Women in Engineering and IT

The faculty fosters a collaborative environment that encourages curiosity and innovation. In the Department of Biomedical Engineering, I’m fortunate to work alongside exceptional researchers across various fields. My work in Ultra-High Field MRI has been greatly enriched through collaborations with international academic and industry partners, supported by the University’s strong emphasis on innovation and translation through accelerator programs and industry networks.

Student involvement is central to our work. I engage students through hands-on research projects and mentorship, often in collaboration with clinical and industry partners. These experiences not only strengthen students' learning but also enhance the real-world impact of their research.

The environment at FEIT is very welcoming and collegial, with strong enthusiasm for new projects and collaboration. It’s easy to connect with others across the faculty, and the support for research has been excellent, particularly through mentoring schemes, departmental assistance, and access to high-performance computing resources and technical support.

I engage with students through teaching, supervision of Master's and PhD projects, and by organising our departmental Three Minute Thesis competition. I've had the opportunity to focus on public engagement, with great support from the Faculty’s media team, which has led to co-authoring articles for The Conversation and participating in local radio interviews.

Dr Sarah Webber

Computing and Information Systems

I feel privileged to work with colleagues from across the university who are keen to contribute to and nurture my research on digital technology in nature engagement and environmental education.

I’m always so impressed by the innovation demonstrated by the interaction design students, and I’m excited to be involved in organising hackathons, student research projects and other opportunities outside the classroom.

The University of Melbourne is an institution that’s widely recognised and respected for its ability to tackle big, important issues; this has enabled me to forge meaningful partnerships with local organisations, to undertake community-grounded research into digital technologies and their impacts.

During my Doreen Thomas Fellowship with the Department of Infrastructure Engineering, I was warmly welcomed and introduced to a range of research groups, creating opportunities to collaborate and connect with colleagues across FEIT. I received strong support through seed and start-up funding, travel grants, and a valuable mentoring program for academics at different stages. The FEIT research office was also highly responsive and supportive throughout the competitive funding process.

I engaged with students through seminars, teaching, and online professional platforms, and was fortunate to be introduced to potential PhD candidates early on, which helped establish my research group. Through the Early Career Academic Network, I connected with peers across the faculty and gained leadership experience through a committee role. The Business Development team was collaborative in exploring commercial pathways and advising on IP matters for industry grants and partnerships.