ALUMNI PROFILE: Max Foreman
Physics Probationer Research Student @ Oxford | John Monash Scholar
You graduated from your Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) in 2024, can you share a bit about what you have been up to since then, both professionally and in your life outside of work?
I have moved to the UK to start a physics PhD at the University of Oxford! Here I work on how we can make components that process light like digital machine learning models to help in computer vision applications and with reading out the state of quantum computers. Inside the lab I have been getting used to working in experimental optics. Outside the lab I have been settling into life in the UK, which was admittedly tough during the winter, but the recent heat waves really make it feel like home! Oxford is a small city, so I now cycle everywhere. The college system here is also super fun, offering ample ways to chill out and meet cool new people outside the PhD grind. I am now nearly a year into my PhD, and have just submitted my first PhD milestone report!
How have your experiences at UQ and the Liveris Academy contributed to/shaped your journey and choices so far?
I am funding my PhD with the John Monash scholarship, which supports Australians to pursue postgraduate studies overseas. Almost all of the items I pitched for that application in terms of leadership and professional experiences were derived from my time in the Liveris Academy. Whether that be the innovation projects, helping write a policy report, the global speaker series, internships offered in partnership with the academy, or leadership activities. All of these experiences contributed in part to receiving the scholarship, and so I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunities I had to take part in them during my undergraduate degree.
I also feel as though the diversity of speakers and activities in the Academy broadened my interests outside of my direct study area. If I was not part of the Academy, I can imagine that I may have had 'physics tunnel vision', and spent a lot of my time trying to pick up directly physics-related experiences. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I feel that taking part in the Academy helped me survey some fields outside academia that I've pigeonholed as potential 'back-up' plans. It was amazing to be exposed to concepts in sustainability, leadership, innovation and policy that I wouldn't have otherwise through my physics degree - and I find that I actively try to engage in talks outside of physics here at Oxford in part for this reason!
Have you had any unexpected challenges/opportunities so far, and how did you navigate them using the skills developed during your time at UQ & The Liveris Academy?
I was quite a timid public speaker early in my undergraduate, and I have found that my time at UQ and The Liveris Academy has really helped with giving me chances to practice this. This is particularly important in research and science communication contexts, where we are often presenting at conferences and internal group meetings. My time in the Academy helped me appreciate how fun it can be to present, and I now seek out opportunities to present here in Oxford, for example, at my college academic showcase!
What piece of advice would you give to current students or those about to graduate who are looking to follow a similar path?
The single most important piece of advice I would give is to really embrace all the cool opportunities that come with being part of the Academy! And, if you are looking into postgraduate study, there are many Australian and institution-specific scholarships that could help you move overseas! I wasn't aware of all these opportunities until near the end of my program, so I felt a bit rushed in exploring where I could potentially go if I was awarded one. So I think knowing these are available can broaden horizons and help get the ball rolling with contacting potential supervisors in advance (which can really help with the chance of receiving one)!
