Bridging Academia and Industry: Lily Liu's Journey Into Modular Construction

When PhD student Lily Liu set out to deepen her understanding of modular construction, a government-backed internship program opened the door to real-world experience that no lecture theatre could replicate.

Lily, a student member of prefabAUS studying at the UNSW School of Built Environment, completed a 10-week placement with Modscape + Modbotics through the Women in Construction Internship Program — part of a $2.3 million grant awarded to UNSW by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Office for Women, under the Australian Government's Women's Leadership and Development Program.

The program was established to attract, retain, and empower women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, while also equipping them to navigate the rapid technological shifts of Construction 4.0. Passionate about Industry 4.0, Lily rotated across Modscape + Modbotics' end-to-end Victorian teams — bringing fresh academic insights while grounding her PhD research in hands-on practice.

"The Women in Construction project enabled me to complete a 10-week internship at Modscape + Modbotics, where I rotated across multiple teams and gained a holistic, end-to-end understanding of modular construction in practice.

This opportunity provided invaluable first-hand industry experience and reinforced my determination to pursue a career in this sector after graduation.

"The program supports women nationwide with training, internships, mentoring, scholarships, and career development. Learn more on the [webpage] or contact Yenny Bendatu at y.bendatu@unsw.edu.au.Searched project for “JMB Modular Buildings advanced manufacturing”