Spotlight: Myat Thwe Naing

Winner of our Centre’s 2025 Annual Conference Best Oral Presentation award, Myat Thwe Naing is a PhD candidate under the supervision of Professor Yun Liu and Professor Nick Cox at the Research School of Chemistry (RSC), Australian National University (ANU).

Tell us something about yourself that you think few, if any, people know.

My academic pathway has been shaped as much by external circumstances as by curiosity and hard work. I grew up in Myanmar, where access to scientific and educational resources is limited. Yet I had a desire to learn and discover.

I left home to study a Master’s degree in South Korea and PhD in Australia, which required navigating new cultures, languages, and expectations. These experiences taught me resilience, adaptability and, wherever I go, the importance of finding a community where I can belong.

Before beginning my PhD, I worked as a university demonstrator. In this role I discovered my joy of teaching and helping others grow, especially those who may face challenges like mine.

Your career aspirations?

I want to become a scientific researcher who contributes meaningfully to sustainable energy solutions and trains the next generation of scientists. Further, I want to mentor young students and create an environment back in my home country where they feel supported, inspired, and confident to pursue ambitious ideas.

What is your elevator pitch, or what do you tell people when they ask, “What do you do?”

I tell them I’m a PhD researcher developing advanced materials for clean and sustainable energy. My work focuses on improving photoelectrochemical water splitting by designing efficient heterojunction photoelectrodes that enhance charge separation and boost solar-to-hydrogen conversion. Alongside material development, I use in-situ electron paramagnetic resonance to study charge carrier dynamics and reactive intermediates, giving us deeper mechanistic insight into how these catalysts operate. Ultimately, my goal is to combine innovative material design with advanced characterisation to help develop next-generation solar-powered energy systems.

What do you consider your key challenges?

Coming from a country experiencing political and economic instability means that I often carry both emotional and practical concerns alongside my academic work. Managing this and staying focused requires me to muster resilience, discipline, and good time-management skills, but it has strengthened my sense of purpose.

Professionally, an ongoing challenge is navigating the steep learning curves that come with working across multiple areas of research, from synthesis process to advanced characterisation techniques. I am continuously learning new methods, adapting to unexpected experimental outcomes and refining my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.

Rather than obstacles, I see these challenges as experiences which strengthen my perseverance and shape my future research career.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

What motivates me most is the hope of becoming a better version of myself and supporting the people I care about. I want to make my family proud, create stability for my future, and contribute positively to the lives around me. This is what inspires me to start each day with purpose.

Favourite thing(s) to do on the weekend?

I enjoy taking time to recharge by going out for a walk around Canberra, especially in the early mornings when everything is fresh and quiet. I love catching up with friends over coffee or exploring new cafes around Canberra, as it helps me relax, unwind and step away from the responsibilities and commitments of the week. These simple pastimes help me maintain a healthy balance between my personal and professional life.

Cultural insights and what they mean to you

I was raised with values such as humility, respect, and generosity which are principles that guide how I work with others, communicate, and support my peers. Coming from a place with limited academic opportunities has also given me a deep sense of gratitude and resourcefulness. It reminds me to approach challenges with patience and to value every opportunity to learn and grow. Living and studying in different countries has strengthened my appreciation for diversity and helped me understand the importance of community.