Qualifications

2021 -
Lecturer, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Research School of Biology
The Australian National University, Canberra

  • Lecturing & designing/running workshops in CHEM2211 Chemical Biology 1 + CHEM2208 Chemical Biology 2
  • Supervision of Undergraduate, Honours and PhD student projects
  • Co-established new Canberra node of the ARC CoE for Syn Bio at RSB
  • [6 months parental leave in 2024]

2020 - 2021
Postdoctoral Researcher, Research School of Chemistry
The Australian National University, Canberra

2016 - 2020
PhD, Research School of Chemistry
The Australian National University, Canberra
Thesis: The structure, dynamics, function and evolution of binding proteins
Supervisor: Professor Colin Jackson

2011 - 2014
Bachelor of Philosophy (First Class Honours in Protein Chemistry)
The Australian National University, Canberra
A competitive, research-focused science degree
🏅University Medal in Chemistry

Honours, Awards & Funding

2022 EMCR Seed Funding Scheme, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology & Research School of Biology: “Establishing a Vibrio natriegens-based expression system for the rapid production and purification of secreted recombinant protein targets from growth media.”
2022 Two Successful Major Equipment Grant Applications @ Research School of Biology, ANU
2021 BioPlatforms Australia Research Project Funding: “A solute-binding protein library for the rapid development of small-molecule biosensors.”
2021 ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology Pitch Competition Winner ($10,000 seed grant)
2021 CSL Behring/Cicada Innovations Plasma Protein Purification Challenge 2nd Place ($15,000 seed grant + mentoring)
2021 Nominated by Australian Academy of Science to attend the JSPS 13th HOPE Meeting with Nobel Laureates
2019 Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellowship
2016-2018 ‍Research School of Chemistry Postgraduate Teaching Fellowship
2016-2020 Research School of Chemistry PhD Scholarship
2016-2020 ‍Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship
2017 Vice Chancellor’s Travel Grant
2014 University Medal in Chemistry
2011-2014 National Undergraduate Scholarship
2012-2013 Summer Research Program Scholarship

Key Skills

Laboratory-based X-ray crystallography, protein expression, protein purification, isothermal titration calorimetry, cloning (traditional, Gibson Assembly), in-cell assay development, circular dichroism, enzyme kinetics, differential scanning fluorimetry, surface-plasmon resonance.

Computer-based (science) Protein design & stabilisation, molecular dynamics (Desmond, Gromacs, NAMD), molecular docking (AF3, Glide, AutoDock), ancestral protein reconstruction, phylogenetic analysis, homology modelling and AlphaFold modelling.

Computer-based (other) Microsoft Office, R, Python, photo & video editing, website design & management, social media management, Adobe Creative Suite.

Other Science communication, teaching & student supervision, leadership.

Research Presentations

Oral presentations

  • 2023 Canberra Protein Group, Canberra. “Getting started with ColabDesign & ProteinMPNN”
  • 2022 ANU RSB EMCR Symposium, “Periplasmic binding proteins – evolution & engineering”
  • 2022 HOPE Meeting with Nobel Laureates. “Altered conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory increases the catalytic activity of a new enzyme”
  • 2021 FAOBMB Congress “Altered conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory increases the catalytic activity of a new enzyme”
  • 2021 FAOBMB Young Scientists Programme “Altered conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory increases the catalytic activity of a new enzyme”
  • 2021 ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology Seminar Series. “Altered conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory increases the catalytic activity of a new enzyme”
  • 2021 Lorne Protein Conference. “Altered conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory changes the catalytic activity of an enzyme”
  • 2017 Biomolecular Machines Conference, Banff, Canada. “Conformational sampling is altered during the emergence and evolution of new enzyme activity”. Best Student Talk Award.🏆
  • 2017 Research School of Chemistry’s Celebration of HDR Chemistry. “The molecular machines of life”. Best Presentation Award.🏆

Poster presentations

  • 2023 ASBMB Annual Conference, Canberra. TEVp2.0: A soluble, stable & active proteinMPNN generated TEV-protease”
  • 2023 Gordon Research Conference in Protein Engineering, US. “TEVp2.0: A soluble, stable & active proteinMPNN generated TEV-protease”
  • 2023 Protein Society Annual Meeting, Boston, US. TEVp2.0: A soluble, stable & active proteinMPNN generated TEV-protease”
  • 2022 ComBio 2022. “The role of oligomerisation during the evolution &optimisation of an enzyme”
  • 2021 ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology Workshop. “Evolution-based approaches for protein engineers”
  • 2019 Lorne Protein Conference. “Molecular basis for the regulation of bicarbonate transport by the cyanobacterial PII-like protein, SbtB”. Poster Prize.🏆
  • 2018 Lorne Protein Conference. “From binding protein to enzyme. Evolution of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase from an ancestral solute-binding protein”. Poster Prize.🏆
  • 2017 Melbourne Protein Group Symposium. “Introducing catalysis into non-catalytic protein folds: how nature does it”.
  • 2017 Synthetic Biology: Evolution, Engineering & Design Conference, Vancouver, Canada. “From binding protein to enzyme. Evolution of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase from an ancestral solute-binding protein”.
  • 2017 Gordon Research Conference: Molecular Mechanisms in Evolution. “From binding protein to enzyme. Evolution of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase from an ancestral solute-binding protein”.
  • 2017 Lorne Protein Conference. “From binding protein to enzyme: Investigating the emergence of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase activity from non-catalytic ancestral proteins”. asdfasdas
  • 2016 ComBio Conference, Brisbane. “From binding protein to enzyme: Investigating the emergence of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase activity from non-catalytic ancestral proteins.” ASBMB Poster Prize.🏆
  • 2012 Australian Society for Biophysics Membrane Transport Satellite Meeting. “Investigating the interactions of sontochin and analogues with the Plasmodium falciparum Chloroquine Resistance Transporter (PfCRT).”

Teaching Experience

2022 - 2023 Lecturer, Chem2211 Chemical Biology 1 (~120 students). Australian National University
2022 - 2023 Lecturer, Chem2208 Chemical Biology 2 (~120 students). Australian National University
2019-current Direct supervision of 11 Undergraduate & Honours Project Students
2013-2020 Tutor/Lab Demonstrator/Exam marker, Chemistry (1st year course), Chemical Biology (2nd year course), Protein Engineering (2nd year and 3rd year courses).
2017-2018 Lecturer, Chemistry Bridging Course, ANU

Leadership, Service & Community Involvement

2024 Session chair “Protein Design” at BioMolecular Horizons 2024
2023 2023 ASBMB Annual Conference Organising Committee - raised >$30,000 in funding from Industry partners
2023 Session chair “Protein Engineering & Design” at ASBMB23 Meeting
2022 Session chair “Protein Engineering” at ComBio Conference
2022 Australasian Synthetic Biology Challenge Executive Committee (Education)
2019-2023 ASBMB Australian Biochemist Editorial Board Member
2020 Meristem Volunteer
2018-2020 Canberra Protein Group Committee Member (ASBMB)
2019 “Shirty Science” Participant (National Science Week, outreach program)
2017-2019 Jackson Lab Website & Social Media Manager
2017-2018 Research School of Chemistry Higher Degree Research Student Representative Committee Member
2016-2020 ANU Open Day Volunteer
2011-current National Youth Science Forum Volunteer & Alumni Representative

Publications





Employment History (other)

2014 – 2016 Tour guide & bus driver, Bruny Island Safaris
2008 – 2011 Wilderness Tour Guide, Tasmanian Walking company

Referees

Referee contact details and/or reference letters are available upon request.