Student profiles
Yang Choon Lim Yang Choon Lim, who has completed a PhD in engineering at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, originally began her Deakin studies from her home in Malaysia. Completing a Bachelor of Engineering - Robotics major with first class honours in 2006, Yang says it wasn’t until a presentation trip to Australia that she considered postgraduate studies. ‘Back then, all the students studying in Malaysia were required to travel to Deakin for their final year project presentation. It was then I learnt about the postgraduate course and the various exciting research areas that were going on at the University. This led to my PhD application and I was offered a scholarship under the Deakin University International Research Scholarship Program.’ Yang’s research is in the area of Biological Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (BioMEMS) which assist in the detection of diseases. ‘For my PhD, I developed a microcantilever-based biosensor for detection of thrombin molecules. A biosensor detects and analyses analyte of interest via coupling of bioreceptors and a transducer. Miniaturisation of biosensors is important in the field of point-of-care diagnostics as it enables efficient and timely detection of diseases. This is particularly useful in third worldcountries,’ she explains. She says Deakin’s diverse research areas and multidisciplinary expertise has enhanced her research experience. ‘Working with other research groups within Deakin has benefitted me in a lot of ways. I am exposed to more information and different techniques which has improved my research. Sharing and discussing ideas with other researchers from various backgrounds enriches my knowledge and broadens my perspective,’ she says. Yang says undertaking a PhD has helped her take on a more methodical approach to research. ‘I’m more organised in developing project plans and timelines so that I can keep track of my research progress ensuring it is on time. It also enhances my critical thinking skills. I believe all these skills are highly useful in my future career.’ In the future, Yang hopes to continue to work in the field of BioMEMS to contribute to the improvement of point-of-care diagnostics.
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