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Selene Canneli hero banner

Meet Selene from Italy, a UQ graduate of the Master of Molecular Biology Research Extensive

UQ people
Published 24 Nov, 2021  ·  4-minute read

Selene blends a unique set of skills in her goal to become an astronaut. With a background in archaeological sciences, she completed a Master of Molecular Biology Research Extensive at The University of Queensland.

Since then, she has:

  • received scholarships from space agencies
  • designed and built astronaut habitats
  • started using archaeological techniques to understand how culture could form in a space settlement.

Read on to learn more about Selene’s journey from archaeology to the stars.

Selene Canneli
Selene Cannelli was the Postgraduate Student Officer for the UQ Union (UQU) Association of Postgraduate Students.

What are you currently up to and where do you live?

After graduating in December 2019, I travelled for 2 months before returning home to Italy 5 days before our very first lockdown in March 2020. During the pandemic, I rediscovered my passion for space. I began to look for ways to apply my degrees to space research and, in July 2020, I joined the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). SGAC is a worldwide organisation run by volunteers for students and young professionals that want to join, contribute to, and work in the space sector.

In December, I then started my first two roles related to space with SGAC. I was selected to become a member of the SGAC HR team and to coordinate another project: the Moon Base design team. The team participated in and won the 2021 Moon Society Moon Base design competition.

During my time at SGAC, I was still looking for jobs. Then, I found an amazing thing: the International Space University! In May 2021, I received two scholarships, from both the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. So, from the end of June to August, I was in Spain immersing myself in the space culture and learning about it, from rocket science to space law.

rocket launch stock image
Selene aspires to take her combined studies of archaeology and molecular biology into space.

While there, I was recruited for another non-for-profit organisation, this time in Kuwait: Ignition Kuwait. With them, I hold the position of team coordinator to build Kuwait’s first astronaut analogue habitat. Lastly, right now I just finished my very first Astronaut Analogue Mission in Poland, where I was the medical officer for a crew of five people. Six strangers were placed together in this analogue habitat for 10 days, doing experiments that would help future space missions. One reason to participate in this project was also to bring archaeology into space, by creating a space analogue museum and using archaeological techniques to understand how culture could form in a space settlement.

Why did you choose to study in Australia and specifically at UQ?

I already knew that I wanted to study internationally, but I struggled to find molecular biology or biotechnology programs in Europe that would accept me as my undergraduate was in a different field. UQ provided me with the flexibility to enrol directly into my Master of Molecular Biology Research Extensive. I chose this program because I wanted to integrate it with my previous Bachelor in Archaeological Studies.

I wanted to apply modern molecular biology techniques to study our past, such as ancient DNA and reconstructing past environments to help us better understand our planet and how to protect it.

"I also chose my program because I had the chance to do a 1-year research project that would allow me to collaborate with researchers at the top of their fields."

Woman working with lab equipment

 

The high-level research, different research topics, cutting-edge technology and different institutions at UQ confirmed my choice and gave me an advantage for future jobs and PhD applications.

Did you undertake an internship, volunteering, exchange or UQ Employability program that helped you in your career now? What was your experience like?

For both my years at UQ, I was involved in the UQ Union (UQU) Association of Postgraduate Students. In 2019, I was elected as Postgraduate Student Officer. In my last year, I also held a position as an administration assistant at UQU. Those jobs helped me gain my current roles with SGAC and Ignition Kuwait.

In my UQU roles I held leadership positions, where I also had to represent around 18,000 UQ postgraduate students. This experience helped me build management skills, become better at coordinating a team, and encouraged me to keep moving forward even when faced with adversity. I am passionate about rugby and also participated in a variety of sports while I was at UQ. 

Selene Canneli and her rugby team

What advice would you give people from other countries about studying at UQ?

"UQ is a great place to learn not just about your chosen degree, but also about yourself and what you want from a future career. So, don't just go to lectures, but engage with university life!"

Join societies and sport clubs, attend conferences, seminars and other university events like career fairs or UQ Union events. Start building your network, but also enjoy the time with your friends. If you are an international student, make sure to learn about the amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture!

Still, if you are an international student, make sure to save money, apply for scholarships and look for part-time jobs, because both university and life in Australia can be expensive. This might be hard, but it will be rewarded at the end, both as an experience and it will show future employers how tenacious you are by both working and studying. 

What future career or life aspirations do you have in years to come? How has studying at UQ helped you work towards your future success?

My goal is to become an astronaut and a leading researcher in astrobiology. To do so, I want to obtain a PhD by also combining my previous studies. I also want to contribute to the space sector by helping in defining policies for human heritage protection in space, as well as environmental protection policies for celestial bodies, such as the Moon and Mars. In the future, I still want to keep on travelling, exploring known and new places, and learning about other cultures.

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