The Graduate Women SA Trust Inc has awarded $30,000 in scholarships and prizes in 2025.
Graduate Women SA Doctoral Scholarships ($6000)
Awards for women undertaking doctorate degrees by research at South Australian universities
- Tjing Shaeny Dian Chandra (Adelaide University): Reframing the role of nutrition in Australia’s food relief sector: Defining, monitoring, implementation and evaluation
- Cherise Jaye Fletcher (Adelaide University): Exploration of the barriers and facilitators for smoking cessation in pregnancy, including qualitative trials for novel cessation strategies: carbon monoxide monitoring and financial incentives.
- Megan Folwell (Adelaide University): Reproduction and genital morphology of snakes.
- Nicole Prideaux (Adelaide University): Employing Mind-Body Therapies in Physiotherapy for People with Persistent Pain Post-Stroke.
Graduate Women SA Masters Scholarships ($3000)
Awards for women undertaking masters degrees by research or including a thesis component at South Australian universities
- Annie Marek (Adelaide University): How bottom-up seagrass loss from overgrazing by turtles and top-down predator effects from black-tip reef sharks impact fish nursery function and biodiversity in the South Cocos (Keeling) Islands Lagoon.
- Cindy McConville (Flinders University): Waiting for Help: How Parents Cope and What Supports They Need While Waiting for Children’s Mental Health Care
Maria Lane Aboriginal Education Prize ($1000)
Award for an indigenous woman of outstanding academic merit studying in Education at the University of South Australia (Paid for privately in 2025)
Aleah Poole
Aleah is in her second year of Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours). She has embraced her studies with enthusiasm, excelling both academically and socially. Her experiences in the course have reinforced her lifelong passion for teaching, particularly in supporting Indigenous learning and cultural awareness. As a proud Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna woman, she aspires to become a highly regarded educator who fosters a positive and inclusive learning environment. Through her studies and hands-on experiences, including coaching young gymnasts, she is developing key leadership and mentorship skills that will shape her future as a compassionate and impactful teacher.
Nancy Webb Prize in Mathematics ($1000)
Award for a woman of outstanding academic merit in the School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, in the final year of her Bachelor degree
- Caitriona Lightbody
Graduate Women SA, Post-Graduate Scholarships ($5000) – Adelaide University
Dr Divyani Gupta
My research focuses on developing advanced bifunctional catalysts for next-generation aqueous Zn–CO2 batteries to enable efficient renewable energy storage and carbon utilization. The GWSA postdoctoral grant will support my participation in an international conference, where I will present my recent findings and engage with leading researchers in the field. This opportunity will not only strengthen international collaborations but also enhance the visibility and impact of my work, which is critical for establishing my career as an early-career researcher.
Dr Jinshuo Zou
My research focuses on designing advanced catalysts for electrochemical CO2 conversion into value-added multi-carbon products and sustainable fuels. With this grant, I will attend the World Conference on Catalysis and Chemical Engineering (WCCCE-2026) in Tokyo to present my latest findings on Cu-based catalysts and engage with global leaders in the field. This opportunity will enhance the visibility of my work, foster international collaborations, and strengthen my capacity to develop innovative solutions for carbon neutrality. Receiving this award will also raise the international profile of Australia and the University of Adelaide in catalysis and sustainable energy, contributing to research excellence and global leadership in addressing climate change.
Dr Sonia Nath
My research focuses on the oral microbiome and its role in innovative approaches to oral health, particularly Oral Microbiome Transplantation (OMT) as a potential strategy for treating oral diseases. With this grant, I plan to travel to Penn State University to work with Associate Professor Laura Weyrich on a pioneering phase 0 clinical trial that assesses the safety and feasibility of OMT. This experience will give me essential training in clinical trial methods, participant care, and regulatory procedures.
Dr Theresa Cole
One of my key research interests is evolutionary and ecological history in Antarctic environments – with a particular focus on genomics tools to address questions related to seabirds. I will use the 2025 Graduate Women SA (GWSA) Postdoctoral Grant funding to present my recent research on ancient DNA from Antarctic penguin and snow petrel sediments (dating back 6000 years in time) at the 2025 International Penguin Conference at Phillip Island. Attending the conference will allow me to engage in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Penguin Specialist Group meeting (of which I am a member) – with discussions related to pressing conservation decisions for penguins. The funding will also be used to visit key sample collections and research teams at the Australian Antarctic Division in Hobart – to support my forthcoming research projects and fellowship applications. Being awarded a 2025 Graduate Women SA (GWSA) Postdoctoral Grant will be hugely beneficial in helping me restart my research career after taking ~4 years off to care for my two children, and will provide me with invaluable networking, collaboration and leadership opportunities.
2025 Applications were all of a very high standard. If your application was not selected, please try again next year.