Alumni Stories
Alice Yuniaty
Molecular biologist recalls tremendous support during a sorrowful time
To Alice Yuniaty, her years at the University of Queensland will forever be imprinted in her memory. She arrived in 2000 to begin her PhD studies in Cellular Biology specializing in Plant Molecular Biology under an Australian Development Scholarship. Alice was eager to start the research and dived headlong into her studies.
Alice came to realize that there was a lot more she had to learn and worked on improving communication with her supervisor and fellow PhD candidates. These were relationships which would prove so valuable to Alice during her personal sorrow in the following years.
Sunday Alexander Theophilus Noya
A heart for the education in East Indonesia and fight against plagiarism
Sunday Alexander Theophilus Noya knew early on he wanted to improve on the education in East Indonesia. Due to his parents work, Sunday moved a lot when he was growing up and spent his elementary and middle school years in Seram Island, Maluku. “I saw firsthand the immense struggle my fellow schoolmates go through in order to gain education,” Sunday reminisced. “Some of my friends had to walk barefoot tens of kilometers to reach school.” The level of subjects taught was also below standard in these remote areas.
Sugeng Budiharta
A love for biodiversity
Sugeng Budiharta grew up at the slopes of Wilis Mountain, East Java. With uncles serving at the Indonesian State Forestry Company (Perusahaan Hutan Negara Indonesia, Perhutani) and grandfather working in the agriculture industry, Sugeng was no stranger to the field of biodiversity.
“I grew up listening to their discussions at dinner and family events. Even my parents, both elementary school teachers, were assigned to areas surrounded by nature,” Sugeng reminisced. “I had wonderful childhood memories of exploring my surroundings, climbing up trees and running across fields.”
Inge Christanti
Diversity as a platform for human rights
Inge Christanti, researcher at the Human Rights Study Centre, Surabaya University, East Java, realizes that her line of work is not a common choice. “Despite the difficulties often associated with human rights studies, the multidisciplinary aspect of the field appealed to me,” Inge said.
“I also believe that human society plays a crucial role in determining the direction of the community and world at large – I want to study and observe key aspects of the human society,” Inge added.
Brahmaputra Marjadi
Collaboration in the fight against infectious diseases
Dr Brahmaputra Marjadi, MPH, PhD in Epidemiology from the University of New South Wales (2009), began his pathway in his field of expertise through a scholarship from AusAID. “As a medical doctor, I had the opportunity to participate in an Indonesia – Australia Specialised Training Project in 1998. It was a short course on HIV/AIDS management and development,” Brahm recalled.
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