Hills Grammar Stories – Dr Amelia Hynen Another Hills Original

The most recent inductee into the Hills Grammar Original Alumni Award collective is scientist, researcher and academic Dr Amelia Hynen (Class of 2008). Not yet 30 years of age, Amelia has achieved much in her ten years since graduating from Hills Grammar. “I wasn’t the best student, or at the top of the class at school but from a young age I always knew I wanted to be a scientist…the inspiring teachers at Hills helped foster and drive my passion for science.”

A passion for microbiology and infectious diseases saw Amelia pursue scientific research and undertake an Honours research project at the University of Technology, Sydney. The project in biomedical research characterised the Australian Epidemic Strain 1 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a chronic bacterial lung infection in cystic fibrosis. For this ground-breaking work, Amelia was awarded first class Honours and the Dean’s Merit Award for Academic Excellence.

In 2018, Amelia was given the opportunity of a lifetime – an invitation to the World Health Organisation in Geneva Switzerland, as an intern for the Global Influenza Programme.

“I am proud to be standing here today accepting this award as a woman in science. In our modern technological age, STEM has become an integral part of our everyday lives, and I believe it is more important now than ever before that we come together as a community to encourage the development of our future scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.”

A quiet achiever with a passion for Science, Amelia’s tenacity and character embody the School’s motto Strive for Excellence.