Few Flinders University Graduates Forge Ahead With 2023 Playford Memorial Trust Scholarship
Fourteen successful Flinders University graduates will forge ahead with their research and studies as 2023 Playford Memorial Trust Scholarship winners.
They were among leading South Australian students to receive a wide range of scholarships awarded at the annual Playford Memorial Trust presentations held this year at the Matthew Flinders Theatre at Flinders University’s Bedford Park campus.
PhD candidate Caroline Andersson previously received a Defence Women in STEM Undergraduate Scholarship from DSTG and Royal Australian Chemical Institute (SA Branch) Prize.
The South Australian Playford Trust has supported more than 600 students over the past decade or more with $5.1 million in financial support.
This year, the Trust will provide close to $700,000 to support tertiary students across the State.
Among the Playford PhD scholarships in Defence Science and Technology were Flinders College of Science and Engineering Doctor of Philosophy candidates Caroline Andersson (Chemistry and Chemical Synthesis) and Jamie Keegan-Treloar (Mathematical Sciences).
Kathryn Shleyer with Playford Trust Deputy Chair Paul Holloway.
After undergraduate studies designing mathematical modelling for traffic flow and road networks, Mr Keegan-Treloar has since gained experience in nanosatellite constellation systems and in the defence sector.
Ms Andersson also graduated with First Class Honours in Science in the Enhanced Program for High Achievers and will focus on environmental remediation in her PhD by developing novel materials to capture PFAS waste.
Kathryn Schleyer (Plant Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) and BSc(Hons) Molecular Bioscences) and Nicole Fickling (Urban Restoration and Soil Microbiomes) also won Playford Trust PhD Scholarships.
Nicole Fickling has received the Vice-Chancellor’s Letters of Commendation three times.
Ms Shleyer will continue to work on developing more resistant and sustainable crop varieties, including chickpeas and other legumes, while Ms Fickling will study the relationship between climate change factors and urban green spaces and their associated microbiomes to investigate recommendations for future planning of Adelaide’s urban environmental health.
Other Flinders University recipients were:
Brayden Wilson, left, David Pedone, Kate Reade and Lewis Hurley. Awards night photos: courtesy Playford Trust
Playford Trust Rural and Regional STEM Scholarship
Brayden Wilson – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical & Electronic) / Master of
Engineering Management
Nathan Fu was awarded the Aurecon Electrical Engineering Scholarship in the Playford Trust scholarship round.
Playford Trust Honours Scholarships
Cecilia Andersson – Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Enhanced Program for High Achievers) (Mathematics & Physics)
Nishant Bazzad – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) | Master of Engineering
(Biomedical)
Enya Chitty – Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Enhanced Program for High Achievers) (Coasts &
Oceans)
Amy Conroy – Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Forensic and Analytical Science)
Playford Trust / Aurecon Electrical Engineering Scholarship
Nathan Fu – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) (Structural Engineering)
Recipients of Playford Trust Honours Scholarships Enya Chitty, left, Amy Conroy, Cecilia Andersson and Nishant Bassad, right, with Professor Robert Saint, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Playford Trust / Built Honours Scholarship in Civil, Structural, and Construction Engineering
Emily Reed – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil)
Playford Trust / Clean Seas Aquaculture Scholarship
Lewis Hurley – Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology)
Playford Trust / Nyrstar Scholarship
Kate Reade – Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Forensic & Analytical Science) (Chemistry)
Playford Trust / SA Power Networks Scholarship
Davide Pedone – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical)