NECTAR Custodians
The NECTAR Custodians are the ECA-leadership of NECTAR, they are volunteers who actively participate in the development and delivery of NECTAR initiatives. The Custodian team ensures that NECTAR remains an independent, accessible and supportive space for ECAs who want to make a difference. The team of Custodians is led by the NECTAR Co-Chairs.
The role of the Custodians is to:
- regularly engage with NECTAR, e.g. attend NECTAR business meetings
- contribute to the development and delivery of NECTAR initiatives
- help promote NECTAR initiatives within the ANU Colleges.
The Custodian role is a voluntary role. ECAs can join the Custodian team at any time and for as long as they want, a commitment for at least 6 months is encouraged. Custodians are encouraged to take on the role of School Representative for their local area.
If you would like to join the Custodian team, please contact the NECTAR Office or submit your Expression of Interest here.
Shaam Al Abed - NECTAR Co-Chair
ANU College of Health and Medicine
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Amita Bansal
ANU College of Health and Medicine
John Curtin School of Medical Research and ANU Medical School
NECTAR is a platform that empowers ECAs from across different schools and colleges of ANU to come together and contribute to the strategic discussions on fostering academic and personal development, enhancing representation of ECAs across campuses, and nestle a sense of community. I am humbled to be a part of this diverse and inclusive group, and with my academic training and experience from Scotland, New Zealand and United States, I hope to provide an international perspective and help in collectively achieving the objectives of NECTAR. Further, with my recent appointment as a University House ECA Fellow, I also hope to continue strengthening the cross-talk between the two groups.
Wenting Cheng
ANU College of Law
I am Grand Challenge Research Fellow at the ANU College of Law, working in the multidisciplinary team of ANU Grand Challenge Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific, with a research focus on the role of law and regulation in facilitating the climate and energy transition. I completed my Ph.D. at the ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) in 2014-2018 as a single parent in half of this period. I had five years of experience working in government agencies before my Ph.D. My experience made me aware of opportunities and challenges for ECRs in research collaboration, parenting, etc., and I am passionate to contribute to the ECR support enabled by NECTAR.
Xuan Di
ANU College of Health and Medicine
Research School of Psychology
I have some HR experience and worked in non-profit organisation management for some years before deciding to pin my career focus to academia. I have experienced the life of an ECA (PhD candidate) as a mother of two – it's not easy. But it is possible because of people who care for me and look after me. I want to return the favour by making the voice of others heard and finding solutions to make improvements.
Naomi Hay
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
School of Art and Design
I am lecturer in the School of Art and Design, College of Arts and Social Sciences, with a research focus on the role of design in strengthening community resilience. Prior to joining ANU I ran a design consultancy and held sessional teaching positions whilst completing my PhD as a single parent. As such I am aware of many of the unique challenges faced by early career researchers and the need for programs such as NECTAR in providing individual mentoring and fostering career development. I hope to bring this experience to supporting ECA’s to excel in their own chosen career paths, whilst strengthening connections across ANU.
Mari Kondo
ANU College of Health and Medicine
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Sergey Kruk
ANU College of Science
Research School of Physics
sergey.kruk@anu.edu.au
I am a physicist merging optics with nanotechnology. I am a DECRA Fellow and a Senior Lecturer at the Research School of Physics. I have a diversified research experience from overseas, including USA and Germany. I am thrilled to contribute to the ECA support network provided by the NECTAR.
Jo Lane
ANU College of Health and Medicine
Research School of Population Health
Jo is a research fellow and clinical psychologist, working with a multidisciplinary team of researchers across the Australian National University on the Our Health in Our Hands project to improve the quality of life of people living with multiple sclerosis. Her research interests intersect across psychology, health research, population health, translational research, personalised medicine and communication in science. Jo is passionate about people, optimal brain health, wellbeing, resilience, growth, empowerment-based leadership and gender equity.
Bin Lu – NECTAR Co-Chair
ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science
Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering
Jennifer Ma
ANU College of Health Medicine
jennifer.ma@anu.edu.au
Dr. Jennifer Ma is a Suicide Prevention Australia Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR). Her research aims to: (1) develop further evidence around the protective factors against suicide; (2) support the development of stakeholder-informed suicide prevention and intervention initiatives, and (3) better facilitate the translation of suicide theory into policy and practice.
Hieu Nguyen – NECTAR Co-Chair
ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science
Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering
Yuan (Helen) Ping
ANU College of Business and Economics
ANU Research School of Accounting
Helen is currently an Associate Lecturer and PhD candidate at the ANU Research School of Accounting, College of Business and Economics. She had a great experience with the NECTAR Mentoring Program in 2020 and wishes to promote the networking opportunities provided by NECTAR to other early career academics.
Ulrike Schumann
ANU College of Health and Medicine
John Curtin School of Medical Research
For me, NECTAR is a fantastic way to connect to Early Career Researchers and build a support network. I have faced some challenging times and the NECTAR Mentoring program has been crucial for me to come through those. I feel passionate about advocating the opportunities that NECTAR offers and I want to give a voice to Early Career Researchers and help streamline those opportunities.
Nikolay Shirokikh
ANU College of Health and Medicine
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Nikolay is a molecular biologist and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at JCSMR and College of Health and Medicine. Appreciative of the challenges but also dynamic and vibrant academic life of Early-Mid Career Researchers (EMCRs), one of Nikolay’s main aims at NECTAR is to enhance existing and create new opportunities for ANU EMCRs
Dong Wang
ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
Crawford School of Public Policy
I am the NECTAR Custodian and Crawford School representative. I am working as a postdoctoral research fellow on rural transformations in Asian developing countries. My research area falls in agricultural and resource economics and relating policy issues.
Kinley Wangdi
ANU College of Health and Medicine
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health
Dr Kinley Wangdi is a Research Fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH). He is leading a research program on the spatial epidemiology of infectious diseases in the Asia Pacific region. Dr Wangdi is a recipient of the NHMRC Investigator Grant in 2021.
NECTAR Advisers
NECTAR Advisers are former Custodians who remain connected with the NECTAR leadership in an advisory capacity.
Aditya Chopra
ANU College of Science
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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