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Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Immunology, Monash University

I am a T cell immunologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Teaching Associate in the Department of Immunology and Pathology at the Central Clinical School in Monash University. Prior to joining Monash University in mid-2017 I had spent 10 years overseas initially completing a prestigious Medical Research Council PhD scholarship at the National Institute of Medical Research (now the Crick Institute) awarded through University College London. During my PhD and continuing into my MRC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland my interests were founded in T cell signaling and addressing the early T cell receptor signaling pathways that direct T cell development, activation and function. Since returning to Australia my research focus has developed in two streams: to design superior CAR-T therapy using intracellular checkpoints and interrogate the biological mechanisms underlying unconventional T cell development, activation and function as potential targets of therapeutic intervention of chronic lung disorders.

I am Associate Editor Web Promotions for Immunology & Cell Biology and Topic Editor and Guest Associate Editor at Frontiers of Immunology. I support open and transparent peer review processes by working as an Associate Faculty Member for F1000Prime, providing recommendations on peer-reviewed articles and reviewing original research for Frontiers of Immunology and Immunology & Cell Biology. I currently serve as a committee member and secretary on the Australian Society of Immunology Advanced Immunology School organising committee, Central Clinical School Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Monash University and the AMREP Early to Mid Career Researchers committee at Alfred Health. As part of my continuing advocacy for the support of women in STEM, I am a current recipient of the 2018 Veski Inspiring women STEM sidebyside scholarship - Leading the Way: Mid-career emerging leaders.

Experience

  • 2017–present
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Immunology, Monash University
  • 2011–2016
    MRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh
  • 2010–2011
    Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Edinburgh
  • 2006–2010
    MRC PhD studentship, University College London
  • 2003–2006
    Drug Discovery Scientist, Arrow Therapeutics
  • 2002–2003
    Molecular Biologist, GRMicro

Education

  • 2014 
    Flinders University, Graduate Certificate Public Policy
  • 2010 
    University College London, PhD immunology
  • 2002 
    University of South Australia, Bachelor of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Honours

Publications

  • 2017
    Extracellular Vesicles from a Helminth Parasite Suppress Macrophage Activation and Constitute an Effective Vaccine for Protective Immunity,
  • 2017
    Caveolin-1 influences LFA-1 redistribution upon TCR stimulation in CD8 T cells,
  • 2017
    Long-Term Imaging of Cellular Forces with High Precision by Elastic Resonator Interference Stress Microscopy,
  • 2017
    A central role for Type I IFN in Th2 response induction by dendritic cells,
  • 2015
    Epigenetic control of Th2 induction by dendritic cells via the methyl-CpG binding protein MBD2,
  • 2014
    Proximity of TCR and its CD8 co-receptor controls sensitivity of T cells,
  • 2013
    Differential polarization of C-terminal Src kinase between naïve and antigen-experienced CD8+ T cells,
  • 2012
    Murine cytomegalovirus encodes a miR-27 inhibitor disguised as a miRNA target,
  • 2012
    Central and Effector Memory CD4 and CD8 T-Cell Responses to Tumor-Associated Antigens,
  • 2011
    Novel Strategy for microsphere-mediated DNA transfection,

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Society of Immunology
  • Victorian Infection and Immunology Network
  • Veski Connection