Alumni Profile: Rachel Huang

ALUMNI PROFILE: Rachel Huang
Snr Research Assistant, UQ 
Head of Business Development, Vacayit
Research Commercialisation Intern, UniQuest

Rachel joined the Liveris Academy in 2021 after being awarded a Ravago Group Scholarship. She completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in Biological and Chemical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biomedical Science in 2022.  

We recently met and had the chance to catch up on what Rachel has been up to for the last 18 months, and where to next. 

You graduated from your Bachelor of Engineering and Science in December 2022. Can you share a bit about what you have been up to since then?

Graduating was an exciting milestone that allowed me to rethink what I wanted to do with my life. Inspired by Dion Weisler's advice to the Liveris Academy in 2022, I imagined myself in retirement, telling my grandchildren about my work before retiring. I realized that I wanted to bring new technologies and companies to the world to make a positive impact on society. This was a big goal, and I needed to start somewhere.

Encouraged by my mentor Amanda Johnston-Pell, I decided to travel to get explore and g

et inspired before I settled on a job . In total, I spent over 5 months overseas in more than 10 different countries with 3 particularly noteworthy months in Europe, visiting top universiti

es and working at a university spin-out company from Portugal that's improving wastewater management in developing country in Africa.

I like dot points, so here's a very brief overview of my journey since graduating:

• In 2023, I became a freelancer providing "start-up co-founder as a service" and worked with five different start-ups, handling anything from business development, strategy, community management, to HR.  
• Travelled to Europe for inspiration and decided I want to commercialise cutting edge research to realise their full positive impact
• Decided to commercialize research outcomes from my research group at UQ's School of Chemical Engineering, a project I am still working on today.
• Joined UniQuest (UQ's technology transfer office) to help even more research group commercialise their research
• Currently planning a trip to the US in October 2024 to explore tech transfer and start-up ecosystems (I would love any recommendations and advice).

How have your experiences at UQ and the Liveris Academy contributed to your journey and choices so far?

UQ opened many doors for me, from an excellent engineering education to discovering entrepreneurship. The Liveris Academy inspired me to think globally and bigger. The mentors and network I built there have been invaluable in shaping my career path and encouraging me to follow my unique path. My undergraduate experience was wonderful, allowing me to pursue diverse interests with lots of support—from making antibiotics in the lab at the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, to making our first sales at my start-up company, to running a non-profit organisation to feed the homeless on Christmas. I feel excited to continue doing these meaningful things to achieve my goal of making a positive impact in the world.

Have you had any unexpected challenges or opportunities, and how did you navigate them using skills developed at UQ and the Liveris Academy?

The biggest challenge was realizing that I wanted a career with vision and purpose, which meant figuring out many things on my own. The critical thinking skills from my engineering degree and my entrepreneurial spirit helped me break down my goals and take actionable steps. I also appreciate the Liveris Academy for the mentors and friends who have inspired and collaborated with me, helping me navigate my own path and find new opportunities.

What advice would you give to current students or those about to graduate who are looking to follow a similar path?

Just do it (not to quote Nike, but this helps me take action even when I'm uncertain). Whenever I face a dilemma, I remind myself of what I truly want, break it down into steps, and then take actions. It's important to remember it’s okay to make

mistakes and pivot or readjust your goals. If you believe that you can "just do it", and keep moving forward, you will continue to find new opportunities and learn more about yourself. Taking action is what turns ideas into reality.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn