Incoming Head

Fiona Wylie (Macquarie University)

Fiona is a final year Bachelor of Laws/Psychology (Honours) student at Macquarie University. She is a keen undergraduate researcher, involved primarily with research on psychological models of hunger and olfaction. Her participation in research at an undergraduate level is reflected in co-authorship of six peer-reviewed articles, in international and peer-reviewed journals such as Appetite and BMJ Open. Fiona has also presented at various conferences, including the 19th International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste in Reykjavik, Iceland, as well as the 2024 Australasian Conference of Undergraduate Research in Sydney, Australia.

Outgoing Head

Sara Wardak (The University of Sydney)

Sara is a Research Assistant in the Faculty of Medicine and Health and a current Bachelor of Science (Genetics and Genomics)/Bachelor of Laws student at the University of Sydney. Her research revolves around health, law and policy, and codesign, with a focus on young people. She is currently an Associate Investigator on a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Consumer-Led Grant, and served on the MRFF Grant Assessment Committee in 2023. As a 2024 Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholar, Sara created a framework for improving access to clinical genomic services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in New South Wales, Australia. Currently she is also involved in research within the Westmead Institute for Medical Research’s Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine Lab, where she works on gene therapy projects for musculoskeletal diseases.

Deputy Head

Samantha Hamilton (Macquarie University)

Samantha is a fifth-year student studying a double Bachelor of Cognitive and Brain Sciences/Game Design and Development at Macquarie University. She is interested in the field of forensic psychology and has conducted research regarding juror perceptions and decision-making. Samantha presented her work at multiple conferences last year including the 2024 Australasian Conference for Undergraduate Research, and is eager to help other undergraduate students get the most out of their research experience.

Secretary

Yaxin Zheng (Australian National University)

Yaxin is pursuing a Bachelor of Finance (Honours) at ANU and is dedicated to fostering undergraduate research engagement and collaboration. She regards research and academic service as a lifelong career, recognizing their role in addressing real financial challenges and improving people’s lives. Her research interests include asset pricing, banking, financial intermediation, and the influence of AI on financial stability. She presented her work at ACUR 2024 and actively supports research initiatives, facilitates academic discussions, and collaborates with the 2025 ACUR Student Committee to create opportunities for students to develop their ideas and contribute to the research community.

Social Media Officer

Shontai Day (Griffith University)

Shontai is a third-year student at Griffith University studying a dual Bachelor’s program in Law (Honours) and Arts (History). Her research area is broad and spans multiple disciplines, ranging from Australian and European history/historiography to contemporary feminist sociology, to a wide range of areas in the legal field. Shontai is keen to begin presenting and publishing her work and actively advocates for undergraduate students to get involved in the research space.

Social Media Officer

Armansyah Marpaung (University of New South Wales)

Armansyah is a second-year Electrical Engineering (Honours) student at UNSW Sydney who has an interest in education, leadership, and student well-being. He is a Student Ambassador, Teaching Assistant, and Peer Tutor and has mentored students and facilitated academic participation. Specifically, he would like to assist students in their research, supporting them to study new things and develop their competence. Apart from studies, he was also the Media and Marketing Director of CREATE NSW Inc., leading digital engagement and content strategy. He was also actively engaged in student organizations, event promotion, and community volunteering.

General Committee Members

Tanish Tanjil (The University of Sydney)

Riley Hayward (Western Sydney University)

Ai Xin Chew (Monash University)

Jack Henwood (Swinburne University of Technology)

Ishraf Ismath (Swinburne University of Technology)

Marissa Chow (University of Queensland)

Joshua Douglas (University of Notre Dame Australia)

Sarah (Ngoc) Nguyen (Swinburne University of Technology)

Alex Mruk (Macquarie University)