Rhona Hamilton is reimagining biophotonics at the University of St Andrews

4 August 2025 – In an office at the University of St Andrews, a postcard sits above Rhona Hamilton’s desk. It’s from the Josephinum Medical History Museum in Vienna — an intricate wax model of the brain. Beside it, she’s added a quote of her own. 

“I think it sums up the first few months of my study overseas so far,” she says.  

“I’ve spent the past six months thinking more about brains than I have in the rest of my life put together.”

As the first of the 2025 John Monash Scholars to begin their studies overseas, Rhona is laying groundwork for a career at the intersection of photonics, nanotechnology and neuroscience.  

Supported by a BHP John Monash Scholarship, she’s undertaking a PhD in photonics at the University of St Andrews — an ancient institution with a cutting-edge physics program and strong focus on biophysics. 

Her goal is ambitious: to develop techniques that help us better understand the brain’s fluid clearance systems with potentially game-changing implications for Alzheimer’s research. 

“I chose to apply for the John Monash scholarship because I hope to pursue a career where I can do cutting edge scientific research with a positive social impact,” she says.  

“I wanted to contribute to and also benefit from this network of passionate and socially engaged Australian scholars.” 

The move to Scotland has been enjoyable. “In Scotland you can walk, cycle or ride a horse almost anywhere you want,” she says. “It’s called your Right to Roam.”

And the food? “I’m more comfortable with eating deep fried haggis than I thought I would be.” 

More significantly, her studies have reshaped her thinking. “I’ve come to appreciate not only how techniques from physics can be applied to study biological systems in greater detail but also how fundamental physical principles are relevant to understanding biological processes themselves.” 

Looking ahead, Rhona hopes to drive innovation in biotechnology back home. “I want to focus on developing medical technologies tailored to the Australian context,” she says.  

“Tackling issues of equality in access to healthcare and improving accessibility to diagnostic imaging and medical devices.” 

Rhona will continue her PhD at the University of St Andrew’s on the 2025 BHP John Monash Scholarship through to 2028.