Kayla Topuzlular

I completed VCE at Elizabeth Blackburn Science School, which has strong partnerships with the University of Melbourne. Because of this, I was aware of the amazing Science program that the University has. This led me to complete a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. What stood out for me was the wide range of sciences I could explore within this bachelors degree, as well as the flexibility to choose the subjects that interested me most! I majored in Neuroscience but was able to complete various science subjects such as visual sciences, anatomy, and physiology.

During the final year of my undergraduate degree, I completed mostly neuroscience subjects and quickly realised that I was most passionate about this area of science. This has brought me to where I am now: completing the Master of Biomedical Science!

The University of Melbourne is located right in the centre of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, which is a hub for scientific discovery, with numerous research institutes and hospitals. This means students can engage directly with professionals in the field and access world-class facilities to conduct research in. A large portion of the Master of Biomedical Science is a research project that you can complete at any department within the University or at any of its affiliated research institutes or hospitals.

The University of Melbourne is also home to the largest neuroscience research institute in the Southern Hemisphere: the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, which is where I complete my research!

The most exciting part of the Master of Biomedical Science is definitely the research project. I am contributing to real, impactful research. Each student in the degree is allocated to a research lab, where they become a working part of the team. My research project investigates a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, and being a part of such research is the greatest privilege.

Going into the Master of Biomedical Science, I had minimal independent lab experience, but throughout the degree I have developed a large skill set that allows me to conduct my own research project. This is what largely differs the masters degree from a bachelors degree – the majority of my time is spent learning translatable skills that I will use in the workplace.

In conjunction with my research, we also complete coursework subjects that teach us crucial skills such as thinking scientifically and communicating science. The majority of our classes are presented by guest speakers who are professionals in their respective fields, in positions that we are working towards and aspire to be in. They provide very informative and valuable learning experiences.

Additionally, having smaller cohort sizes in postgraduate studies has made it a lot easier to build strong friendships with peers, which has been one of the most valuable outcomes of my studies. There are many postgraduate student societies which offer regular social events for students to take a break from studies and socialise, or career development events where we can further our learning. During my masters degree, I have been on the committee of two student societies, which has been an amazing opportunity to connect with students and staff at the University and gain more experience working collaboratively.

My studies in the Master of Biomedical Science have enabled me to grow as a scientist through theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Every day, I am developing new skills that I will be able to translate into a variety of different jobs – setting myself up for a successful future in biomedical research!

Completing a Master of Biomedical Science opens students to a world of possibilities. We are equipped with a skillset that can be applied to a range of different jobs in the biomedical research sector. Biomedical research is typically split into two categories: industry and academia – and luckily, I am interested in both!

I aspire to have a career which makes an impact in biomedical research to help improve the health and wellbeing worldwide. My next step would be to either enter straight into the workforce, working as a research assistant at a research institute, or working within research and development at a pharmaceutical company, or to complete a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Melbourne.

My biggest fear when beginning the Master of Biomedical Science was that I had minimal lab experience. I was worried that this would negatively affect my performance in the degree. However, my lab and peers were there to train me without any judgement, which has helped me become an independent graduate researcher. My advice is to be transparent about this with your lab because they are here to help!

I advise future students to get involved in campus life and make friends. You will likely be around the same people every day (for two years in the masters), so it is easy to make strong friendships. Being close to like-minded people who are facing the same challenges as you is really beneficial; you can learn from and support one another.

Most importantly, have fun! This is the beginning of a lifelong journey in science. Be excited! Often, this degree is the first time students are in getting into laboratories and contributing to research. Over the two-year period in the masters, you learn so much and develop from an undergraduate student to a scientist. Reflect on all of your efforts that have gotten you to the position you are in now, be proud of yourself, and enjoy the journey!