Congratulations to the 2025 PhD Research Excellence finalists.

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Dr Amelia Mardon

University of South Australia

Dr Amelia Mardon is a scientist dedicated to improving the management of chronic pelvic pain. One in five women and people assigned female at birth will experience pelvic pain in their lifetime, which can have significant effects on their physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Pelvic pain is shrouded in taboo and people don’t often know what is normal or abnormal about their pelvis. Dr Mardon’s PhD broke down these barriers by investigating how pelvic pain is currently managed and what people should learn about pelvic pain to help them improve.

 

Dr Mardon championed highly successful collaborations with experts in pain science and gynaecology fields in the UK, US, and India to produce world-class research, leading to changes in patient care and policy. Dr Mardon authored 12 publications in top-tier journals during her PhD. She received six competitive grants and awards – she was selected as one of Australia’s emerging leaders in pain research to attend an intensive pain school and was awarded the Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize.

 

Dr Mardon disseminated her research to the public through podcasts, blogs, news, and presentations. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working on testing interventions to improve outcomes for people with pelvic pain.

 

Dr Ashleigh Hull

University of South Australia

 

Dr Ashleigh Hull’s research focuses on creating new types of radioactive drugs, known as radiopharmaceuticals, to help detect and treat cancers like pancreatic cancer. These medicines work by travelling through the body to find and destroy cancer cells, offering a more targeted treatment option. Dr Hull’s work has shown promising results in identifying and killing pancreatic cancer cells in early-stage studies and has potential to improve outcomes for people with hard-to-treat cancers.

 

Beyond her research, she has contributed to strengthening Australia’s nuclear medicine capability. This includes helping to develop safety protocols for new radioactive materials in South Australia and supporting public understanding through community engagement. Dr Hull has also supervised and mentored emerging researchers to improve our capacity to perform nuclear medicine research in South Australia.

 

Dr Hull has secured over $470,000 in competitive research grants, over $20,000 in awards and scholarships, and contributed to initiatives that have attracted more than $5 million in funding. This includes participation in a $5 million national training centre that will support Australia's leadership in nuclear science and technology. Together, these efforts help drive medical innovation, workforce development, and safe, effective healthcare.

Dr Marie-Claire Seeley

The University of Adelaide

 

Dr Marie-Claire Seeley is a nationally recognised leader in cardiovascular health and chronic illness research. Her work has transformed how Australia understands and manages Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)—a debilitating condition often triggered by viral infections like COVID-19. Through her world-first studies, Dr Seeley has revealed the significant impact of POTS on brain function, quality of life, and healthcare access, paving the way for earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and policy reform.

 

As founder of the Australian POTS Foundation, she has led the development of education and resources now accessed by over 250,000 people annually. Her research and advocacy have directly influenced federal health policy, including the adoption of a new diagnostic code that will ensure fairer access to care for the hundreds of thousands of Australians with POTS from July 2025.

 

Dr Seeley’s work has also driven improvements in how the voices of people with lived experience are included in research—ensuring that patients help shape the healthcare services they use. By leading national and international collaborations, she is creating smarter, more inclusive, and cost-effective solutions to chronic health challenges—benefiting patients, clinicians, and the broader healthcare system.
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