MSD Research Students Association

The Research Students Association (RSA) at the Melbourne School of Design (MSD) is an independently run student group representing the Graduate Research cohort of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.

MSD Research Students Association Logo

The Research Students Association aims to foster a cohesive and supportive research culture within the Graduate Research cohort of the faculty. We are affiliated with the Graduate Students Association (GSA), the centralised advocacy body for all graduate students at the University of Melbourne.

Our committee is divided across four areas of focus:

Executive
President: Dinh Huynh - An Giang (Việt Nam)
Secretary: Yuqian Lin - Guangzhou (China)
Treasurer: Imogen Howe - Darramurra Dharug Country (Australia)

The Executive is responsible for the governance of the RSA and leads our interactions with professional and academic staff both within our faculty and across the University.

Advocacy
Paul Fleckney - Norfolk (England)
Laurie Aznavoorian - The Lands of the Potawatomi, Chicago (USA)
Loren Adams - Bindjareb Nyungar Boodja (Australia)
Sarah Hunter - Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung (Australia)

The Advocacy team spearheads the interface between the Graduate Research cohort and the faculty. They facilitate specific opportunities for graduate researchers to offer feedback, ask questions and raise concerns, in turn relaying these issues directly to the faculty and working to achieve resolutions.

Engagement
Merrick Morley - Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung (Australia)
Asep Darmana - Bandung (Indonesia)
Eka Kusuma - Bandung (Indonesia)
Louis Cyuzuzo - Lyon (France)

The chief aims of our Engagement team are developing cohesion amongst the cohort and encouraging ownership of the Graduate Research experience. The team facilitates social events and numerous other opportunities for collegial interaction in formats both formal and organic.

Research
Rebecca Roberts - Iutruwita Palawa Country (Australia)
Amelia Leavesley - Wadandi Nyungar Boodja (Australia)
Damilola Olalekan - Lagos (Nigeria)
Yuan Lu - Ningbo (China)

The Research team works closely with the Assistant Dean (Graduate Research) and the Research Office to facilitate ongoing research training, along with leading the publication of the Faculty’s Graduate Research journal, Oculus.

A message from the President

MSD RSA President Dinh Huynh

Hi scholars!

The RSA exists to optimise a productive relationship between the Graduate Research cohort and the faculty. We work to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experiences, allow for informed thinking about career futures, build networks, and enrich the lived experience of PhD and MPhil candidates.

The 2024 RSA committee is wonderfully diverse - we have candidates of such varied nationalities, ethnicities, ages, backgrounds and ambitions, and this diversity enhances our ability to relate to all of the highs and lows of the Graduate Research experience. You are encouraged to engage actively with the RSA and we look forward to being a constant and supportive presence throughout your time at the MSD.

We are committed to serving the cohort to the very best of our ability - if you would like to join our WhatsApp support chat (a group for all MSD Graduate Researchers), have a question, concern, or any feedback (major or minor), please reach out without hesitation: dinh.huynh@student.unimelb.edu.au

Wishing you the best of luck and the best of times at the MSD,
Dinh

MSD Research Students Association Facebook Group

MSD RSA Annual Reports

Read the RSA annual reports to learn more about what we do:
2020
2021
2022
2023