Kia ora everyone and welcome to the Chiasma National newsletter for May 2024!
This will provide a snapshot of Chiasma across the country each month as well as bringing you the latest updates, jobs, internships and news in the wider STEM fields. We hope that this will be a useful addition to Chiasma and we encourage you to reach out to us to provide feedback or suggestions for the newsletter.
For now, we hope you enjoy this newsletter and wherever you are in the country we hope you enjoy the Chiasma events on offer to you this year!
Chiasma Auckland
Connect Launch : Chiasma Auckland celebrated the beginning of our annual connect mentorship program, kicking off with a program structure and some fun activities to boost the connection between our mentees and mentors!
TechTalk Innovation in Space : Chiasma and Velocity worked together to hosted a fantastic event showcasing the innovation pipeline for Auckland space startups! Providing inspiring stories for the future of this space!
Chiasma Wellington
Exciting developments are underway at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, as Chiasma Wellington kicks off its series of site visits for 2024! On May 8th and 10th, two groups of enthusiastic STEM students had the exclusive opportunity to explore the renowned laboratories of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. With limited spaces filling up fast, aspiring scientists eagerly seized the chance to delve into cutting-edge research happening at Malaghan. After an immersive tour of the facilities, the students got to sit down with one of Malaghan’s research officers to learn invaluable tips on how to stand out as a science graduate in a competitive job market. Empowered with newfound knowledge, these students left the site buzzing with excitement about their future careers. Chiasma Wellington is thrilled to announce that more engaging events like this are on the horizon, so watch this space!
Chiasma Dunedin
Chiasma Dunedin put on a fantastic Intro to Industry event!
Guest speakers from several top companies across New Zealand, such as Pacific Edge, Trimble, University of Otago, and AgResearch, shared their journeys from academia to the science sector. They gave valuable insights on how students can use their university skills for future success. Attendees had the chance to interact directly with these experienced professionals, asking questions and hearing about their varied backgrounds. The lively atmosphere of the event made it easy for everyone to chat and make personal connections over some delicious finger foods.
The ‘must check-out’ section!
We hear from one of our fantastic Chiasma alumni – Ruby Roach in this month’s ‘must check-out’ section!
Read below to learn about her experience in STEM and how Chiasma played a role in networking and exploring areas of interest in STEM!
Kia ora Chiasma whānau, I’m Ruby! After completing my Masters in Science, hungry to embed myself deeper into the field, I embarked on my PhD journey at Massey University in 2019. Shortly after beginning, I found myself drawn to activities and initiatives that allowed me to widen my knowledge of the science going on within Aotearoa, in both academia and industry. In 2020, I became a member of the Manawatū Momentum Investment Committee, finding out about it through a friend. Shortly thereafter, through the connections formed within this committee and beyond, the Manawatū branch of Chiasma was born.
I served as the CFO of Chiasma Manawatū from 2021-2022 and this experience allowed me to develop my leadership and networking skills immensely. My role on the Chiasma Manawatū team encouraged me to reach out to people in leadership roles within Massey University and the many start-ups in the Manawatū, and I particularly enjoyed the networking events that we held, allowing me to connect on a personal level with like-minded individuals.
Now, in 2023, I have submitted my PhD thesis and have secured a post-doc position through Callaghan Innovation with Nanophage Technologies (a start-up in Manawatū). At the moment, I spend my days in the lab doing very exciting research and development, synthesising custom nano-scale phage particles for diagnostic applications.
Connect with Ruby on LinkedIn to more about her and her amazing work – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruby-roach-867462193/
Thank you for reading through, aren’t you just the best! Make sure to check out our website and follow our LinkedIn page for the latest updates. See you all next month – same place, same time! 😉