What is your current role, and how long have you been in this position?
I am an ARC DECRA Fellow and Head of GPCR EcoPharmacology Laboratory in the Drug Discovery Biology Theme at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS). I commenced this independent role in January 2025.

What are the main projects you are working on right now?
One major project focuses on G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER)–targeted drug discovery for dementia in postmenopausal women. In parallel, I investigate how plastic-derived pollutants modulate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and downstream kinase networks, contributing to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative dysfunction.

How did you get started in your field?
I first became interested in drug discovery during my master’s research, where I worked on identifying novel AMPK activators. During my PhD, I trained in GPCR pharmacology, focusing on allosteric modulation and biased agonism at the adenosine A1 receptor. Over time, I began integrating computational modelling and AI into my work and expanding into environmental pharmacology, examining how pollutants perturb GPCR and kinase signalling. These experiences now shape my research at the interface of therapeutic innovation and environmental health.

Are there any achievements or milestones you’re particularly proud of?
I was honoured to receive the ASCEPT Certara New Investigator Award in 2022, which was a meaningful recognition from the pharmacology community. In 2025, I was also fortunate to be awarded an ARC DECRA Fellowship, which enabled me to establish my independent research program.

What skills or strengths do you feel define your work?
I think what defines my work is an interdisciplinary mindset and an ability to connect ideas across traditionally separate fields. I’m also quite persistent – I tend to stay with difficult questions for the long term, especially when they challenge established ways of thinking.

If you weren’t in your current career, what do you think you’d be doing?
If I weren’t in research, I think I would have pursued a career as a hospital pharmacist. I was trained as a pharmacist, and during my Bachelor of Pharmacy, my two favourite subjects were pharmacology and clinical pharmacy. Pharmacology ultimately led me into research, but I have always admired the impact and human connection of clinical pharmacy practice.