Tutors

Aidan Carter (he/they)

Teaching areas: International Relations, Social Science Research Methods, History, Essay Writing, Sociolinguistics, Italian and French

Aidan has degrees in Foreign Languages, International Relations, and Higher Education from the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, and the University for Foreigners of Perugia (Italy). He currently works for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), is completing his second master’s degree in Translation and Interpreting at RMIT, and volunteers at Out For Australia. He originally hails from rural Victoria (near Daylesford) and moved to Melbourne to attend university. Following his graduation, he has worked at Swinburne, La Trobe and the University of Melbourne in research and teaching roles. His professional experience includes 5 years in colleges as a Resident Tutor, as well as roles as a tour guide, an English teacher, and an interpreter in Italy.

In his spare time, he enjoys learning languages; travelling the world; music; and keeping fit through running, swimming, tennis or cycling.

Amy Bongetti (she/her)

Teaching areas:  Biomedical Science, Scientific Writing

Amy completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne in 2019, majoring in Neuroscience. She then went on to complete her Honours year in Physiology. Currently she is completing her PhD at the University of Melbourne where she is investigating the biochemical mechanisms underlying muscle wasting in the ICU. Amy is also a tutor in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology and is involved in the Universities Elite Athlete Program.
 
Amy is passionate about women’s health, education, and sport. Outside of academia, if you can’t find her buried in a good book, you will most likely find her baking or either watching or playing sport.

Jack Tan (he/him)

Teaching areas:  Literature, Creative Writing, Essay Writing, Collaborative Music

Jack has degrees in Education, English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Melbourne and the National University of Singapore. He has lived and worked in the Melbourne residential colleges since 2009. Jack is currently undertaking his PhD in Education and Creative Writing at RMIT. His research project involves storying his lived experience as a transcultural teacher. Jack has tutored extensively in Creative Writing and English Literature for the University of Melbourne Faculty of Arts and the residential colleges.

Jack is a keen collaborative pianist. At JCH, he performs regularly with student musicians and the JCH Choir. At St Jude’s Anglican Church, he serves as keyboard player for worship bands. Jack holds a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) with distinction in piano performance. 

Prior to his arrival in Melbourne, Jack worked as a piano teacher and classroom teacher in Singapore and Shanghai. Outside academia and music, Jack enjoys visual arts, cafés and bookstores, as well as driving and road trips.

Joshua McLeod (he/him)

Teaching areas:  Engineering, Mathematics, IT

Josh has degrees in Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering and Computer Science & Software Engineering from Swinburne University of Technology. Since graduation, Joshua has worked next door at Trinity College in many areas, including as a residential tutor, administrator, Choir Manager, and Foundation Studies teacher.
 
In other commitments, Joshua volunteers with the Society of St Vincent de Paul in numerous roles and sings in choirs. His hobbies include chess, reading, walking, piano, and spending time with people.

Rebekkah Markey-Towler (she/her)

Teaching areas:   Law, Climate Change, Economics, Politics

Rebekkah (Bek) has degrees in Arts (International Relations and Political Science) and Law from the University of Queensland. She is currently completing her PhD at the Melbourne Law School. Her thesis looks at how law and regulation can connect climate change and mortgage lending. Bek is also a Research Fellow at Melbourne Climate Futures' Sustainable Finance Hub at the University of Melbourne. In this role, she undertakes a range of activities including co-producing the Climate Talks podcast, running the database on climate change litigation in Australia, and regularly contributing to Government and other stakeholder inquiries and projects. Her research interests lie at the intersection of climate change law, financial law and corporate law. Prior to working at the University, Bek taught English in Japan as part of the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme and was the Executive Associate to a judge on the Federal Court of Australia. In her free time, Bek enjoys swimming, yoga, hiking and reading up on the latest climate change news. 

Adam Nelson (he/him)

Teaching areas: Philosophy, Immunology, Genetics and Japanese

Adam completed his undergraduate degrees in science and arts at Monash University in 2017 majoring in Immunology and Philosophy and minoring in Genetics and Japanese. He went on to complete his honours in immunology in 2018 at the Alfred hospital’s central clinical school looking at the role of B cells in ryegrass allergies. He is currently completing his PhD at Melbourne University at the Peter Doherty Institute for infectious disease and is studying a subset of T cells that recognise metabolic change in cancer.

Outside the lab Adam enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, playing, and coaching hockey, and playing the drums.
 

Aswhini De Silva

Teaching areas: Economics

Ashwini is a 2nd year PhD student with the Child Health Economics unit at the University of Melbourne. Her research is focused on studying the social value of avoiding poor health states in children. She has completed her bachelors specializing in Business Economics with a First class honors at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and she received the Student of the Year award in 2020 by the University of Colombo. 

Dominika Michalek (she/her)

Teaching areas: Biochemistry

Dom is a University of Melbourne BSc graduate, where she majored in Cell and Developmental Biology. She currently is a Biochemistry Honours student, completing her research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. RIPK1 is Dom's favourite protein, and her honours project involves studying its role within the cell signalling pathways controlling cell death and inflammation. When she's not in the lab, or busy looking after her houseplants, Dom enjoys exploring the Victorian landscape with surfing, skiing and sightseeing day trips. 

Erin Mathews (she/her)

Teaching areas: Art History and Theory 

Erin Mathews (she/her) is an artist, curator, writer and speaker based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. She currently works in the professional gallery world, while making her own art and managing the Cabinet of Curiosities art project. Erin has over ten years experience working in galleries, with a focus on diversity and equality curating. She loves wandering around galleries and museums, and will hunt down the best font for a didactic label. In 2023 Erin is a Board Observer for Midsumma, and will continue as a non-residential tutor at Colleges at The University of Melbourne. 

She completed a Masters of Art Curatorship at The University of Melbourne in 2013, with a thesis titled “Procurement, Presentation and Publication: The Rosetta Stone in the British Museum”.  Don’t ask her about this unless you want a long discussion about the importance of this hunk of rock. Erin’s artistic practice is based in printmaking, with a focus on history (definitely inspired by her early love of the classic 1999 film The Mummy). She is usually found on the floor carving Lino plates.

When she’s not working, you can probably find her drinking an iced coffee in one of the wonderful cafes around Melbourne, listening to a podcast, or making (and devouring) some sort of baked goods. Erin produces work under the Cabinet of Curiosities name. Her work is currently available to purchase online and in-store from incube8r in Melbourne, Victoria.

You can see more information on her website.

Dr Joses Nathanael

Teaching areas: Chemistry

Joses graduated from the University of Melbourne with a PhD in Chemistry in 2019. Before being a college tutor, he was a student at Whitley College. In his final years of being at college, he took a role of Senior Student to support younger students and offer them pastoral care. College life has given so much to him and contributed significantly to his personal growth. Being a tutor is one of the ways he thinks he can give back to college.

Currently, he is working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Outside of academia, Joses really enjoys bouldering. Despite his fear of height, he thinks going bouldering has given him "wings" to "fly" and overcome this fear.

Maki Nemoto

Teaching areas: Japanese

Maki completed her Bachelor of Design degree with majors in Graphic Design and Performance Design at the University of Melbourne. She is currently pursuing her Master of Teaching (Secondary) degree at the same university, with specialisations in Languages and Visual Arts & Design fields. 

Maki is actively involved in teaching outside of her academic pursuits. She works as a Japanese teacher at a community language school and tutors students ranging from Year 7 to University level. 

In her free time, Maki enjoys painting, learning and teaching languages, singing and playing volleyball. Aside from her hobbies, Maki is engaged in volunteering for various events and organisations such as the Tokyo Olympics, Melbourne Fashion Festival, and Melbourne Art Fair.

Mira Gunawansa

Teaching areas: Gender Studies, Sociology/Social Policy, and Human Geography

Mira is a PhD student exploring the intersection of Gender and Migration within the Mental Load. Simultaneous to her doctorate, she acts as a Research and Project Manager for the Gender Equity Initiative at the University. As a researcher, her projects and ethics focus on the decolonisation and unlearning of bias, and highlight intersectional, sustainable approaches to women's empowerment and international development. 

Since 2021, Mira has also worked in curriculum development and delivery for the School of Social and Political Sciences. By adopting a holistic approach to education, she strives to create a safe environment wherein students feel relaxed enough to be themselves, and in doing so - help build their self-confidence by realising that there are many ways to excel. 

When her eyes are not glued to her laptop, Mira loves a good pilates class, long walks and yelling incoherently when a tight game is on. 

Shreya Jha

Teaching areas: Management

Shreya received her degree in social - organisational psychology from Columbia University, and is now working towards a PhD in Organisational Behaviour. Her thesis seeks to understand the effects of introducing artificial intelligence (AI) in organisations. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, she worked in consulting for 2 years. 

In her free time, she enjoys going on long hikes, exploring the hidden wonders of Victoria, and playing squash / tennis.