Meet Our Talent
Meet Melisand
Melisand is redefining what it means to have multiple passions. Majoring in Pharmacology in her Biomedicine degree, Melisand has dreams of becoming a doctor – and she’s equally at home in the lab, on the stage and in the community.
Her love for Biomedicine started young watching the children's TV show Operation Ouch! where she developed a fascination with Biomedicine and diagnostics. Now Melisand works as a pharmacy assistant whilst studying and she’s diving into physiology, pathology, and immunology as part of her degree. But biomedical science isn’t her only passion—she’s also studying French through a concurrent Diploma of Languages and is excited to explore Auslan and Visual Communication next.
Melisand hasn’t followed a straight study pathway. After completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, she took a gap year to recharge before launching into her university studies. Now, she’s eyeing an MD, with plans for regional and remote placements where she hopes to make a real impact.
I want to be a doctor because I love the analytical aspect of diagnosing - and it's a career where I can constantly learn and study.
Life on campus has seen Melisand actively involved in the University's Biomedicine Students' Society, more recently as secretary and student leader. It's a role where she can have a positive impact on future students and in building the vibrant Biomedicine student community.
Beyond studying Melisand has pursued another love – dance and acting – and was recently accepted into the Jazz, Lyrical and Pom teams of Melbourne Uni Cheer & Dance after many years of preprofessional classical ballet training. Melisand also performed in a university production of Le Prénom in French. Combined with her role in the Biomedicine Students' Society, it was vital to her sense of belonging at the University of Melbourne.
Having navigated her own mental health challenges with anxiety and compulsive disorders, Melisand is passionate about breaking stigmas and building a community of confident, talented women.
For Melisand, science and creativity go hand in hand. She’s proving that you don’t have to choose between STEM and the arts— and for her, this is just the beginning.
There’s no reason you can't be intelligent, accomplished and value your looks. Expressing femininity does not undermine my capability as a woman in STEM.
