From general practice to the lab, Dr Mondira Roy shines as CDU Woman of the Year
A Charles Darwin University (CDU) science student has been recognised for her dedication to her studies, women’s empowerment, and the CDU community.
The CDU Women’s Collective for Innovation and Change honoured Dr Mondira Roy as their Woman of the Year, voted by her peers for being an ‘inspiring, innovative, exceptional female student at CDU’.
"I am truly honoured to be recognised as Woman of the Year by my fellow students and friends,” Dr Roy said.
“Empowering women in STEM and contributing to community well-being are core values that drive my actions every day. I'm grateful for the opportunities to make a difference.
“It is so nice to be part of such a welcoming community at CDU."
Originally from Bangladesh, Dr. Roy joined CDU in 2023 and quickly became known for her commitment to making a positive impact at CDU through her participation in the CDU buddy program and Women’s Collective, and as a library assistant.
In her first year of a Master of Medical Laboratory Science, she enjoys the hands-on experience in various medical laboratory science fields, including haematology, microbiology, histology, transfusion medicine, and chemistry; and hopes to become an academic once she has completed her studies.
“I am very interested in how the body reacts to disease, and what I can do as a qualified medical practitioner to further our understanding,” she said.
“I think it is so important to have specialists in this field in the NT, because we can better diagnose and treat various diseases here instead of people having to go down south all the time.”
Dr Roy has been recognised for outstanding contributions, recently being nominated as a finalist for the 2023 Study NT International Student Volunteer of the Year, and for the 2024 CDU International Student at the NT Young Achiever Awards.
Off-campus, her passion for helping others shines through her involvement with organisations like the Australian Red Cross, Kindness Shake, Victims of Crime NT, and Inspired NT.
When the remote community of Yarralin was hit by floods last year, she stepped up as an emergency service volunteer and provided crucial psychological support to First Nations residents; learning the local language to understand their experiences.
"During the Katherine floods, I witnessed the resilience of communities firsthand. Providing support as an emergency service volunteer allowed me to give back to Territorians who needed it most.”
As a mother to a five-year-old daughter, Dr Roy is also a familiar face at Royal Darwin Hospital, as she walks the halls with the hospitality cart and gives sick children and their families books, snacks, toiletries, and learning activities to help them through a tough time.