When Hien Tran applied for a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship, she was looking for an opportunity to gain practical research experience alongside her studies in Biomedicine and her Assured Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine.
That opportunity led her to the Genetics and Epidemiology team at the Lions Eye Institute, where she contributed to research aimed at improving outcomes for children with myopia.
Hien's exceptional contribution throughout her internship recently saw her recognised with a McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Intern Award, one of eight students honoured in 2026.
"I wanted to get real hands-on practical experience in research because it's an area I'm interested in pursuing alongside medicine," Hien said.
"The internship gave me the opportunity to see how research works in a real-world setting and helped me understand the impact that evidence-based research can have on improving people's lives."
During her placement, Hien worked on a range of projects, including preparing specialised light meters for use in a myopia research study, supporting participant recruitment, assisting at children's eye clinics, and assisting with research administration.
One of her most significant contributions involved troubleshooting technical issues with light meters that would be used to collect environmental exposure data from participating families.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward task quickly became more complex, requiring Hien to contact the device manufacturer directly and work with the Institute's IT team to resolve software challenges.
Her supervisor, An Tran, Clinical Research Fellow at the Lions Eye Institute, said Hien consistently demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness throughout the placement.
"Hien's leadership in preparing the light meters for the study illustrates her ability to go beyond what is expected of an intern," An said.
Eager to deepen her understanding of the research, Hien also took the initiative to learn more about eye health and myopia, independently reading scientific publications while assisting with research administration tasks.
For Hien, one of the most valuable aspects of the internship was learning how to navigate unfamiliar challenges in a supportive environment.
"When I was learning to operate new equipment and work in a clinical research setting, there were definitely times when I felt out of my comfort zone," she said.
"But my supervisors created such a welcoming environment for asking questions. Being able to seek help and learn from experienced researchers helped me build confidence and develop a much deeper understanding of the work."
Alongside her technical contributions, Hien assisted with participant recruitment and data collection activities, helping strengthen the Institute's engagement with families participating in research studies.
According to An, Hien's impact extended well beyond her assigned responsibilities.
"Throughout her internship, Hien showed initiative, professionalism and dedication," she said.
"She arrived each day with a clear sense of purpose and willingly took on additional tasks whenever she completed her assigned work. Her positive attitude and genuine curiosity made her an outstanding contributor to our team."
Hien encourages other students to keep an open mind when exploring internship opportunities.
"Don't be afraid to try something new," she said.
"You might discover interests, skills and opportunities you never expected. The experience helped me grow professionally and personally, and it's given me greater confidence in pursuing both medicine and research in the future."
Image: Hien Tran receives her Outstanding Intern Award from the McCusker Centre for Citizenship at the 2026 End-of-Year Thank You Event and Outstanding Intern Award Ceremony.