Doctor of Philosophy

My research focuses on improving the oral absorption of antipsychotic medications for schizophrenic patients. Through this research I was awarded an Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship, which gave me the opportunity to conduct world-class research at Janssen, a global pharmaceutical company in Belgium. Without the support from my supervisors here at UniSA, I would never have been awarded this scholarship.

My PhD with the Australian Track Cycling Team is focused on using the Critical Power model. This model describes the maximal work capacity of elite athletes through aerobic and anaerobic contributions to exercise. As part of my research I worked directly alongside the head coach of the Australian Team, providing sport science support in areas of physiology, biomechanics and performance analysis.

My research focuses on Parkinson’s disease, specifically developing a pre-clinical model of Parkinson’s disease so that novel treatment options can be explored. As part of my research, I received a UniSA international travel grant, which allowed me to study new laboratory techniques for four weeks at the Hannover Medical School in Germany and attend an international conference in London. Both experiences broadened my knowledge of neuroscience.

I am investigating drug resistance in multiple myeloma, currently an incurable blood cancer. During my studies I received a Vice Chancellor and President Scholarship, which will allow me to attend one of the largest conferences in the world for people working in blood cancer, held by the American Society of Haematology.

I enjoy the hands-on experiences undertaking a research pathway presents. I hope my research will help the defence force better monitor training loads and avoid injury and illness that may be caused by overtraining. 

I was a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, and investigated the relationship between running and sports injury. I worked with athletes and researchers from the University of Massachusetts to explore a new biomechanical assessment technique I developed at UniSA. In 2016, I was also the winner of the UniSA Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and more recently, was awarded the South Australian Science Award. I hope to translate my findings to practice and provide athletes with improved injury prevention strategies.

I’m working with families who have experienced multiple stillbirths, and by examining their DNA sequences I have been able to uncover the ‘faulty’ gene. This then allows couples to undergo a process where embryos are screened before implantation and only those that don’t carry the disease causing gene mutation are selected. I was awarded the Maurice de Rohan scholarship, where I will undertake research at the Center for Mendelian Genomics (CMG) at the Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 2016 I won People’s Choice Award in the UniSA Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where I presented on the idea of harnessing immunotherapy as a treatment for cancer. I believe that my PhD project, which explores the function of the body’s cardiovascular system in relation to melanoma tumours, could lead to the discovery of better treatments for melanoma and even prevent this serious form of skin cancer.

I’m constantly motivated by the rewarding outcomes of my research. Through 3D chemistry modelling and statistical data analysis, I’m able to link adverse effects to medications and then see how this impacts the body, which will hopefully allow patients to be better informed about medication options and risks.