Experience

Centre for Crop and Disease Management

• Australia
• Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • May 2021 - Present

  Research Assistant working on molecular biology and pathology of Ascochyta blight of chickpeas Research Assistant working on molecular biology and pathology of Ascochyta blight of chickpeas



University of Sydney

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Feb 2019 - Dec 2020

  Research Assistant, Australian Cereal Rust Survey, Plant Breeding institute, University of Sydney. Supervisor: Professor Robert ParkRole: To manage the testing of samples submitted to the Australian Cereal Rust SurveyOutcomes:• Successfully co-ordinated the processing and testing hundreds of rust sample submissions for pathotype identification• Communicated results to external contributors and answered general enquiries in a timely manner• Maintained the rust database and made improvements to the labelling and storage of vital biological materials for the program• Updated the content of the Australian Cereal Rust Survey webpage improve engagement with external stakeholders • Created an interactive map showing locations and pathotypes of rust samples submitted that has had over 3000 views in 4 months• Helped co-ordinate and perform the increases of vital seed stocks rust strains required for the Survey and other research projects• Co-ordinated and conducted fungicide insensitivity testing of samples received via the survey• Trained staff and students in use of equipment and experimental techniques• Acted as Building First Aid Officer

• Technical Officer

  • Feb 2016 - Jan 2019

  Technical Officer, Barley Rust Genetics, Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney. Supervisor: Dr Peter DracatosRole: To conduct research for GRDC research grantOutcomes:• Screened thousands of barley mutant seedlings to identify all-stage rust resistance genes• Screened thousands of barley mutants in the field to identify adult plant rust resistance genes• Designed and tested molecular markers for putative rust genes for use in mapping• Screened many barley mapping populations at both seedling and adult plant stages for use in mapping rust resistance genes• Prepared molecular and seed samples for analysis/testing by external collaborators • Performed safety inductions for new staff and implemented changes to laboratory practice to improve Workplace Health and Safety standards.• Trained staff and students in use of equipment and experimental techniques



Hexima Limited (ASX:HXL)

• Australia
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Feb 2013 - Dec 2015

  Research Assistant, Anderson Laboratory, La Trobe University. Supervisors: Professor Marilyn Anderson and Dr James McKenna Role: To conduct research on behalf of Hexima Ltd and for ARC Research grants Outcomes: > Work in a team to perform weekly bioassays to screen transgenic plants for resistance to fungal disease and analyse data for Hexima’s Plant Disease Program. Data used in bimonthly reports to DuPont Pioneer (International partner of program). > Work in a team to design and carry out Maize/F. graminearum RNA-seq Transcriptome experiments for Hexima’s Plant Disease Program and for ARC Research Grants. >Perform experiments to investigate the mechanism of action of plant defence proteins against fungi for Hexima’s Plant Disease and Human Antifungal programs. Data for a research paper (in preparation) and for Hexima’s patent application. >Perform safety inductions for new staff and implemented changes to laboratory practice to improve Workplace Health and Safety standards.



University of Melbourne

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Honours student, molecular plant pathology

  • Feb 2012 - Dec 2012

  2012 Honours Project- University of Melbourne. Supervisors: Professor Barbara Howlett and Dr Rohan Lowe Project Aim: To identify and characterise LysM pathogenicity genes in the B. napus (canola) pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans and Leptosphaeria biglobosa. Outcomes: > Identified 3 LysM effector candidates in both L. maculans and L. biglobosa and annotated each using bioinformatics approaches > Demonstrated that 2 of the 3 L. maculans candidates are upregulated during the early stages of B. napus infection using qRT-PCR and RNAseq data > Showed that silencing a single LysM gene does not affect the pathogenicity of L. maculans towards canola seedlings > Presented findings at a final seminar, in a thesis, at the oral defence of the thesis and published in a paper



WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

• Australia
• Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Jul 2011 - Dec 2011

  2011 Bio21 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program-Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Supervisor: Dr Leigh Coultas Project Aim: To develop and optimise an in vitro model of angiogenesis with mouse embryonic stem cells. Outcome: > Succeeded in developing a reproducible method for growth and differentiation of embryonic stem cells into endothelial cells in collagen gels. 2011 Bio21 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program-Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Supervisor: Dr Leigh Coultas Project Aim: To develop and optimise an in vitro model of angiogenesis with mouse embryonic stem cells. Outcome: > Succeeded in developing a reproducible method for growth and differentiation of embryonic stem cells into endothelial cells in collagen gels.



CSIRO

• Australia
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Summer Studentship

  • Dec 2010 - Feb 2011

  2010-2011 CSIRO Plant Industry Summer Studentship Program. Supervisors: Dr Rosemary White and Dr Dacheng Liang Project Aim: To investigate the pathway by which small RNA silencing signals migrate from the site of production throughout the rest of the plant. Outcomes: > Obtained evidence to indicate that the silencing signals were not moving via the phloem as previously hypothesised. > Demonstrated, using GUS reporter staining, that the expression pattern of the silencing construct was not as expected and that this was the cause of some inconsistent results observed > Presented results at the final Symposium and also in a written report