Past Research

Rebecca completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Genetics and Neuroscience) from the University of Western Australia in 2020. With a keen interest in both disciplines, she pursued an Honours project using RNA-sequencing to characterise changes in the cells of the brain following a burn injury, forming a collaboration between the Brain Plasticity lab (Perron Institute) and the Fiona Wood Foundation.

With experience in bioinformatics and a fascination to study the brain, this PhD was formed where Rebecca hopes to use transcriptomics to better understand how non-invasive brain stimulation can be optimised as a tool to promote healthy brain ageing.

Michelle Gossner is currently a PhD student at Central Queensland University under the supervision of Dr Cassandra Dittman and Dr Lisa Lole. She began her career as a primary school teacher working across various educational contexts in Australia and the United Kingdom. Michelle recently completed her Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and received a First-Class classification. Prior to commencing her PhD, Michelle undertook an undergraduate Summer Research Scholarship and interned on various research projects.

She has a strong interest in child and adolescent development, particularly the influence of family context, parenting practices and parental mental health. Michelle is passionate about conducting research that can impact the community in a meaningful way.

I was raised on a farm near the town of Albury on the Murry River. I completed high school at The Scots School Albury before moving to Melbourne to commence my tertiary studies. I commenced the Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne in 2014 and had the privilege of residing at Trinity College. I then continued further studies within the university and graduated from the Doctor of Physiotherapy in 2019.

During my career as a physiotherapist, I have worked across the full spectrum of the patient journey. I have held a variety of clinical positions including working at Albury Wodonga Health and further regionally at Echuca Regional Health, as well as private physiotherapy roles in metropolitan Melbourne. I continue to engage in clinical work at Epworth Healthcare.

After completing her 4^th year Psychology thesis in 2006 on the effect of resilience and hope on adolescent academic engagement, Mandy Gibson worked with the Department of Communities Qld, and Child and Youth Mental Health Services (Qld Health). Mandy has over a decade of clinical experience as a Psychologist providing suicide risk assessments to young people following near lethal attempts and treatment to young people experiencing suicidality, complex trauma, self-harm and other mental health issues.

I have been studying and working in disciplines, pathology, biotechnology and scientific research for 10 years. I find these areas interesting because of their broad range of techniques, applications and outcomes to the community, health and science.

I am a country Australian and have travelled to study/work in Wagga Wagga, Canberra and Sydney. I wish to use my knowledge, qualifications and skills to provide an understanding of disease pathology and biology, specifically in the neurodegenerative disease, motor neuron disease. I believe that understanding disease pathology is vital to improve patient/clinician/carer support and care by determining diagnostic and prognostic techniques.

I am a first-generation Vietnamese-Australian PhD Student studying at the University of Sydney.  I am passionate about contributing to scientific and medical research, which also allows my analytical and creative side to prosper. Currently, I am in the Bosch Young Investigators Committee, which is a postgraduate student-run committee to manage events for other postgraduate research students, from academia-related such as conferences to social.

I am also a member of the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research with other academics who specialise in stem-cell research. On the side, I love playing piano, video games, dodgeball and producing digital art.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Australia, I commenced my medical training at the University of Notre Dame. I have subsequently worked as a doctor in both the public and private health sectors, being involved in the treatment of a number of patients with colorectal cancer.

I am currently involved in medical education at the University of Notre Dame and have completed further post-graduate training in health professional education.

Sophie completed a Bachelor of Psychology with First Class Honours in 2016, and worked in the mental health sector before continuing onto postgraduate studies. Currently, Sophie is a Psychologist conducting research in a Clinical Psychology PhD at the University of Wollongong. Sophie has worked casually in research throughout her studies and is passionate about mental health.

Sophie has a particular interest in parent-child interactions and how this can influence childhood mental health and family well-being. Sophie is looking forward to the years ahead and hopes that her research will improve the mental health of children and families in Australian communities.

My interest in cancer research began while studying my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland. I was intrigued by the different fields of cancer research and specialised my degree to a research area in Cell Biology and Cancer Therapeutics. I then continued my research at the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, completing my Master of Biomedical Science in Prof Grant McArthur’s Molecular Oncology lab.

Under the supervision of Dr Lorey Smith and Dr Karen Sheppard, my project investigated metabolic reprogramming that occurs in response to BRAF/MEK and CDK4/6 targeted therapies in melanoma.