Meet our inspiring alumni
Meet James Comben
Motivated by the intersection of biology and computation, James pursued a double degree in Science (Computational Science) and Biomedical Science followed by a Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours).
James’ interest in cancer research began in secondary school, long before he set foot in a research lab. That interest deepened during a summer internship at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where he discovered the power of bioinformatics and the impact computational methods could have on biological discovery.
Two months into his already intensive Honours year, James received life‑altering news: a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The diagnosis added both physical and emotional strain to an already demanding research year. But what could have halted his studies instead became one of several pivotal challenges that shaped his future in research.
This was honestly the hardest part for me, but I was motivated to continue and complete my research, and I was able to do so despite my health setbacks.
Today, nearly two years into a PhD jointly undertaken at the University of Melbourne and Peter Mac, supported by a Fay Marles Scholarship, James is using computational science to tackle some of cancer biology’s most complex questions.
Honours
For his Honours year, James embarked on a clinical pathology project focused on understanding neuroendocrine transformation in prostate cancer. His work involved analysing single‑nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA‑seq) datasets.
“Honours was intense and technically demanding,” he reflects.
The hard work paid off and after submission, James was invited to present his research at multiple conferences.
It was a highlight to be able to share my work with my peers and other members of the field after all the hard work during the year.
James credits much of his success to the people who supported him through the most difficult parts of the year.
Their guidance was invaluable for the successful completion of my Honours project and my ongoing development as a researcher.
This combination of personal resilience, strong mentorship, and technical expertise helped James secure his current PhD position.
Image: James came third in the 2025 Under the Coverslip image competition for "Nuclei Sea"
Long‑term, James hopes to remain in academic research, potentially leading his own laboratory in cancer biology/bioinformatics. But for now, he’s taking one step at a time.
His advice for others navigating their own academic or personal challenges is simple:
Keep on persevering - there is always a way forward.
