UNSW researchers lead Premier's Prizes, including Scientist of the Year

Scientia Professor Helen Christensen from UNSW Sydney and the Black Dog Institute is recognised as 2024 NSW Scientist of the Year.

Four researchers from UNSW Sydney have received NSW Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering, acknowledging their impactful work on the local and global stage across science, health and engineering.

Scientia Professor Helen Christiansen from UNSW Medicine & Health has been selected as NSW Scientist of the Year. Professor Susan Coppersmith from UNSW Science won the prize for Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Physics.

Dr Ira Deveson and Professor Stuart Tangye from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research received the Early Career Researcher of the Year and the Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences awards, respectively.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs congratulated his colleagues who received NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering.

"The Prizes are a testament to the dedication, ingenuity and impact our researchers are having on society, from mental health and quantum computing to genomics and immunology. We are very proud of Professor Christensen, Professor Coppersmith, Dr Deveson, and Professor Tangye. Their work has driven positive change for the people in New South Wales and beyond.”

Professor Bronwyn Fox, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Enterprise said: “We congratulate Professors Christensen, Coppersmith, Tangye and Dr Deveson on this well-deserved recognition from the NSW Premier's Prizes. The Prizes award cutting-edge work that has generated economic, health, social and technological benefits for the state, and it’s a great honour for UNSW to have four researchers recognised this year.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “These awards are about recognising and thanking our state’s most outstanding scientists, engineers, and teachers.  

“Professor Christensen’s work has helped millions of people worldwide. Her online self-help courses to help address common mental health disorders have been pioneering.

“Mental health support is vital for so many people. Professor Christensen has improved support for people in NSW, and people around the world.”

In total, 10 prizes are allocated to leading researchers each year. The NSW Scientist of the Year receives a trophy and $60,000 in prize money and the nine category winners receive a trophy and $5000 in prize money.

NSW Scientist of the Year

Professor Helen Christensen AO from UNSW Medicine & Health and Black Dog Institute has been recognised for her pioneering work in digital mental health research, which has significantly influenced mental health care practice in Australia and internationally.

In 2000 she developed the digital intervention program MoodGYM to help reduce depression in young people, which has been used by millions of people across more than 160 countries.

She served as the Executive Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Institute from 2011 to 2021, while her work creating a model of suicide prevention has been incorporated into national and state suicide prevention plans.

“The Premier’s Prize recognises our work in suicide prevention and digital technologies, work that is done not just by me, but my colleagues from data science, software engineering,  AI, epidemiology and clinical psychology, and supported by UNSW and Black Dog Institute,” Prof. Christensen said.

“It is an honour to be awarded by this prestigious prize. It recognises the importance of science as the mechanism by which we can improve the community’s mental health and wellbeing.” 

Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Physics

Condensed matter physicist Professor Susan Coppersmith has made fundamental contributions to several subjects in her field, including granular materials, biomaterials and quantum computing.

“I am extremely honoured to receive this award and to pay tribute to my exceptional collaborators and colleagues as well as the remarkable research environment at UNSW Sydney,” Prof. Coppersmith said.

Her research has improved our understanding of how quantum computation could enhance the discovery potential of dark matter experiments.

Her theoretical results have had practical implications, such as influencing Intel’s quantum computing group to investigate modified silicon-germanium structures. This work assists the development of quantum computing hardware and its potential applications, offering transformative performance enhancements and fostering new types of mass-storage devices. 

NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Biological Sciences)

Dr Ira Deveson, Head of the Genomic Technologies Lab at Garvan, was named the NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Biological Sciences) for his innovative work in clinical genomics and its application to improve human health outcomes.

Dr Deveson’s research has had far-reaching impacts, from establishing rapid SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance methods during the pandemic to improving genetic disease diagnoses through advanced sequencing technologies.

“I’m deeply honoured to receive this recognition,” said Dr Deveson. “Genomics is evolving so rapidly, and we’re riding that wave to tackle some of medicine’s most persistent challenges. It’s exhilarating knowing our work in has the potential to transform how we approach disease diagnosis and treatment, particularly for rare and complex genetic conditions.”

Dr Deveson’s collaboration with the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics highlights his commitment to promoting equity in genomic medicine.

“Genomics has immense potential to transform health care, but it’s essential that its benefits reach all communities equally. Our collaboration with Indigenous communities goes beyond merely expanding databases – it’s about ensuring that genomic medicine progresses in a way that addresses healthcare disparities. While this work is challenging, the potential to have a long-lasting positive impact makes it incredibly fulfilling,” he said.

Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences

Professor Stuart Tangye FAHMS FCIS was awarded the Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences (Cell and molecular, medical, veterinary and genetics) for his pioneering work in human immunology and inherited disorders known as inborn errors of immunity.

As a Head of the Immunology and Immunodeficiency Lab at Garvan and an international leader in his field, Prof. Tangye has led research achieving new understanding of how immune cells protect against infectious diseases and how genetic variations can lead to various immune disorders.

“This award is a real honour, but it’s not just about me,” Prof. Tangye said. “It’s a nod to the efforts of my team, and our national and international clinical and scientific collaborators in studying the human immune system. We’re all driven by the same goal – to translate discoveries into improved care for people with complex genetic immune disorders.”

Prof. Tangye’s establishment of the Clinical Immunogenomics Research Consortium Australasia (CIRCA) has been particularly impactful, addressing diagnostic delays for patients with inborn errors of immunity through a multi-centre, interdisciplinary approach to bringing together experts from around the world.

“CIRCA is our way of bringing the future of immunology into the present. We’re not just waiting for breakthroughs – we’re actively connecting the dots to create them. Every time we help somebody get a correct diagnosis and targeted treatment after years of uncertainty, it reinforces why this work is so vital,” he said.