Curriculum Vitae
Work
2020 - current
Lecturer in Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health at the University of Melbourne, within the Melbourne Veterinary School. Teaching primarily into the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Agriculture, and researching pathogen genomics in animal virology and microbiology.
Research areas and interests
- Metagenomic and microbiome analysis of wildlife and livestock for pathogen surveillance and knowledge building
- Investigations into antimicrobial resistance carriage through the use of next generation sequencing
- Genomic analysis of pathogens of wildlife, companion animals, and livestock
- Development of rapid diagnostic tests for point of care detection of pathogens
- The effect of pre-biotics and pro-biotics on gut microbiomes
Leadership
- Coordinator of the Animal Health and Disease Major, in the Bachelor of Science, at The University of Melbourne
- Early Career Academic representative on the Melbourne Veterinary School Research and Research Training Committee
- 2021 Senior Academic Adviser for the Melbourne Veterinary School as part of The University of Melbourne’s academic adviser program
Teaching
- Coordinate and teach Animal Disease Biotechnology 1
- Coordinate and teach Animal Disease Biotechnology 2
- Lecture on Molecular biology and biotechnology in Biochemisty in Agricultural Systems
- Lecture on Bioinformatics in Microbiology in Agriculture
2017 - 2019
Postdoctoral Research fellow at The University of Melbourne, within the Melbourne Veterinary School
- Working with Nanopore sequencing technology for pathogen surveillance in wild birds
- Analysis of recombination of herpesviruses
2010 - 2014
Research assistant at The University of Melbourne, within the Melbourne Veterinary School
- A project towards the commercialisation of a vaccine against infectious laryngotracheitis, a disease that greatly impacts the poultry industry
Education
2014 - 2017
PhD at the University of Melbourne, within The Melbourne Veterinary School
- Thesis: Investigation of two significant pathogens in Victorian koalas
- Undertook prevalence surveys and molecular typing of Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus
- Assembled and compared the genomes of over 60 koala origin C. pecorum samples
2015
Special certificate in teaching for graduate researchers (SCTGR) - The University of Melbourne
- Completed with first class honours (H1)
- Learnt effective teaching strategies and curriculum design
2009 - 2010
Master of Science at the University of Melbourne, within the Department of Zoology
- Thesis: Prevalence of Mycobacterium ulcerans in brushtail and ringtail possums
- Investigated carriage of the zoonotic M. ulcerans in faecal samples of wild ringtails in Victoria, Australia
- Tracked individual animals to determine their range in a suburban environment and therefore the potential spread of the pathogen
- Conducted laboratory work at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
2006 - 2008
Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne
- Majored in Zoology and Microbiology
Awards
2019
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Research Career Development Programme
2018
- Victoria Fellowship - $18,000
2016
- Dr Sue Newton Travel Scholarship - $5,000
- Wildlife Diseases Association Student Travel Award - $500
Grants and research contracts
2020
- University of Melbourne Early Career Research Grant, $40,000
2019
- AgriFutures, Equine reproduction loss, co-investigator, $20,000
2018
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Research Initiative Fund, co-investigator, $15,000
- AgriFutures, Equine reproduction loss, co-investigator, $76,506
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences equipment grant, co-investigator, $68,000
2017
- Phillip Island Nature Parks, co-investigator, $15,000
- Melbourne Water, co-investigator, $30,000
- Bioproperties Pty Ltd, co-investigator, $69,200
2016
- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, primary investigator, $7,300
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences equipment grant, co-investigator, $17,400
2015
- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, primary investigator, $6,500
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Engagement grant, primary investigator, $2,500
2014
- Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, primary investigator, $6,400