
I have a MSc in Medical Biology from Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, and a PhD in Biomedial Sciences from the University of South Australia, Adelaide. My PhD involved studying the human skeletal muscle chloride ion channel, ClC-1. My main interest was in the gating mechanism of this ion channel, and for this I utilised molecular biology to create mutant channels and investigate their function using whole-cell patch clamping.
My first post-doctoral position was at Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, in the laboratory of Professor Peter Schofield. During this time, I also held a conjoint position at UNSW, working with Dr Trevor Lewis in the Membrane Biophysics laboratory. Here I investigated the importance of loop structures in the glycine receptor, again using molecular biology and the whole-cell patch clamp technique. I also created several glycine receptor homology models using molecular modelling.
Between 2011 and 2020 I worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow with Professor Gary Housley, at the Translational Neuroscience Facility (TNF), on hearing adaptation to sustained noise, with focus being on the role of P2X2 receptors in noise-induced hearing loss.
My teaching during this time involved facilitation of Medicine undergraduates in Phase 1, and also lecturing/tutoring/demonstrating of Medicine and Science undergraduates in the subject of Physiology and Neuroscience. I was convenor of the SCIF1121 course for two years, and co-convenor of the NEUR3221 course at SoMS for one year.
I was the inaugural Chair of the UNSW Early Career Academic Network Executive Committee (ECAN-EC), and in my role as Chair, I was a member of the UNSW Academic Board.
I am the co-President of the Australian and New Zealand Purine Club, and the co-Coordinator of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge NSW Finals.
I have extensive experience in organising conferences and smaller meetings, and also Neuroscience-related activities for high-school students.
I have a Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching from UNSW Sydney.
In January 2020 I took up the role as an Education focused Academic in the Department of Physioloyg, SoMS, UNSW Sydney.
My Research Supervision
I am currently supervising a PhD student in the auditory neuroscience field.