When did you first become interested in science?

 

I've always been fascinated by science from a young age. The world we live in is pretty spectacular and you can't help but be curious about how it all works. I took an interest in biology, in particular humans and disease, early in my life and it progressed from there, reading whatever books I could get my hands on about anything and everything. According to my mother, when she first asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied "Geneticist!" and started listing out the DNA bases (A, T, C, G), 15+ years later that is exactly what I am. Curiousity is innate in every one of us from the moment we are born. We should chase that and never stop learning or being curious about anything and everything.

 

What path did you take to your career?

 

I loved general science when I was in school and studying biology was a natural progression for me in high school. After high school I completed a Bachelor of Biological Sciences at La Trobe University, with a double major in genetics and microbiology, I went on to study anatomy and biochemistry at the University of Melbourne, and completed an Honours degree of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University, focusing on human genetics. I'm currently taking some time away from academia to work in industry before going back for my PhD. While I was studying I worked in diagnostic/pathology laboratories at several different hospitals which gave me both first hand and hands on clinical experience on what it was like work as a professional scientist in the field I was interested in. Genes and the bases that encode for them is key to just about everything about us, from birth, till the end of life, and everything in between. By studying our genetics we can potentially unlock the answers to some of the greatest questions about humanity and develop new technologies for the future.

 

What is an average day like in your job?

 

I'm responsible for manufacturing products to be used commercially, but also I'm involved in research and development for our products. We are regulated by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration therefore we need to ensure that everything is accounted for and complies with international standards. A result of that is the paperwork that needs to be done to make sure we are compliant, everything is accountable and our products are of a high standard. As I'm involved in manufacturing there's also a lot of lab work to be done and a lot of the skills and knowledge I've gained from both academia and previous professional experience is really helpful alongside analytical skills and critical thinking which is very important in R&D, as you need to be able to interpret data and draw a conclusion from it. Creativity is a large part of it too, as you always need new ideas to apply to your work, such as what your test could be applicable to, how will it be used, what can be done to improve it further, etc...

 

What is the best thing that has happened in your job?

 

In my experience either in research, clinical and industry I've found one of the most rewarding thing to be is that I'm helping people, and at large the greater community. Without medical research we wouldn't have drugs or therapies to help fight infections or treat disease, or tests to help diagnosticians differentiate between diseases so they can target it with the correct treatment. The excitement of discovering or developing something novel that has potential downstream applications also is very rewarding, as the possibilities can often be limitless. Also being able to teach, explain and show other people what you know is incredibly fantastic, as you can often see that once they understand the concept, they can see the potential.

 

What advice would you give to young aspiring scientists?

 

First, do what you love. If you have a dream, chase it! Don't ever let
anyone tell you any differently. Make sure you know exactly what
you're going to have to do to achieve your dream, and run with it. A bit
of hard work and belief in yourself will take you to the stars and
beyond. Second, Being able to network is one of the most important skills to have, as it's often not what you know, but whom you know. Find

opportunities, speak to someone in an area you really want to get
in to, go to seminars, get some practical experience in a lab... really
put yourself out there and make a good impression. Third, listen to your body and take a break. It's easy to get carried away to do well and to get where you want to go but remember to look after yourself. Whether you take a year off to travel or work or a quick nap, be kind to yourself.