For women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), effective mentoring can make all the difference on their path to success.
The LIFT Project supports women to lift as they climb, with Flourish scholarships making it easier for women in STEM to make industry connections, gain valuable new skills, see the real-world application of research innovation and enhance their career pathway through industry internships.
The first LIFT intern began their industry placement with iAccelerate resident company Sample Assist this month.
Asmaa Seyam is a third year PhD candidate, researching ways to enhance the resilience of and minimise waste within food supply chains. Asmaa will apply her research skills to a new sector, where she will interrogate the pre-employment medical landscape for opportunities to streamline the chain of custody for pathology samples.
PhD candidate Asmaa Seyam with industry mentor and Sample Assist founder Heath Cooper on their first day of the LIFT internship.
Asmaa applied for a LIFT internship to gain practical experience to apply her research methods to real-life case studies. “I’m excited about being the first LIFT intern because this opportunity offers me the chance to gain hands-on experience, improve my communication skills, and deepen my theoretical knowledge. I look forward to immersing myself in an environment where I can apply my skills in real-world scenarios and contribute meaningfully to Sample Assist.”
Industry mentor and Founder of Sample Assist, Heath Cooper, values the insights that skilled interns bring to his team:
“As a medical technology company, digital innovation in health is at the heart of what we do here at Sample Assist. Key to our success is the diversity of our research and development teams. Joining the iAccelerate UOW LIFT Program was a perfect fit for us here at Sample Assist. The LIFT program provides us with the opportunity to work with the best and brightest minds with whom we can work collaboratively to solve some of the health industry’s biggest problems. In this way, the LIFT Program is a genuine win-win for everyone involved.”
Heath has been an avid supporter of the LIFT Project, being one of the first iAccelerate resident companies to submit a research project to make the most of the three-month internship scheme with no costs to his start-up.
Through a Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grant provided by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the LIFT Project covers the cost of the internship program for 12 weeks, with the option for industry partners to contribute additional scholarship funding to host their chosen intern for up to six months.
Flourish interns will receive wrap around support through their scholarship, applying an entrepreneurial lens to their research through the iAccelerate Activate program, attending a two-day leadership retreat designed specifically for early career STEM researchers and contributing to community outreach through the MCCI AccelerateHER program, where they will serve as authentic, relatable role models to year 9 and 10 girls in the Illawarra.
Professor Danielle Skropeta, Co-Lead of the LIFT Project and Chief Investigator of the Flourish pillar, says:
“It's so important that early career researchers receive effective mentoring and sponsorship to succeed in their careers. By taking up these opportunities to grow and giving back as mentors to young girls, we hope to see our interns gain new skills, build their professional network in the Illawarra and continue their innovative research.”
The LIFT team is working closely with APR Intern to coordinate industry internships for women in STEM at UOW. If you’d like to enquire about a scholarship or mentor a LIFT intern, please email lift-project@uow.edu.au.