I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Egan's lab working on marine microorganisms with a PhD in Plant Science and Microbiology and a Master’s in Agricultural Biotechnology. During my study, I have established a novel screening method and curated a collection of over 600 soil rhizosphere bacterial isolates. I have identified 68 biocontrol bacteria active against bacterial plant and food pathogens, along with 16 strains effective against...view more
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Egan's lab working on marine microorganisms with a PhD in Plant Science and Microbiology and a Master’s in Agricultural Biotechnology. During my study, I have established a novel screening method and curated a collection of over 600 soil rhizosphere bacterial isolates. I have identified 68 biocontrol bacteria active against bacterial plant and food pathogens, along with 16 strains effective against fungal and oomycete pathogens. My work has led to the discovery of 15 potential new bacterial antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and 14 novel antimicrobial metabolites (AMMs). Additionally, I have identified 10 new biopesticides and developed biopesticide assays for tomato, cabbage, and chickpea.
Beyond microbiology, I have contributed to applied biotechnology by engineering plants to express bacteriocins for enhanced disease resistance and genetically modifying Artemisia annua to increase artemisinin production.
Currently, my research focuses on manipulation of marine microorganisms. My research aims to bridge the gap between fundamental microbiology and applied biological sciences to develop sustainable solutions for environmental and agricultural challenges.
My Qualifications
PhD (University of Queensland)
My Awards
The University of Queensland International Scholarship
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability Travel Award
International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) Young Investigator Travel Award
My Research Activities
I am a molecular biologist, synthetic biologist, plant biologist, and microbiologist with a strong focus on microbial pathogenesis and symbiotic interactions. My research primarily involves using molecular tools to elucidate microbial mechanisms and their roles in host interactions.
Additionally, I have experience in antimicrobial bioactive discovery across diverse environmental microbiomes, identifying novel compounds with potential applications in medicine and agriculture.
I also have expertise in plant molecular biology and biotechnology, including gene transfer across a wide range of plant species to enhance traits such as disease resistance and bioactive compound production.
View less