Natasha De Mel
Communication. It is how we learn, share and build connections. Without it, there would be no advancement of humanity, no change or no understanding. Our ability to communicate is an integral part of the world and throughout my degree I have been able to develop and utilise my scientific communication skills.
I came into Biomedical science at Deakin with no direction towards the future. Because of this, I set out to experience as many potential career paths as possible to choose the path that was right for me. In doing so, I have exposed myself to many situations that have required sound communication skills in order to succeed.
There are a few key experiences that I would like to share in support of my Hallmark application. Beginning in 2015, to now, I feel that these experiences illustrate the improvements I have made and initiative I have taken in order to perfect my communication skills.
In August 2015, I was selected to participate in Price, Waterhouse & Cooper’s STEM Academy. The extensive application process included a CV, aptitude testing and a video interview. The application process alone allowed me to realise my strength in articulating my skills and selling myself, especially in completing the video interview. I was able to formulate sound responses to the questions asked, whilst thinking on my feet with only one minute to do so.
During the program, I was required to collaborate with other students from a broad range of STEM degrees, to complete the disruption and problem-solving tasks that were given to us. One of my key attributes is my ability to build rapport with people and this quality made completing the tasks much smoother. I was able to listen to my peers and understand their point of view, whilst also expressing my own thoughts and ideas.
A few weeks after the program, I was contacted by Maria Sponza, who asked me to create a video to speak about my STEM Academy experiences. I was able to share my journey and to also promote STEM Academy to future students. This was the first time I had done anything like this, and in comparing this video to a more recent one, such as that on this page, communicating through video has become much more comfortable for me. This video was used to open a meeting with the SEBE faculty executives. This was a proud moment for me and I am very pleased that I stepped out of my comfort zone and took the opportunity.
Furthermore, my role as a Student ambassador for Deakin University has given me many opportunities to strengthen my communication skills over the last 3 years. As a student ambassador, my job is to share with prospective students and parents my experiences at university and to share knowledge on what Deakin has to offer. I have been required to do so both face to face and in speaking to large audiences. One key experience was when I was asked to MC the 2018 Careers' Practitioner's Seminar. I was required to speak to a large crowd of about 300 people and share my experiences studying Biomedical Science at Deakin. I was able to articulate myself well and remain composed, through speaking to a large group of people.
My favourite part of this role was being able to share what I love about my degree with future university students. Helping them to make a decision at a crossroads in their lives has been a privilege and I hope that the advice and insight that I have shared has come in handy in their decisions. It has been so rewarding to act as a mentor to future university students, even inspiring them to pursue a degree in science.
Very recently, I was invited to participate in the Paddl Innovation Games sponsored by AGL and COSBOA. This was a one-day event, bringing together students and graduates from a diverse range of areas to solve a real-world business challenge for a small business in the area. This event once again involved being grouped together with different people from different backgrounds and having to work together to
create a solution.
My coursework as part of biomedical science has been the driving factor in improving my scientific communication skills. I have been given numerous opportunities to develop my report writing skills and there are a few assignments which I am particularly proud of and believe showcase my abilities the best.
As part of SLE 342, Risks to healthy environments, I wrote a report on the subject of overfishing. I had not done any study relating to environmental issues before, so I was pleasantly surprised to have received full marks for this report. This assignment showed me that I was able to utilise my scientific writing skills well, even though the subject matter was something that I was not completely familiar with.
Additionally, the practical report I completed as part of SLE 334, Medical Microbiology and Immunology highlights my ability to use microbiological techniques but then also articulate what exactly I did and the results I obtained. In both of these assignments, I have also demonstrated my ability to reference others' work in support of my points, using their findings in support of my own.
The placement that I am undertaking with Sigma healthcare as part of SLE 390, has given me professional communication experience to round off my skillset. In my role as research coordinator, I am required to source relevant articles in support of claims made about Sigma's range of vitamin and mineral products. I am required to communicate my findings from scientific journals, determine which research best supports the claims and then translate this information into evidence packages to be submitted to the Therapeutic Goods Association. This experience has given me the opportunity to use the researching and analytical skills I have gain throughout my degree in a professional, real-world setting. The evaluation I received from my supervisor speaks to my ability to adjust to new situations and to be able to tailor my methods of communication to a more professional setting. To quote, "she is an excellent contributor who communicates thoughtfully, respectfully and confidently." I believe that these three words describe my character well and are the foundation in each experience I have detailed in this application.
To the judges assessing my application, I thank you for your time and consideration. I am excited to dive into a new chapter of my life, taking with me the invaluable skills and experiences I have gained throughout this degree.
Sincerely,
Natasha De Mel