And she has some advice for her fellow university students who are wondering whether to take a risk.

“I encourage all young academics in whatever field to put their ideas out there and not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone to reach their goals,” she said.

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Ms Davis, who is in her fourth year studying for a bachelor of arts/law at the Australian National University in Canberra, secured a place on the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference program thanks to her essay on embryo research.

She won the conference’s John McPhee Prize with her work, The boundaries of embryo research: extending the 14 day rule.  

Her prize is a 12-month membership to the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law, an invitation to attend the three-day conference in Townsville next month and the chance to have her paper included in the conference schedule and presentations.

Ms Davis was vice-captain at Bathurst High in 2014.

"I have aspirations to enter the medico-legal and health law field post-graduation, with a particular interest in the law surrounding assisted reproductive technologies, adoption and other emerging bioethics issues,” she said.

“I would also like to pursue further study as a postgraduate student in this area, incorporating overseas study as well.

“My interest stems from not only my university studies, but through my position as a part-time law clerk at a personal injury and medical negligence law firm in Canberra.

“I feel very privileged to attend the conference in September as it will give me the opportunity to meet professionals and leaders in the health law field.”

The Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference will be held from September 23 to 26 in Townsville.

The theme will be “Collapsing borders, contested certainties and changing paradigms”.