Background
Sarah has completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree majoring in Immunology and Microbiology from Monash University. She had joined the HIV, Inflammation and Microbiome team in the Burnet Institute as an honours student and had finished her honours thesis which focuses on the inflammatory properties of non-optimal cervicovaginal bacterial isolates from South African women and following the completion of her honours year, she is currently working as a research assistant.
She is passionate and interested in all types of bacteria and viruses as well as improving women's health. She has previously presented her research which explored the religious and cultural barriers that influence HPV vaccine hesitancy in Malaysia at the International Conference for Undergraduate Research (ICUR), with hopes that it may help implement future initiatives regarding HPV vaccination
Qualifications
- 2022-Ongoing: BSc (Honours), Monash University, Australia
- 2021: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Monash University, Australia
Positions
- 2023 – Present: Research Assistant in the HIV, Inflammation and Microbiome Group
Awards
- 2023: Runner-Up Award for Best Oral Presentation at the Victorian Infection & Immunity Network Young Investigator Symposium 2022
- 2023: Geoffrey Stewardson Travel Fellowship
Current projects
Vaginal live biotherapeutics for sexual and reproductive health
Bacterial vaginosis increases risk of HIV acquisition and adverse birth outcomes. We aim to address this by developing more effective therapeutics.
Diagnostics for preterm birth risk prediction in pregnant Australians
We aim to advance point-of-care diagnostics for spontaneous preterm birth caused by infection in Australian women, including First Nations women