Experience

Remotely Consulting

• Australia
• Professional Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• English-language and Scientific Editor (contractor)

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  As an English-language and Scientific Editor, I provide independent editing services of documents that include scientific manuscripts, grant applications, and student theses. I have honed my scientific editing, writing, and analysis skills during the past 15 years spent as a biomedical scientist. Moreover, I have two years experience as a freelance scientific editor with Cactus Communications. As an English-language and Scientific Editor, I provide independent editing services of documents that include scientific manuscripts, grant applications, and student theses. I have honed my scientific editing, writing, and analysis skills during the past 15 years spent as a biomedical scientist. Moreover, I have two years experience as a freelance scientific editor with Cactus Communications.



Monash University

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Area of research: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

  • Apr 2015 - Jan 2023

  * Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease *Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system, affecting up to 1 in 2,500 people. The disease is characterised by degeneration of the peripheral nerves in the feet, legs, arms and hands, causing muscle weakness, loss of limb function, and mobility impairments. There is no cure for CMT, and patients frequently suffer lifelong disabilities. We model CMT in the nematode C. elegans in order to uncover novel information about how the disease develops, and provide a better understanding of the disease to offer valuable insight for the future generation of therapeutics. Our research focuses on axonal forms of CMT (classified as CMT2), and in particular on the most common axonal form, CMT2A, which is caused by mutations in Mitofusin 2, a protein critical for normal mitochondrial functioning.Projects: - Characterise the molecular mechanisms that cause the phenotypes associated with various types of CMT2 - Identify novel therapeutics to combat CMT disease via drug screening in C. elegans - Discover novel genetic and protein interactors of Mitofusin-2, the causative gene for CMT2A

• Area of research: nervous system repair

  • Apr 2015 - Jan 2023

  * Nervous system repair *Injuries to the nervous system can cause lifelong disabilities due to ineffective repair of the damaged nerve fibres and thus, understanding the basic molecular mechanisms regulating axonal regeneration is essential for the development of effective therapies. Using UV-laser axotomy, we are able to sever individual axons in C. elegans to study their responses to injury. We study a highly efficient mechanism of axonal regeneration known as axonal fusion, whereby a regenerating axon is able to reconnect and fuse with its detached segment to restore the original axonal tract and re-establish connection with its target tissue.We have demonstrated that molecules previously found to function in the recognition of dying cells by phagocytes, also mediate the reconnection between a regrowing axon and its separated segment. We are now studying the precise mechanisms of this recognition process that allow axonal fusion to occur. Projects: - Precise characterisation of the molecular mechanisms behind nervous system repair through axonal fusion - Defining the mechanisms that govern degeneration of detached neurites

• Area of research: nervous system degeneration

  • Apr 2015 - Jan 2023

  * Nervous system degeneration *Axonal degeneration can occur as a result of nerve injury or through the disruption of neuronal maintenance mechanisms, and is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders such as motor neuron, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases. Despite the importance of this process, we lack a complete understanding of the molecules and mechanisms employed by neurons to preserve their axons over a lifetime, which has hampered the development of effective therapies. We aim to identify and characterise the cellular mechanisms necessary for the maintenance of axonal structure over an animals’ lifetime, such that when these factors are disrupted by genetic mutation, axonal degeneration occurs. We identify these factors using candidate gene and forward genetic screening approaches in C. elegans. Projects: - Uncover novel genes implicated in axonal degeneration - Define the molecular mechanisms that cause axonal degeneration - Determine the genes/proteins required for keeping synapses (connections between neurons for the transmission of information) intact over an animals' lifespan.

• Head of Laboratory

  • Apr 2015 - Dec 2022

  Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology.



Cactus Communications

• India
• Software Development
• 700 & Above Employee

• English-Language Scientific Editor

  • Feb 2020 - Oct 2021

  Professional English-language editing of manuscripts for biomedical scientists. Role included careful editing of scientific manuscripts, formatting to meet journal-specific requirements, and review of response-to-reviewers letters. Professional English-language editing of manuscripts for biomedical scientists. Role included careful editing of scientific manuscripts, formatting to meet journal-specific requirements, and review of response-to-reviewers letters.



Australasian Neuroscience Society

• Australia
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Sub-committee director

  • Dec 2018 - Jun 2020

  Co-director of the Media and Communications sub-committee Co-director of the Media and Communications sub-committee



The Australian Academy of Science

• Australia
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Member of the National Committee for Cellular and Developmental Biology

  • 2016 - 2019

  Provision of strategic science policy advice to the Academy in key areas affecting Australian science and society. Key skills: assessment of scientific data, generation of important talking points, careful editing, keen attention to detail, meeting deadlines. Provision of strategic science policy advice to the Academy in key areas affecting Australian science and society. Key skills: assessment of scientific data, generation of important talking points, careful editing, keen attention to detail, meeting deadlines.



Australian Society for Medical Research

• Australia
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • Nov 2017 - Nov 2018



Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland

• Postdoctoral Fellow

  • 2008 - 2015

  My research focuses on nervous system development and repair. To understand these processes, I use the nematode C. elegans as a model system due its simplified and exceptionally well-characterised nervous system. Using UV laser microsurgery, I am characterising the precise mechanisms by which neuronal regeneration occurs to gain a better understanding of the process and to identify the genes that are implicitly involved. This research is highly relevant for promoting recovery after spinal cord injury, as well as injury to the peripheral nervous system. I am also interested in axonal degeneration, a common phenomenon observed in many neurodegenerative conditions. I am using forward genetic screens and full genome sequencing to discover and identify mutations that lead to the breakdown of axons with the overarching aim of understanding what goes wrong in diseases such as Alzheimer's, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, and motor neuron diseases.



Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland

• PhD Student

  • 2004 - 2008

  Areas of study: molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and cancer biology. Thesis entitled: Functional Characterisation of the Murine Schlafen Proteins. Areas of study: molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and cancer biology. Thesis entitled: Functional Characterisation of the Murine Schlafen Proteins.