New episodes of Women in Science are on the way. In our second season, Doctor Kirsty Short speaks to some incredible researchers, forging their academic careers and making critically important progress in their disciplines.

Subscribe to Women in Science wherever you listen to podcasts to be the first to hear new episodes. Women in Science is brought to you by The University of Queensland

Season 2 - Coming February 25!

Coming from a regional NSW town with a population of just a few thousand, Associate Professor Karen McNamara is now making a truly global impact. As a child, Karen wrote letters to the Quirindi Advocate newspaper, on topics from animal testing to concerns about the ozone layer. Her mum would drive her to the offices so she could hand-deliver them to the editor. Though they were never published, her passion for the environment and our natural world persisted.

Today, Karen’s research is at the crossroads of some truly wicked problems – how livelihoods can be enhanced to respond to the triple crises of poverty, disaster risk and climate change. A development geographer, Karen works with governments, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations throughout the Asia-Pacific to build resilient and adaptable communities. 

But at the heart of this big picture are individuals – real people relying on experts like Karen to build a sustainable future. Karen is passionate about working collaboratively with local communities to give voice and agency to all participants in the research process.

Find out more about Karen's research: https://sees.uq.edu.au/profile/9656/karen-mcnamara

The Road Ahead with Dr Karen McNamara

In building a successful academic career, it is a common belief you need to work and conduct research internationally – not doing so can have you labelled a risk-avoider and not fully committed. But this is a path not all can, or indeed, want to, take. My guest today is Dr Shyuan Ngo. Shyuan has certainly challenged this assumption as the gold standard of attainment in academia.
Completing a PhD in neuroscience, Shyuan received the Bill Gole Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia, was awarded a Queensland Tall Poppy Award, and received the Scott Sullivan MND Research Fellowship in 2015. She is now a Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, and works on understand and developing life-changing therapies for Motor Neuron Disease.

Learn more about Dr Ngo's research here: https://aibn.uq.edu.au/profile/3690/shyuan-ngo

Understanding the brain with Dr Shyuan Ngo

As a child, Dr Fernanda Adame saw a National Geographic documentary with people exploring the wilds of Africa. It was at that moment Fernanda knew that that was what she wanted to do with her life. With a degree in biology, a masters in limnology (inland aquatic ecosystems) and oceanography, and a PhD in Marine Science, Fernanda is now an internationally recognised authority on mangrove and wetlands conservation. Speaking passionately about “helicopter research”, she works closely with local communities, NGOs, governments, Traditional Owners and community groups to protect our critically important wetland systems. 

Learn more about Dr Adame's research: https://experts.griffith.edu.au/8786-fernanda-adame-vivanco

Wading through the waters of responsible research with Dr Fernanda Adame

Dr Evelyne Deplazes grew up in a farming family in Switzerland, with no family members ever going to university. At 16, she spent more than six months in hospital, forcing her to redo a year of high school. After six months, Evelyne’s illness relapsed and she was forced to return to hospital. Faced with doing the same year a third time, Evelyne decided to leave high school. Evelyne then went on to complete an apprenticeship as a car electrician and another in the logistics of spare parts, a diploma in business, worked as a technical assistant in engineering, as well time working in a bank. 
A chance conversation at a dinner led Evelyne to enrol in university in Australia, leading to a career as a computational chemist. Evelyne’s is an extraordinary story of a winding path to success.

Learn more about Dr Deplazes' research here: https://scmb.uq.edu.au/profile/1443/evelyne-deplazes

You need to tread your own path with Dr Evelyne Deplazes

Dr Debra Bernhardt has an extraordinary list of accomplishments in her academic career. Along with a number of Fellowships and Awards, Debra has held research appointments at the University of Basel in Switzerland, the Australian National University, and Griffith University. After spending a number of years teaching and in management roles, Debra made a conscious decision to return her focus to research – a decision that led her to The University of Queensland.
In our conversation today, we talk about being the only female among 17 group leaders, the different hats an academic wears in their professional life, and the importance of regularly asking yourself, “Is what I’m doing right now what I want to keep doing?”

Learn more about Dr Bernhardt's research here: https://aibn.uq.edu.au/profile/2001/debra-bernhardt

Shifting focus with Dr Debra Bernhardt

In high school, Dr Ann Damien got the opportunity to attend the National Youth Science Forum. It was the first time she was surrounded by other people genuinely excited and passionate about science. Studying both biotech and business, Ann’s attention turned to taking discoveries from the lab, through translation and commercialisation. After completing an industry-based Honours program, Ann paved the way for other undergraduates to be involved in non-wetlab, industry projects.
Ann’s career now takes life-changing and lifesaving healthcare technologies from bench to bedside.

Learn more about Dr Damien's work here: https://career-profiles.science.uq.edu.au/ann-damien

From bench to bedside with Dr Ann Damien

Professor Melissa Brown started her PhD investigating blood cancers at Australia’s oldest medical research institute. Her research then took her to the Imperial Cancer Research and King’s College in London, contributing to the work on BRCA1, a genetic mutation central to understanding and predicting hereditary breast cancer.
Melissa’s career has also been bookmarked by leadership roles. She has worked as convenor for higher degree by research students, Deputy Head of School, Head of School, and now Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science at The University of Queensland. And she did all of this while balancing teaching and PhD supervision.
In our conversation, Melissa talks about working across countries, managing your time while still taking on opportunities and new challenges, and addresses impostor syndrome in a way you may not have considered before.
Recorded on International Women’s Day.

Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Read more about Professor Melissa Brown’s work: www.researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/937

Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

A life of leadership

After studying textile engineering in Iran, Dr Nasim Amiralian decided to move to Australia to pursue a PhD. Nasim now works as a materials scientist with spinifex grass and agricultural waste to produce innovative materials for biodegradable packaging, medical textiles, and other biocomposites. As a Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Nasim gets to supervise her own research group, guiding the focus of their work.
In this conversation, Nasim talks about working closely with Indigenous Australian communities, taking on leadership roles while developing your own career, how we can address plastic pollution and agricultural waste, and working across cultures.

Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Read more about Nasim’s work: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/11106

Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Building a future from biowaste

Dr Aideen McInerney-Leo always had a curiosity about science, and it was a babysitting gig in her teenage years that opened up the world of genetics. While studying her undergraduate in London, Aideen went for a walk past one of the world’s leading children’s hospital. A cold call to the hospital switchboard and a letter to the head of clinical genetics department led to an incredible career that has taken Aideen around the world, from London to the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins in the United States, and then to Australia, working at the now-Fraser Institute at The University of Queensland.
As a genetics counsellor, Aideen’s role covers the practicalities of screening, surveillance, and testing, and the psychology of grief, burden, and guilt associated with inherited diseases.

Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Read more about Aideen’s research: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/23291

Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Screening, surveillance and psychology: The life of a genetic counsellor

Professor Ala Tabor spent nearly two decades working in primary industries with the Queensland Government before making the move into academia at The University of Queensland in 2010.
Ala specialises in cattle tick, paralysis ticks (and the diseases they cause) and reproductive diseases in cattle, but when she started at university, Ala didn’t even know parasitology was an option. In this conversation, Ala talks about carving out your own research niche, the importance of building your network of mentors and sponsors, making the transition from government to academia, and the secrets to grant applications (having received more than $12 million in grants for her own research over the past decade).

Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Read more about Ala’s research: https://qaafi.uq.edu.au/profile/492/ala-tabor

Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

Science is not a 9-to-5

A case of lupus in her childhood was the catalyst of Professor Joanne Blanchfield’s career in science. It was Joanne’s doctors who guided her away from a career in medicine, and towards one in research.
Through her career, Joanne has worked with Indigenous Australian communities on investigating the chemistry of natural medicines, taken on a number of post-doctoral positions, including Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the Australian National University in Canberra, and now works as a Deputy Head of School in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at UQ.
It was after a life-threatening medical incident, Joanne realised the critical importance of building a strong, trusted network. It was a lesson in perspective, and acknowledging that even with setbacks, your career will still be there when you get back.
In this conversation, Joanne talks about taking on leadership roles as early as possible in your academic journey, the importance of travel for career development, and making yourself competitive as – through your research and good academic citizenship.

Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Read more about Joanne’s research: https://scmb.uq.edu.au/profile/33/joanne-blanchfield

Season 3 of Women in Science has been made possible with the generous support of Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo.

The chemistry of teaching AND research

Professor Sarah Robertson’s work unravels the mysteries of the immune system's role in reproductive health. Sarah charts her journey in science from stargazing as a child before exploring chemistry and physics, moving into biochemistry and immunology for her career. In this episode, Sarah and Kirsty talk about the science of being a parent, and being a parent working in science. 

Read more about Professor Robertson's work: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/sarah.robertson

This series is made possible by the contribution from Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo

Conceiving a career in reproductive health

Dr Natalie Collins has always loved sport and exercise. It was in high school that science and physical education came together to form her passion for the human side of biology, evolving into a career in physiotherapy. These days, Natalie specialises in sports physiotherapy and research into knee pain across the lifespan. Her research examines the relationship between knee pain in early life and kneecap osteoarthritis and arthritis later in life. Her hope is to change this trajectory through early interventions, overhauling the continuum of pain as we age.
In this conversation, Natalie talks about her study pathway into physiotherapy, fitting into a research group as a new researcher, the close relationship between research and research translation in with her patients, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. 

Read more about Dr Natalie Collins’ research: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/12040 

This series is made possible by the contribution from Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo

We k-need to talk about exercise

Associate Professor Jessica Mar is a computational biologist, using statistics and computers to solve questions about big data in biology. Jessica started out with a science degree at UQ, before moving on to the UK as a research assistant with the Human Genome Project. She then moved from the United Kingdom to the United States, completing her PhD at Harvard University. Next came the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York for a post-doc position. Jessica’s incredible career shows no signs of slowing down – she is now a group leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland.
In this episode, Jessica talks about travelling the world in pursuit of her career, being a role model for emerging researchers, and what big data means for us in the world of health and biology.

Read more about Jessica's work: https://aibn.uq.edu.au/profile/3649/jessica-mar

This series is made possible by the contribution from Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo

A truly global career

In this bite-sized episode of Women in Science, Professor Mary Garson tells us about starting the Global Women’s Breakfast. Mary talks about the event’s humble beginning in 2009, bringing together women in chemistry from all around the world. In 2024, the breakfast will be held across more than 350 events in 70 countries.

Mary was one of Women in Science’s first guests in season one – you can hear her full  journey through a science career here: https://shorturl.at/vwBKT

You can find out more about the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast at https://iupac.org/

You can also donate to our Women in Science podcast to help us continue to the stories of extraordinary women working across many different sciences at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

The Global Women's Breakfast

Professor Alison Van Eenennaam works in co-operative extension, translating agricultural research into education and practical action.

Alison grew up in Melbourne, Australia, but was working in California when the Flavr Saver tomato became the first commercially grown GMO food to be approved for human consumption. She quickly found herself immersed in the world of biotechnology and agricultural science.

In this conversation, Alison and Kirsty talk about GMO foods, bringing the science of universities into farming operations, the value of science outreach to communicate facts, not  fear, for controversial research, and the future of genomics in cattle production to optimise genetic gain in breeding programs.

Read more about Alison’s work: https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty/alison-van-eenennaam

Help us tell more fascinating stories about incredible women working in science: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Moo-vers and shakers in agriculture

Associate Professor Marnee Shay is a researcher in Education, specializing in Indigenous education, policy studies, flexi schooling and youth studies. Today, she reflects on her own experience in the Australian education system and the pivotal moments that led her from youth work to academia.
Marnee and Kirsty also talk about non-conventional approaches to data collection, preserving Indigenous languages in Wakka Wakka country, and the importance of effecting policy change through research.
And you’ll hear about the critical importance of research collaboration across STEM fields and the social sciences.
This episode was recorded on Jaggera and Turrbal Country.

Donate now to support future episodes of Women in Science: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/women-in-science-podcast

Read more about Marnee’s research: https://education.uq.edu.au/profile/2069/marnee-shay

Getting schooled on education research

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Neena Mitter. Professor Mitter has been involved in molecular biology and biotechnology in Australia and India for over 20 years. Her scientific journey began as an agricultural scientist in India, where she learned first-hand the significance of agriculture in shaping the world, economically, socially, environmentally and politically.

Professor Neena Mitter

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Christine Beveridge. Professor Beveridge is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, past President of the International Plant Growth Substances Association and an ARC Laureate Fellow. Her lab lab focuses on understanding the role of plant hormones in the regulation and coordination of plant development.

Professor Christine Beveridge

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Tamara Davis. Professor Davis is an astrophysicist who studies the elusive “dark energy” that’s accelerating the universe. She’s measured time-dilation in distant supernovae, helped make one of the largest maps of the distribution of galaxies in the universe, and is now measuring how supermassive black holes have grown over the last 12 billion years.

Professor Tamara Davis

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Gabrielle Belz. Professor Belz is the Chair in Immunology at The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute. Her work aims to understand how the immune system responds to infections including viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Professor Gabrielle Belz

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Mary Garson. Professor Garson has been at UQ for more than 30 years, and has held leadership positions within the Royal Australian Chemical Institute as the first female President of the Queensland branch (1996-1997), and as Chair of the International Relations Committee (1996-2004).

After graduating with a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1977, Prof. Garson was an Overseas Research Fellow of the Royal Society in Rome, Italy (1977-1978), a Research Fellow at New Hall, Cambridge (1978-1981) and a Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellow at James Cook University of North Queensland (1983-1985)

Professor Mary Garson

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Jenny Seddon. Professor Seddon is a veterinarian and a molecular geneticist and has an established and international reputation in using genetic tools to address ecological questions in support of the conservation of wildlife.
She is the Associate Dean(Research)& Deputy Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at The University of Queensland.

Professor Jenny Seddon

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Melissa Fitzgerald. Prof Fitzgerald is the Deputy Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Science at The University of Queensland.

Professor Melissa Fitzgerald

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop AO FAA. 

Prof Rubinsztein-Dunlop is a professor of physics at the University of Queensland and an Officer of the Order of Australia. She has led pioneering research in atom optics, biophysics and quantum physics, was one of the originators of the widely used laser enhanced ionisation spectroscopy technique and is well known for her recent work in laser micromanipulation.

Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop

In this episode of Women in Science, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Linda Lua.

Professor Linda Lua, founding director of the UQ Protein Expression Facility(PEF), leads a team of Research Specialists, producing high-quality synthetic proteins to enable and support discovery and translational research. 
She is internationally recognised for her research-enabling technologies to produce products that range from simple biomolecules to complex biomolecular assemblies such as multi-protein virus-like particles. 
Applying her expertise, she researches into vaccine technology to address vaccine manufacturing challenges which translated into patented technology platforms. 

Prof. Lua has initiated and led significant industry engagements, both nationally and internationally. Her project management portfolio also includes projects from 19 Universities across Australia as well as public and private research institutes.

Prof. Lua’s vision and leadership has established PEF as the leading protein production facility in Australia.

Professor Linda Lua

In this episode of Women in Science, Dr Kirsty Short speaks to Professor Peta Ashworth.

Professor Peta Ashworth OAM is the Director of the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, and Chair in Sustainable Energy Futures at The University of Queensland (UQ). 

Professor Ashworth brings over thirty years’ experience working in a range of senior management, consulting and research roles. Prior to joining UQ in 2016, Peta worked as a consultant to industry, as Research Group Leader at CSIRO, and in senior executive roles for the Body Shop.

In addition to her role as the Director of the Liveris Academy, Professor Ashworth is also the Chair in Sustainable Energy Futures. In this capacity, Professor Ashworth provides strategy, thought leadership and engagement associated with the complex technical, economic, social and policy challenges and opportunities as the world transitions to a more sustainable energy future.

Professor Peta Ashworth OAM

In this episode, Dr Kirsty Short talks to Professor Avril Robertson.

Prof Robertson is a Professor in Biotechnology in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at The University of Queensland.

She completed a commercially focused degree and PhD in bio-organic chemistry at the University of St Andrews, Scotland in 2000. She also has qualifications in both secondary and tertiary teaching. 

Avril had a successful 10 years in the UK biotechnology and drug discovery industry before moving to The University of Queensland as Head of Medicinal Chemistry in the Center for Drug Design and Discovery in 2011.

In 2017, she progressed to full Professor and Director of Biotechnology and also sits on the Board of Directors of the National Professional Science Masters Association in the USA.

Popular tracks by Women in Science