Jessica Buck, a descendant of the Kamilaroi people, completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Distinction and a Diploma of Languages (Japanese) at the University of Newcastle. She has a High Distinction average, and was placed on the faculty merit list.
Some of Jessica’s notable academic achievements include her selection as a recipient of the University of Newcastle Undergraduate Scholarship in 2010; and receiving both the Premier’s Award for Outstanding Performance in the Higher School Certificate (HSC), and the Nanga Mai award for best performance by an Indigenous student in the HSC in 2008. In 2012, Jessica participated in the Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour. In 2013, she was shortlisted for the Rhodes and Monash Scholarships.
Jessica has a strong interest in cancer and neuroscience research and has worked as a research assistant at the Center for Magnetic Resonance in Health at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. She is also a keen volunteer surf lifesaver, and was a Patrol Captain at Soldiers Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. At Oxford, Jess has just made the Blue Boat team and will be coxing Oxford for the boat race this year (http://www.theboatrace.org/news/crews-announced-and-weighed-in).
Jessica has completed a Masters of Science in Neuroscience at Oxford University and is now undertaking a PhD in Oncology at Green Templeton College, Oxford.
Recently, Jessica was named as the 2019 Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK as part of the Australia Day Honours. She was nominated for the prestigious award by Professor Dame Valerie Beral, who called her “one of the most impressive students she’s come across in 30 years of working in Oxford”.
Jessica’s well-deserved recognition on the global stage helps us all to shift the paradigm about what is possible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. It is also an example of how Aurora invests in potential to inspire excellence, transform lives and open doors not previously available to Indigenous students.
In her acceptance speech at the Australia Day gala dinner at Australia House, Jessica said:
10 years ago, there had never been an Aboriginal person study at Oxbridge. Now, there are 40 of us, and we have the trailblazers who came before us to thank.
Our mob are doing great things in mathematics, in medicine, in the arts, and in the sciences. We are setting a path for the next generation of young Australians to follow, and I hope we can be successful in teaching and inspiring them to reach their potential.
Some of Jessica’s notable academic achievements include her selection as a recipient of the University of Newcastle Undergraduate Scholarship in 2010; and receiving both the Premier’s Award for Outstanding Performance in the Higher School Certificate (HSC), and the Nanga Mai award for best performance by an Indigenous student in the HSC in 2008. In 2012, Jessica participated in the Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour. In 2013, she was shortlisted for the Rhodes and Monash Scholarships.
Jessica has a strong interest in cancer and neuroscience research and has worked as a research assistant at the Center for Magnetic Resonance in Health at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. She is also a keen volunteer surf lifesaver, and was a Patrol Captain at Soldiers Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. At Oxford, Jess has just made the Blue Boat team and will be coxing Oxford for the boat race this year (http://www.theboatrace.org/news/crews-announced-and-weighed-in).
Jessica has completed a Masters of Science in Neuroscience at Oxford University and is now undertaking a PhD in Oncology at Green Templeton College, Oxford.
Recently, Jessica was named as the 2019 Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK as part of the Australia Day Honours. She was nominated for the prestigious award by Professor Dame Valerie Beral, who called her “one of the most impressive students she’s come across in 30 years of working in Oxford”.
Jessica’s well-deserved recognition on the global stage helps us all to shift the paradigm about what is possible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. It is also an example of how Aurora invests in potential to inspire excellence, transform lives and open doors not previously available to Indigenous students.
In her acceptance speech at the Australia Day gala dinner at Australia House, Jessica said:
10 years ago, there had never been an Aboriginal person study at Oxbridge. Now, there are 40 of us, and we have the trailblazers who came before us to thank.
Our mob are doing great things in mathematics, in medicine, in the arts, and in the sciences. We are setting a path for the next generation of young Australians to follow, and I hope we can be successful in teaching and inspiring them to reach their potential.