What is your current job and what do you like about it?
Currently I am a PhD student at the University of Western Australia and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. My favorite part of my job is solving the new challenges I face every day in the laboratory! Then, when I get a new result, I love knowing that I am the first person in the world to see that result! .
What is a typical day like for you?
There is never a typical day! My research is focused on looking for new ways to deliver gene therapies for the treatment of cancer, so my day is always changing as my project involves aspects of chemistry, engineering, cell and animal biology! Some days I will work in the chemistry lab at the University, and then there are days I test what I have created at the Medical Research Institute. I spend my days doing many different types of experiments!
When you were a kid what did you want to be and if it wasn’t a scientist, what was it and why did you change your mind?
When I was really little, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up – I changed my mind weekly! I always loved being outside though, snorkeling, looking at rock pools and finding animals and insects to look at. When I went into high school I realized that everything I loved as child, looking and learning about the world around me, counts as science – so I decided to be a scientist! I was fascinated by science, medicine and engineering all through high school, and when I applied for University I realized I can do everything I am interested in if I studied nanotechnology!
What did you do to get your current job, what kind of education did you need?
To get to my current position I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in nanotechnology and chemistry, and then my Honours degree in nanotechnology. I was then offered a PhD Scholarship to continue my study at the University, and I am now in the final 1.5 years of my PhD!
Tell us something fun about yourself? and it doesn’t have to be about science?
I like to travel and explore! So far I’ve managed to travel around Australia, South Africa, North America, many countries through Europe, Japan and New Zealand. In fact, I have just recently returned from my holiday in New Zealand, where I went whitewater rafting, and went down a 7 m (over 22 ft) waterfall! My next adventure will be to South America, and from there, Antarctica! That will be for Homeward Bound 2018, a women in science and leadership program.