Women in Science

Professor Sarah Robertson’s work unravels the mysteries of the immune system's role in reproductive health. Sarah charts her journey in science from stargazing as a child before exploring chemistry and physics, moving into biochemistry and immunology for her career. In this episode, Sarah and Kirsty talk about the science of being a parent, and being a parent working in science. Read more about Professor Robertson's work: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/sarah.robertsonThis series is made possible by the contribution from Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo

A case of lupus in her childhood was the catalyst of Professor Joanne Blanchfield’s career in science. It was Joanne’s doctors who guided her away from a career in medicine, and towards one in research.Through her career, Joanne has worked with Indigenous Australian communities on investigating the chemistry of natural medicines, taken on a number of post-doctoral positions, including Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the Australian National University in Canberra, and now works as a Deputy Head of School in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at UQ.It was after a life-threatening medical incident, Joanne realised the critical importance of building a strong, trusted network. It was a lesson in perspective, and acknowledging that even with setbacks, your career will still be there when you get back.In this conversation, Joanne talks about taking on leadership roles as early as possible in your academic journey, the importance of travel for career development, and making yourself competitive as – through your research and good academic citizenship.Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcastRead more about Joanne’s research: https://scmb.uq.edu.au/profile/33/joanne-blanchfieldSeason 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo always had a curiosity about science, and it was a babysitting gig in her teenage years that opened up the world of genetics. While studying her undergraduate in London, Aideen went for a walk past one of the world’s leading children’s hospital. A cold call to the hospital switchboard and a letter to the head of clinical genetics department led to an incredible career that has taken Aideen around the world, from London to the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins in the United States, and then to Australia, working at the now-Fraser Institute at The University of Queensland.As a genetics counsellor, Aideen’s role covers the practicalities of screening, surveillance, and testing, and the psychology of grief, burden, and guilt associated with inherited diseases.Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcastRead more about Aideen’s research: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/23291Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Professor Ala Tabor spent nearly two decades working in primary industries with the Queensland Government before making the move into academia at The University of Queensland in 2010.Ala specialises in cattle tick, paralysis ticks (and the diseases they cause) and reproductive diseases in cattle, but when she started at university, Ala didn’t even know parasitology was an option. In this conversation, Ala talks about carving out your own research niche, the importance of building your network of mentors and sponsors, making the transition from government to academia, and the secrets to grant applications (having received more than $12 million in grants for her own research over the past decade).Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcastRead more about Ala’s research: https://qaafi.uq.edu.au/profile/492/ala-taborSeason 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

After studying textile engineering in Iran, Dr Nasim Amiralian decided to move to Australia to pursue a PhD. Nasim now works as a materials scientist with spinifex grass and agricultural waste to produce innovative materials for biodegradable packaging, medical textiles, and other biocomposites. As a Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Nasim gets to supervise her own research group, guiding the focus of their work.In this conversation, Nasim talks about working closely with Indigenous Australian communities, taking on leadership roles while developing your own career, how we can address plastic pollution and agricultural waste, and working across cultures.Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcastRead more about Nasim’s work: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/11106Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Professor Melissa Brown started her PhD investigating blood cancers at Australia’s oldest medical research institute. Her research then took her to the Imperial Cancer Research and King’s College in London, contributing to the work on BRCA1, a genetic mutation central to understanding and predicting hereditary breast cancer.Melissa’s career has also been bookmarked by leadership roles. She has worked as convenor for higher degree by research students, Deputy Head of School, Head of School, and now Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science at The University of Queensland. And she did all of this while balancing teaching and PhD supervision.In our conversation, Melissa talks about working across countries, managing your time while still taking on opportunities and new challenges, and addresses impostor syndrome in a way you may not have considered before.Recorded on International Women’s Day.Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcastRead more about Professor Melissa Brown’s work: www.researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/937Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Dr Evelyne Deplazes grew up in a farming family in Switzerland, with no family members ever going to university. At 16, she spent more than six months in hospital, forcing her to redo a year of high school. After six months, Evelyne’s illness relapsed and she was forced to return to hospital. Faced with doing the same year a third time, Evelyne decided to leave high school. Evelyne then went on to complete an apprenticeship as a car electrician and another in the logistics of spare parts, a diploma in business, worked as a technical assistant in engineering, as well time working in a bank. A chance conversation at a dinner led Evelyne to enrol in university in Australia, leading to a career as a computational chemist. Evelyne’s is an extraordinary story of a winding path to success.Learn more about Dr Deplazes' research here: https://scmb.uq.edu.au/profile/1443/evelyne-deplazes

In high school, Dr Ann Damien got the opportunity to attend the National Youth Science Forum. It was the first time she was surrounded by other people genuinely excited and passionate about science. Studying both biotech and business, Ann’s attention turned to taking discoveries from the lab, through translation and commercialisation. After completing an industry-based Honours program, Ann paved the way for other undergraduates to be involved in non-wetlab, industry projects.Ann’s career now takes life-changing and lifesaving healthcare technologies from bench to bedside.Learn more about Dr Damien's work here: https://career-profiles.science.uq.edu.au/ann-damien

In building a successful academic career, it is a common belief you need to work and conduct research internationally – not doing so can have you labelled a risk-avoider and not fully committed. But this is a path not all can, or indeed, want to, take. My guest today is Dr Shyuan Ngo. Shyuan has certainly challenged this assumption as the gold standard of attainment in academia.Completing a PhD in neuroscience, Shyuan received the Bill Gole Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia, was awarded a Queensland Tall Poppy Award, and received the Scott Sullivan MND Research Fellowship in 2015. She is now a Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, and works on understand and developing life-changing therapies for Motor Neuron Disease.Learn more about Dr Ngo's research here: https://aibn.uq.edu.au/profile/3690/shyuan-ngo

As a child, Dr Fernanda Adame saw a National Geographic documentary with people exploring the wilds of Africa. It was at that moment Fernanda knew that that was what she wanted to do with her life. With a degree in biology, a masters in limnology (inland aquatic ecosystems) and oceanography, and a PhD in Marine Science, Fernanda is now an internationally recognised authority on mangrove and wetlands conservation. Speaking passionately about “helicopter research”, she works closely with local communities, NGOs, governments, Traditional Owners and community groups to protect our critically important wetland systems. Learn more about Dr Adame's research: https://experts.griffith.edu.au/8786-fernanda-adame-vivanco