Vanessa Ung

"I have always loved food! Mostly eating it, but I have always been curious about why things are the way they are. Learning about food and food-related systems down to the nitty gritty level fascinates me. Researching such systems at the postgraduate level satisfies this curiosity. It contributes new knowledge to the scientific community with the hopes that this knowledge can be used to build a healthier, more sustainable, and better future for all.

"I get to study some really interesting enzymes using a technique that was previously unknown to me. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is a computational method that employs calculations to predict the physical movement of atoms in a molecular system, allowing us to study proteins with atomistic detail – something that isn't possible with experiments! I use these to study different enzymes to understand how their physical behaviour contributes to their function or to understand, mechanistically, how they bind to target substrates, for example. I like that I have learned previously foreign skills (such as coding) and developed my research skills to be a better scientist.

"I have been fortunate to receive the University of Auckland Research Masters Scholarship (2021 - 2022) and the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship (2023 – current). The scholarships have helped me immensely. Without them, I would not have been able to fund my postgraduate studies without accruing more student loan debt. Additionally, receiving some income as a stipend means I can devote more time to my research rather than juggling an external job alongside my work.
 

"If you are considering postgraduate study in Food Science, my advice is to stay curious - ask questions and ask them again until you understand. Science is hard, but it is very satisfying to take a difficult concept, make sense of it, and then apply it to a larger context. So don't think science or research isn't for you because it's too hard. My favourite motto is: sucking at something is the first step towards being sort of good at something.

"I have made some great friends at University, and they helped me get through some of the more stressful undergrad years. I have also had the opportunity to work with some great academics, including my current supervisor – Davide Mercadante. Without his support and mentorship, I definitely would not have had the courage to pursue further postgraduate study, especially at the doctoral level."