Overcoming hurdles
Student recognised for overcoming hurdles.
High achieving PhD student Hazel Godfrey has won a 2014 Port Nicholson Rotary Goal Setters Award in recognition of overcoming significant hurdles in pursuit of her goals.
Despite suffering from a chronic pain condition, Hazel completed a Bachelor of Science with first class Honours and a Master of Science with Distinction in 2011. She then began a career in the public service but had to resign after a flare up of her medical condition.
Drawing on her personal and academic background, Hazel has started a PhD under the supervision of Dr Gina Grimshaw, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology.
She is examining how experiencing pain affects cognitive processes such as executive functioning and attention, or how we perceive the world around us, with a broader aim of understanding what types of pain management techniques are potentially effective.
Dr Grimshaw says Hazel is a remarkable student. “Her own experiences give her a unique insight into chronic pain, and the motivation to do research that will have real effects on people’s lives. But she can also put aside her own experiences and approach the problem as a scientist.”
In addition to her research, Hazel has become the Postgraduate Student Association representative for the Faculty of Science Board, and plans to have a career as a health researcher.
The award of $3,000 is made to two recipients and a third, sponsored by Victoria University, to a Victoria student.“I'm still buzzing from hearing that I was one of the recipients and I am very grateful to the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson for the opportunities the Goal Setter Award will bring,” says Hazel.