractical for widespread use. This project tests whether ML models applied to simpler OGTT data can reliably predict IR by analysing glucose and insulin responses alongside clinical information. The goal is to develop scalable, practical tools for personalized diabetes care, especially beneficial for underserved populations.

Julia Baird

Master of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health

Supervisors | Dr Penny Farrell (Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health - Global Health) | Ms Tarunna Sebastian (Arts and Social Sciences, Sydney School of Education and Social Work - Aboriginal Education / Indigenous Studies)

Project | How Council-Supported Food Security Programs Work Together: Improving Food Access in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Areas of the City of Sydney Local Government Area (LGA)

The project investigates how food security programs supported by the City of Sydney council operate synergistically to improve access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Targeting approximately 17,000 residents facing food insecurity, it focuses on structural barriers like transport, housing, and economic constraints compounded by urban retail environments dominated by unhealthy options. Through stakeholder interviews and policy document analysis, the study aims to identify enablers of successful program coordination and accessibility, providing actionable recommendations to enhance policy, service delivery, and equity in food access. Special emphasis is placed on vulnerable groups including social housing residents, low-income households, CALD communities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hugh Cooney

Doctor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health

Supervisors | ProfessorAndrew Holmes (Science, Life and Environmental Sciences) | Professor Jean Yang (Science, Mathematics and Statistics)

Project | An agent-based model to simulate gut microbial response to fasting

The project aims to develop an agent-based computational model to explore how nutrient fluctuations during fasting and diet restrictions affect the survival and competition among microbial populations in the gut microbiome. By simulating individual microbial agents with different nutrient storage and metabolic traits, the model investigates the impact of fasting patterns and dietary interventions, such as intermittent fasting, on microbial community dynamics. This work seeks to uncover mechanisms by which diet can modulate the microbiome composition and its influence on host health outcomes like digestion, immunity, metabolism, and mental wellbeing. The model integrates concepts from ecology, microbiology, and nutrition science and uses a three-way nutrient framework (phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen) to capture complex nutrient competition.

Thi Phuong Anh (Delphine) Dang

Bachelor of Arts, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Supervisors | Professor Alexandre Lefebvre (Arts and Social Sciences, School of Humanities)

Associate Professor Clara Grazian (Science, School of Mathematics and Statistics)

Project | Affordability as a Right: Causal Effects of Staple Price Shocks on Diet Quality and Obesity Risk; Human-Rights Intervention for Price Policy using Bayesian Method

This project explores the impact of staple food price shocks on diet quality and obesity risk, particularly among low socioeconomic status (SES) groups, from a human rights perspective. It hypothesizes that affordable, adequate food is a right that should be protected against market dynamics that worsen diet-related health inequalities. The project uses Bayesian causal inference models to quantify these effects and evaluate policy interventions (e.g., subsidies, taxes, transport relief) aimed at closing equity gaps and improving nutrition. The research integrates political theory and statistical methods to create decision-ready policy recommendations addressing structural causes of diet inequity and chronic disease.

Sarah Gates

Bachelor of Science (Honours), Faculty of Science

Supervisors | Associate Professor Melkam Kebede (Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences) | Professor David James (Science, School of Life Sciences)

Project | Investigating the role of Synaptophysin (SYP) in the insulin secretory pathway and its contribution to β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes

This project investigates how Synaptophysin (SYP), a protein linked to insulin secretory granules (ISGs), contributes to β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Preliminary research shows SYP interacts with SNARE-complex proteins affecting insulin granule docking and exocytosis, critical for insulin release. The project aims to define the mechanistic consequences of reduced SYP expression on insulin secretion and diabetic pathology using human islets and β-cell models. Key hypotheses focus on SYP's role in facilitating granule docking and its regulation by calcium signalling, enhancing understanding of β-cell failure mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Yuenchen Lee

Doctor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health

Supervisors | Professor Luigi Fontana (Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School) | Dr Raaj Kishore Biswas (Medicine and Health, Charles Perkins Centre, Health and Data Sciences)

Project | Impact of Weight Regain on Metabolic Health Following Calorie Restriction in Non-Obese Adults

This project investigates the effects of weight cycling (weight loss followed by regain) on metabolic health in non-obese adults who undergo calorie restriction. It aims to quantify the metabolic changes, identify markers predicting weight regain or sustained loss, and explore metabolic pathways linking metabolite changes to clinical outcomes. Using clinical trial data from the CALERIE Phase 2 study, it examines metabolic, inflammatory, and aging-related markers alongside body composition and dietary measurements. The goal is to enhance understanding of calorie restriction's durability as a preventative strategy and guide personalized weight management approaches.

Diana Lipovkov

Bachelor of Science, Faculty of Science

Supervisors | Associate Professor Melkam Kebede (Medicine and Health, Medical Sciences) | Dr Neftali Flores Rodriguez (Science, Sydney Microscopy & Microanalysis)

Project | Uncovering the impact of the disease-associated variant of ZIP8 on metal ion homeostasis in β-cells

This project investigates how the disease-associated ZIP8 variant affects metal ion (zinc, manganese, iron, cadmium) uptake and distribution in pancreatic β-cells, which are critical for insulin secretion and glucose regulation. Imbalances in these metal ions, especially zinc and iron, are linked to β-cell dysfunction and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited β-cells expressing wild-type or mutant ZIP8, the study will quantify metal ion transport and map intracellular localization to understand how this variant disrupts metal homeostasis and contributes to diabetic pathology.

Kate Livett

Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise Physiology), Faculty of Medicine and Health

Supervisors | Dr Jasmine Yee (Science, Psychology) | Associate Professor Kate Edwards (Medicine and Health, Health Sciences)

Project | Treatment-integrated exercise during radiation therapy for people with cancer: a narrative review

This project aims to synthesize existing evidence on integrating exercise into radiation therapy sessions for cancer patients to optimize exercise engagement and improve health outcomes. Exercise benefits include improved physical function, mental health, quality of life, and mitigation of treatment side effects. The review will highlight barriers, potential benefits across various tumour types, and clinical implementation strategies. This narrative review serves as a foundational document to guide future research and clinical practice in treatment-integrated exercise during radiotherapy.

Kori Saravia Lucic

Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Advanced Studies, Faculty of Science

Supervisors | Dr Nikki Lee (Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences) | Dr Michelle McDonald (Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences)

Project | Effects of carbohydrate intake on bone mass and central metabolic signalling pathways

This project investigates how high-carbohydrate diets, particularly high-fructose and high-sucrose, affect bone mass and structure through hypothalamic pathways regulating bone remodelling. Using a mouse model with maternal-offspring diet combinations, it explores sex-specific and intergenerational effects on skeletal health. The study integrates body composition, bone density and microarchitecture, and hypothalamic gene expression data to elucidate the brain-bone axis’s role in skeletal fragility linked to metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. This research aims to inform diet-based strategies for preventing bone fragility.

Yen Ngoc Nguyen

Bachelor of Advanced Computing, Faculty of Engineering

Supervisors | Professor David James (Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences / School of Medical Sciences) | Dr Alan Fekete (Engineering, School of Computer Science)

Project | An Integrated AI Platform for Metabolic Omics Data and Discovery

The project aims to build a web-based platform that integrates fragmented biological datasets, starting with proteomics, into a unified, richly annotated, and interoperable database. This platform will employ AI-driven tools to annotate, manage, and contextualize large-scale metabolic omics data, enabling seamless data sharing and reuse. By harmonizing identifiers and embedding experimental context across datasets, it will foster discovery and translational applications, including precision medicine. The platform’s design supports complex systems biology studies by enabling cross-study comparisons and multi-layer data integration, addressing key challenges in managing large-scale omics data in biomedical research.

Wei Xin Ong

Bachelor of Science (Medical Science), Faculty of Science

Supervisors | Professor Greg Sutherland (Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, School of Medical Sciences) | Dr Amanda Brandon (Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences)

Project | The Impact of Obesogenic Diet on the Brain Lipidome

This project investigates how different obesogenic diets—a high-fat diet (HFD) and a high-starch diet (HSD)—affect the brain’s lipid profile in mice. Mid-life obesity is a known risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) may reduce this risk. Using mice fed these diets, the study aims to compare brain lipid profiles, hypothesizing that HSD mice will have a more favourable brain lipid profile associated with maintained insulin sensitivity, unlike HFD mice. Mass spectrometry lipidomics will be used to analyse brain and plasma lipid changes, contributing to understanding the molecular links between diet, metabolism, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Janine Ramos

Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies), Faculty of Medicine and Health
Supervisors | Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge (Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing) | Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis (Medicine and Health, Health Sciences)

Project | Beyond Obesity: Mapping the Interplay of Sleep, Diet, and Cultural-Environmental Factors in Shaping Cardiovascular Risk among Pacific Island Adolescents

This project conducts a scoping review and secondary analysis of Global School-Based Student Health Survey data to map how sleep, diet, and cultural-environmental factors interact to influence obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among adolescents in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. It aims to identify behavioural and contextual determinants unique to Pacific populations, highlight knowledge gaps, and develop a systems-based framework illustrating intervention leverage points such as school programs, family education, and culturally relevant initiatives. The work addresses global health inequities and supports future translational research targeting high-risk, underserved populations.

Joshua Soon

Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Medicine, Faculty of Science

Supervisors| Professor Peter Cistulli (Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School) | Professor Philip de Chazal (Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering)

Project  | In the Shadows of Sleep: Uncovering the Drivers of Nocturnal Hypertension in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

This project investigates the relationship between abnormal nocturnal blood pressure patterns, including nocturnal hypertension, and sleep characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Using clinical trial data comprising polysomnography and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, it examines how features of OSA contribute to poor blood pressure control and increased cardiovascular disease risk. The study also evaluates the effects of six months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy on blood pressure, aiming to identify specific OSA phenotypes that respond best to CPAP treatment. Understanding these interactions could improve prediction and management of cardiovascular risks in OSA patients.

Veronica Tsou

Bachelor of Commerce, Sydney Business School

Supervisors | Dr Hiba Jebeile (Medicine and Health, Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School) | Dr Jie Kang (Science, School of Mathematics and Statistics)

Project | Developing a Prototype Risk-Benefit Prediction Workflow for Eating Disorder Outcomes in Behavioural Weight Management Trials

This project aims to develop and pilot a machine learning workflow that integrates both risks (such as eating disorder onset, worsening, binge eating) and benefits (including weight reduction, improved blood pressure, lipid reduction) of behavioural weight management interventions. It builds on the EDIT Collaboration’s pooled trial data by implementing predictive models that balance risk and benefits to inform clinical decision-making and participant monitoring. The project will compare models, test feasibility of dual-outcome prediction, and create a scalable framework for further research.

Fransisca Nathalie Wijaya

Bachelor of Science (Medical Science), Faculty of Science

Supervisors | Associate Professor Helen McGuire (Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences) | Dr Nikki Lee (Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences)

Project | Investigating the relationship between fatty acids in serum and ox-LDL uptake patterns in CD36 monocytes for chimpanzees through immunofluorescence microscopy

This project examines how fatty acids in chimpanzee serum affect the uptake of oxidised low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by CD36 receptors on monocytes, which is related to coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Despite chimpanzees having a pro-atherogenic lipid profile, they rarely develop CAD, possibly because of diminished CD36 expression leading to controlled ox-LDL uptake. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, the project will image ox-LDL uptake and its intracellular distribution in monocytes, aiming to elucidate protective mechanisms relevant to human heart disease prevention.

Wenye (Nora) Zhang

Master of Strategic Public Relations, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Supervisors | Dr Micah Goldwater (Medicine and Health, Psychology) | Dr Betsi Beem (Arts and Social Sciences, Public Relations)

Project | Combating Health Misinformation Among Vulnerable Populations on Social Media: Psychological Mechanisms and Policy Solutions

The project explores why vulnerable groups such as older adults and people with chronic illnesses are more susceptible to health misinformation on social media. It examines psychological factors like memory biases, repetition, emotional appeal, and social interaction dynamics (likes, shares) that make misinformation persuasive. The project aims to translate these insights into effective policy interventions, including digital literacy programs, labelling systems, and targeted public health campaigns to help resist misinformation. By integrating psychology and policy research, the project seeks to provide evidence-based strategies to protect vulnerable populations and foster healthier online information environments.