Positions
Field Application Scientist: Cell Models October 2016 - Present
Cell Biology Group - Life Sciences Solutions
Thermo Fisher Scientific
I support the drug discovery, protein expression and some of the stem cell portfolio in North America by providing pre- and post- sale technical support to the sales force and our customers. [Watch this space - updating this section!]
Education/Training
Postdoctoral Scholar November 2012 - October 2016
Tufts University - Kuperwasser Laboratory, Boston MA, U.S.A.
Raymond and Beverly Sackler Convergence Laboratory (RBSCL)
Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology (DMCB) at the School of Medicine, Tufts University.
Molecular Oncology Research Institute, part of the Cancer Center at the Tufts Medical Center.
The main aim of my postdoctoral work identify how normal cells of the human breast transform and initiate tumorigenesis and progress into malignant breast tumors, particularly of the luminal subtype. I have established a new model system of in vitro luminal epithelial cells to better understand the cell plasticity and transitions of mature and progenitor luminal epithelial cells and how this may relate to tumorigenesis.
PhD February 2009 - October 2012
University of Queensland - Brown Laboratory, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
School of Chemical and Molecular Biology (SCMB) within the Faculty of Science.
I investigated the molecular mechanisms of Brca1 disruption in the mouse mammary gland and identified several factors that may underlie Brca1 associated defects within the murine mammary gland.
B.Sc (Honours Class I) February 2005 - December 2008
University of Queensland - Brown Laboratory, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
School of Chemical and Molecular Biology (SCMB) within the Faculty of Science.
Positions and Honours
Positions:
2009 – 2013 Graduate Student
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia
Advisor: Professor Melissa Brown, PhD
Australian Postgraduate Award (Funded by Australian Government)
2008 – 2012 Laboratory Tutor
2011 – 2012 Head Laboratory Tutor
2013 – Present Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology
Advisor: Assistant Professor Charlotte Kuperwasser, PhD
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, USA
Honors and Awards:
2007 Deans Commendation for High Achievement
2007 Biochemistry Alumni Award
2010 – 2012 Tutor Excellence Award
Travel Bursary for Lorne Cancer Conference
2010 Faculty of Science Travel Award
Cancer Council of Queensland Travel Grant
Peoples’ Choice Award, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Best Oral Presentation and 3rd prize for oral presentation award at the 6th Annual School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences Students’ Symposium
2011 Gordon Conference on Mammary Gland Biology Travel Bursary
Committee Service and membership:
2014 – Present Chair of the Tufts Postdoctoral Association
Member of the Woman Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST).
2013 - Present Committee member of the Tufts Postdoctoral Association
Member of the Tufts Postdoctoral Association Career Development Committee
2013 - Present Member of the Association of Women in Science – Massachusetts chapter
2010 - 2012 Travel Bursary for Lorne Cancer Conference
2011 Gordon Conference on Mammary Gland Biology Travel Bursary
2011 Member of School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences Research Students Consultative Committee
2011 Member of the organizing committee for the 7th Annual School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences Research Students Symposium (responsible for coordinating finances including sponsorships).
Invited presentations/abstracts:
Poster Presentations:
2008 “Analysis of differentially expression genes in the mammary glands of Brca1 conditional knockout mice” presented at Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for research into Familial Breast cancer (kConFab) Conference, 2008 and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences’ Postgraduate Symposium, 2008.
2010 “Molecular consequences of Brca1 loss in the mouse mammary gland” presented at the 2010 Lorne Cancer Conference in Lorne, VIC, Australia and the 2010 UQ Postgraduate Biomedical Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
2011 “Investigating the early molecular consequences of Brca1 loss in the mouse mammary gland” presented at the 2011 Lorne Cancer Conference in Lorne, VIC, Australia.
“Investigating the early molecular consequences of Brca1 loss in the mouse mammary gland” presented at the 2011 Gordon Research Conference on Mammary Gland Biology in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
2012 “The role of microRNAs in the conditional Brca1 knockout mouse mammary gland” presented at the 2012 Lorne Cancer Conference in Lorne, VIC, Australia.
2014 “Elucidating the role of TBX3 in mammary epithelial cells and tumorigenesis” presented at 2014 Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research Conference, Lucca, Italy. Group discussion leader at GRS.
2015 “The Importance of Being Luminal: A model of luminal epithelial cells” presented at 2015 Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research Conference, Vermont, USA. Group discussion leader at GRS.
Oral Presentations:
2010 “Molecular consequences of Brca1 loss in the mouse mammary gland” presented at the Sixth Annual SCMB Research Students Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Other Presentations:
2010 Guest panelist at Graduate School Week, “PhD milestone process”, University of Queensland.
Guest speaker at School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience Honours Graduates 1965-1974 Reunion, University of Queensland.
2011 Guest presenter for Graduate School Week “It's not (just) rocket science: busting the myths about Research Higher Degrees”, University of Queensland.
Guest speaker for Graduate School “3 minute thesis” presentation at University of Queensland Open day.
2012 Guest panelist on “Scientists on the Loose” at the “Careers That Shape the World” event at the University of Queensland.
Peer Reviewed Publications
(To view all my publications with links, please click here).
*Joint first authorship
