The prestigious Molecular Maverick Award steps beyond academic accolades.
This award rewards and encourages innovators and changemakers — final-year HDR students in chemistry-related disciplines with the drive, creativity, scientific knowledge and collaborative capacity to leave an indelible mark on the world around them.
The Molecular Maverick Award celebrates those who see opportunity where others see challenge; those with exceptional vision and skill, and the courage to break free from traditional boundaries in academia and industry, and change the game entirely.
2026 Molecular Maverick Award
Join us for the second annual Molecular Maverick Award event, where we explore that special blend of scientific expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, charisma and nerve that shape innovation.
This year, we open with a panel of industry experts, moderated by Professor Trent Munro, on the dos and don’ts, ups and downs of the translation and commercialisation journey:
What do researchers need to know to navigate it?
What does industry look for in a research investment?
What is the ‘valley of death’?
And most important on this special evening, what makes a great pitch?
The panel is followed by pitches from the 3 shortlisted HDR candidates, 5 minutes each.
Announcement of the Molecular Maverick Award recipient will wind up the formal program, followed by a reception to build and strengthen pivotal networks and connections.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
6pm—8:30pm
River Room, Customs House, 399 Queen St, Brisbane
This event is free to attend; however, registration is required
About the Molecular Maverick Award
What makes a Molecular Maverick?
- Insatiable curiosity
- Perspective beyond academia
- Leadership and impact
- Community building
- Emotional intelligence
- Business acumen
- Creative, along with critical thinking
Founding donors and supporters
It all started with a vision.
- Dr Peter Kambouris
- Davies Collison Cave
- Brisbane Strategy Ventures
- UniQuest
- Dr Alan Duffield
Empowering future innovators
Our vision is to raise $250,000 to enable the next generation of molecular scientists.
Help make this a reality — donate to the Molecular Maverick Award.
2025 Molecular Maverick Award
Molecular Mavericks are that unique combination of scientist, innovator and entrepreneur.
Congratulations to the 5 rising-star contenders who pitched for the newly-established Molecular Maverick Award, presenting their ground-breaking ideas and demonstrating their true entrepreneurial potential.
Winner
Michaela George
Bridging the gap between research and industry, Michaela was an intern in UniQuest’s life sciences commercialisation start-up portfolio. She is part of the 2025 Bridge Program and completed an internship at Dynomics, reviewing IP strategies. Michaela is active in the Australian startup community, involved in hackathons and programs like Startmate. She volunteers with Engineers Without Borders and Orange Sky, and is president of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology [AIBN] student association.
linkedin.com/in/michaela-george-5b226b238
Molecular Maverick contestants
Ruyi Chen
A pioneering researcher in computational biology, Ruyi focuses on the intersection between molecular evolution, precision medicine and RNA therapeutics. Her innovative dual-representation method is improving disease effect classification and she is developing a circRNA language model with applications in RNA-based therapies and vaccines. Ruyi is committed to green chemistry, sustainable biotechnologies and open-source development. She actively engages with both industry and the scientific community.
Maxim Harding
From Maxim’s participation in programs like CSIRO ON Prime, his passion for research commercialisation is clear. Industry placements at a synthetic biology startup and a venture capital firm have fed that passion and bolstered his ability to contribute purposefully to research translation and industry collaboration.
linkedin.com/in/max-harding-13389a1a6
Shaun McAnally
Shaun’s research aims to simplify solar panel manufacturing through next-generation ‘printable’ solar, enabling new applications beyond rooftops. He excels in leadership and communication, having served as Lead Curator of TEDxUQ 2023 and won Best Pitch at UniQuest’s Commercialisation Workshop. At UQ, he coordinated the Student Led Observations for Course Improvement (SLOCI) program to strengthen student–staff partnerships in science education, and mentors young innovators through the Future Problem Solving Program, fostering curiosity and real-world problem-solving skills.
linkedin.com/in/shaunmcanally
Diana Sanabria
Diana’s research focuses on the use of microorganisms to convert greenhouse gases into valuable commodities. She explores metagenomic approaches to identifying and cultivating microbes from extreme environments, aiming to design scalable bioprocesses for industrial application. Diana is passionate about translating science into commercial solutions, receiving a UQ Entrepreneurial PhD Top-Up Scholarship. Active in entrepreneurial and scientific communities, she fosters student/industry connections and is an Industry Coordinator for COMBINE.
linkedin.com/in/dianasanabria137