She never would have guessed those very dreams would see her land a Cambridge Australia Newnham Scholarship to do a PhD at the University of Cambridge in England.

Miss Kang, who has already completed a Master of Archaeological and Evolutionary Science from the Australian National University, will leave Australia at the end of this month to undertake the three-year program.

Her thesis supervisor pioneered the Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry technique, which Miss Kang will be applying to bone points from Neanderthal-human occupation sites from Palaeolithic Europe.

Her aim is to identify the species or genus the bone tools belong to, hoping to provide new insights into the origins of hominid cognition.

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Miss Kang has been working and studying for many years in Sydney and Canberra after originally gaining her bachelor degree and becoming an archaeologist.

She said the opportunity to now go to England was an exciting one and a challenge she was looking forward to taking on.

"I've always wanted to do a PhD in archaeology ... I've always wanted to do research and go to those big names like Cambridge," Miss Kang said.

"The way it came about is I applied for the scholarship at the start of this year. I was stunned that I got it. I'm really looking forward to it."

Miss Kang is no stranger to having traveled overseas for her work, having undertaken many placements and experiences in several European countries, including one instance where she lived and worked underground in a cave.

"I'm looking forward to so much about the whole experience," she said.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to be in Cambridge, it's such a prestigious place and I know I will be able to network with so many amazing people.

"The archaeology expertise there is amazing. It's a multi-disciplinary approach. I'm also looking forward to just living there as well.

"I'm a bit nervous, not about the PhD, but just leaving Australia during the pandemic and not knowing when I can come back to visit."

Miss Kang said her experience of growing up in a small town such as Leeton not only taught her the value of community, but that no matter where you live, no dream is too big or too small.

"It's a good reminder for our town to support our kids that want to go above the norm and achieve some really great things," she said.

"My journey hasn't been easy, but I'm excited to see what happens next for me and in my career."

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