e-Meet a Biomedical Scientist 2025

Meet Ada Koo

"I have extensive experience iExtensive experience in high-throughput screening, assay development, and leading drug discovery projects across biotech, pharma, non-profits, and academia globally. I currently leads the 2D high throughput screening team at the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics. My current focus  is on developing novel microbiome screening methods in collaboration with Bio21, Doherty Institute, and Metabolomics Australia."

^{Ada Koo
Honorary, Dept of  Anatomy & Physiology}

Meet Ashleigh Hayes

"I'm a Research Assistant/Lab Manager and work with bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a major human pathogen that's recognised as a significant public health concern worldwide. I study how the bacteria (S. aureus) adapts to its environment during infections and antibiotic treatment. A key goal is to examine significant changes across the global S. aureus population, which have not been well-researched. My findings will help better understand how S. aureus survives and adapts within human infections and how it develops antibiotic resistance."

Meet Dr Brendon Chua

"I am passionate about research on how our immune responses fight infections especially against those respiratory viruses. I have been involved in many studies that have not only made significant discoveries but also using what we know to develop better vaccines and therapies to protect against infection."

Meet Dr Carolien van de Sandt

"My current research aims to understand why our immune system's ability to respond to viruses declines as we age. By comparing killer T cells (a type of immune cell) from children and elderly individuals, I am looking at the differences in their responses. I found that children's killer T cells are better at recognizing virus-infected cells and have stronger mechanisms to kill them compared to elderly killer T cells. I want to use this knowledge to develop vaccines and treatments that can provide elderly killer T cells with the same capabilities as children's - and protect the elderly from severe infections."

Dr Chris Freelance

"I'm an evolutionary biologist studying sensory organ variations across animals and the role of sensory systems in disease. My research includes neurodegenerative diseases, evolutionary responses to pollution and conservation. I assist researchers in preparing biological tissues for microscopic anatomical studies."

Meet Dr Daniella Hock

"I'm a Research Fellow and my work focuses on diagnosing rare genetic diseases. Around 50% of patients with a rare genetic disease remain undiagnosed because the genetic variant causing their disease is unknown. My PhD and postdoctoral work have been on developing a protein test that could confirm the disease in weeks instead of years. Our research aims to reduce the time for patients and families to receive an accurate genetic diagnosis, which can guide patient care, treatments and prognosis."

Meet Dominika Michalek

"I am a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory Demonstrator for the subject  Techniques in Molecular Science.  I'm also in the second year of my PhD at Peter Mac where I'm studying the molecular mechanisms of cell death and inflammation: how do our cells respond to threats like damage or 'danger'  and how do the cells bring about an appropriate response?

Dominika Michalek
^{Dept of Biochemistry & Pharmacology}

Meet Dr Faraz Ahmed

"I am a McKenzie Research Fellow with joint appointment at Dept of Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Dept of Microbiology & Immunology. My current research interests involve developing innovative ways to inform design of next generation vaccines and antiviral drugs against infectious diseases. My research adopts a data science perspective aiming to identify fragments of viral proteins and genes that could be effectively targeted through vaccines or drugs. I am developing methods for identifying robust targets against diverse viruses, including Coronaviruses, Dengue, HIV and HCV."

Meet Dr Glen Carter

"I’m a Head of Laboratory where my team studies how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and how we can fight back. We're working to understand the biology behind drug-resistant infections and to discover new ways to treat them. I’ve been using a range of tools in my work, from growing bacteria in the lab and sequencing their DNA, to testing new treatments in infection models. My research combines curiosity, problem-solving and collaboration in an effort to stay ahead in the battle against superbugs."

Meet Dr Kate Hatzopoulos

I'm a Senior Lecturer and subject coordinator of topographical anatomy for our biomedical and science programs. I'm also highly specialised in cadaver dissection and have been the lead dissector for many of the specimens currently on display at the University. I collaborate with researchers, apply my dissection expertise and supervise  students involved in these projects.

Meet Dr Louise Rowntree

"I work on understanding immune responses to viral infections in high-risk populations including Australian First Nations people, pregnant women, children and cancer patients. My research now focuses on the best immune cells in the body, killer T cells, and how they can help protect people from future virus infections. I have loved science since I was in primary school. I did work experience in a biomedical research lab in Year 10 which I loved. I first studied the immune system in my final year of high school and then again at university."

^{Dr Louise Rowntree
Research Fellow, Dept of Microbiology & Immunology}

Meet Dr Maciej Daniszewski

"I'm a cell biologist who uses human stem cells to understand why we develop neurodegenerative diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration or ALS. In my work I utilise cutting-edge techniques to analyse cellular transcriptome, epigenome and function as well as automation to increase throughput and improve consistency."

Meet A/Prof Melanie Eckersley-Maslin

"My research group investigates what gives cells their identity and how they adapt to change. We study this in both the context of embryonic development and cancer and use a combination of cellular and molecular biology experimental and computational tools in our research. My role involves teaching and mentoring my team, leading our research questions, training staff and communicating our research findings to other scientists and the broader community."

Meet Dr Mike Clark

"I'm a medical researcher and Laboratory Head - our research is in genomics and neuroscience.  We investigate how our brain develops and how our genes contribute to who develops mental health disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression."

Meet Dr Naveen Vankadari

"My research is at the forefront of understanding the events central to human infection, with a focus on structural and functional studies on viral and bacterial proteins involved in infection that have challenged human immunity."

Meet Prof Peter Crack

"I'm Head of the Neuropharmacology Research Group - my lab studies the mechanisms of cell death in neural injuries and how oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation contribute to neural cell death in both acute and chronic brain disorders. Recently, we have focused on the role of type-I interferons in regulating neuro-inflammation in traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease."

Meet Dr Rachel McQuade

"I work with a team of scientists and doctors to study how changes in the gut, like inflammation or damage to the gut lining, might affect the brain over time and how the gut and brain communicate with each other, especially as we age or develop diseases like dementia. My goal is to uncover how early changes in the gut might help us detect or prevent brain diseases before they start."

^{Dr Rachel McQuade
Head of Laboratory & Research Fellow, Dept of Anatomy & Physiology}

Meet A/Prof Robyn Brown

"I am a neuroscientist and my research is focused on understanding the brain and what junk food and drugs of abuse to do the brain."

^{A/Prof Robyn Brown
Head of Laboratory & Research Fellow, Dept of Biochemistry & Pharmacology}

Meet Dr Susan Christo

"I am immunologist and study specialised immune cells called 'tissue-resident memory T cells'. These cells live in our organs and protect against infection and cancer. Therefore, we aim to understand the optimal 'recipe' of genes and proteins that generate these populations so we can develop new therapies for disease."

"Since my high school did not have a science outreach program, I wanted to offer my knowledge, experiences and expertise to inspire high school students… speaking to school students is very rewarding to ask us questions about my work and the university... It's great to pitch your work to a different audience (high school students are very different to presenting at conferences) which is very fun!”

“[Stacey’s] insights and expertise have truly enriched [the students’] learning experience. [Her] visit has no doubt made a lasting impact on our students and appreciate [her] contribution to our community”

–Teacher, Auburn High School