AMY VIRGONA
Hoppers Crossing,VIC
Summary
Detail-oriented Master of Science (Epidemiology) student with a strong academic background and experience in supporting diverse student populations. Proficient in note-taking, accessible document formatting, and captioning, providing tailored academic assistance to enhance student learning. Proven ability to communicate effectively, work independently, and maintain confidentiality while addressing individual student needs. Committed to promoting equitable access to education and fostering inclusive learning environments.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Cytology Laboratory Assistant
Melbourne Pathology
06.2023 - Current
- Perform accurate data entry and documentation using APOLLO (LIMS) for confidential patient information for 50+ samples per day.
- Maintain high standards of precision in sample accessioning, workflow management, and inventory tracking.
- Collaborate with clinicians, laboratory staff, and other departments while upholding privacy and compliance standards.
- Work independently and often in isolation, following SOPs and strict information-handling policies.
Senior Student Ambassador
University of Melbourne
03.2023 - Current
- Conducted on and off-campus presentations for the Melbourne School Enrichment Program and UniMelb 101 Presentations independently for school groups.
- Facilitated and moderated student panels for large audiences (600+ students and parents) to discuss university life and the transition from high school to university.
- Functioned as a team leader during school expos and on-campus events to Student Ambassadors and professional staff members in the set-up, running, and pack pack-down of events.
- Trained 30+ new student ambassadors, guiding them in campus tour and presentation delivery to ensure respectful and sensitive communication with prospective students and staff.
- Compete ad-hoc office admin work for the Onshore recruitment team including data entry for partner schools, editing subtitles to meet accessibility needs of 15+ outreach events lectures, and phoning 50+ prospective students using OneCRM and Salesforce programs for scholarship opportunities.
Student Coach
Elevate Education
03.2022 - 07.2023
- Mentored and tutored high school students, adjusting communication and teaching styles to individual needs for domestic and international students and students with academic adjustment plans.
- Guided 20 students to create notes and learn memorisation techniques which they could use for more efficient studying to increase their grades to 80+ averages.
Student Ambassador
University of Melbourne
03.2021 - 03.2023
- Hosted campus tours for secondary schools and spoke on student panels to discuss the transition from high school to university.
- Assisted in the physical set-up, running, and pack pack-down of events.
- Designed and delivered presentations regarding my personal university journal for high school students at partner school part of the Melbourne Enrichment program.
VCE 3&4 Biology Tutor
Thomas Carr College
02.2021 - 02.2022
- Instructed students in building notes from classes and learning materials from textbooks and online resources, influencing students to increase average grades by 10%.
- Created and implemented tailored learning plans for 15 students based on individual learning needs and goals.
Education
Master of Science - Epidemiology
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC12-2026
Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Microbiology & Immunology
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC12.2024
Bachelor of Science - Pathology
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC12.2023
Skills
- Data analysis
- Laboratory techniques
- Project management
- Public speaking
- Event coordination
- Team leadership
- Communication strategies
- Academic support
Volunteer Experience
DigiVol volunteer (remote)
Atlas of Living Australia |November 2025 – current
Transcribe handwritten collection labels for plant and animal specimens, and historical records (such as tax documents and legal documents) to make data accessible online for galleries and museums
Education Officer
Melbourne University Global Health Society | Mar 2023 – Dec 2025
- Researched diverse public health topics such as mental health, refugee health, and One Health to create accessible educational materials and presentations for high school and university students to be delivered through educational workshops
Retail volunteer
St. Vincent de Paul Society Op Shop| Jan 2021 – Dec 2023
- First point of contact for customer inquiries, trained new volunteers in POS and store procedures
- Communicated with and assisted vulnerable members of the local community, and those with disabilities, to provide a high-quality and accessible retail experience
Research and Academic Experience
Honours Research Project – “Role of the Prion Protein in Colorectal Cancer”
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity | Feb 2024 – Dec 2024
- Conducted and recorded in-silico protein and gene analyses, in vitro cancer CRISPR-knockout cell assays, and in vivo cancer histology methodologies on Lab Archives and Microsoft Excel
- Developed strong data navigation and interpretation skills on Microsoft Excel to navigate, sort, and filter data
- Developed a high familiarity with search tools such as the University of Melbourne Catalogue and online search engines (PubMed, Web of Science) for conducting literature reviews
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint: headings, styles, diagrams, proofreading, and document organisation for thesis planning, writing, and research presentations
- Produced a 60-page research thesis, delivered a 20-minute oral presentation to 200 researchers, and underwent a 30-minute oral defence examination to communicate and defend my research findings and choices
Undergraduate research internship – “Analysis of seasonal alphacoronaviruses (NL63 and 229E) using human airway cultures”
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity | Jun 2023 – Dec 2023
- Performed virology assays on cultured human and animal cell lines to assess cellular changes that occurred from seasonal alphacoronavirus infection
- Produced a 15-page research thesis and delivered a 10-minute oral presentation to 50 researchers regarding my research findings
References
Tameeka Zaharogiannis
- Student Recruitment and Enquiries Office (Future Students)
- 0478 276 085
- tameeka.zaharogiannis@unimelb.edu.au
Cynthia Teo
- Previous Laboratory Supervisor at Melbourne Pathology
- 0403 523 699
- cynthia.teo@mps.com.au
Timeline
Cytology Laboratory Assistant
Melbourne Pathology
06.2023 - Current
Senior Student Ambassador
University of Melbourne
03.2023 - Current
Student Coach
Elevate Education
03.2022 - 07.2023
Student Ambassador
University of Melbourne
03.2021 - 03.2023
VCE 3&4 Biology Tutor
Thomas Carr College
02.2021 - 02.2022
Master of Science - Epidemiology
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Microbiology & Immunology
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Science - Pathology
University of Melbourne