Past Lab Members
Lou Gonzales
Volunteer (2024-), research assistant (2023-2024), volunteer (2022) and Hons student (2021) . Now a Grad Medicine student at UTas so no longer a RA but still involved in the multi-omics mission to understanding how prostate cancer and healthy cells respond to radiotherapy vs new plasma treatment in a collaboration with the Chris O’brien Lifehouse. Attended World Youth Day and also a K pop fan.
Rucha Thosar
Now works as a data science analyst. 3rd year Dalyell project student working with Lou and Ann on the multi-omics and mutli-team mission to understand how prostate cancer and healthy cells respond to novel treatments. Has risen to the challenge of becoming independent quickly given Lou’s last-minute medicine offer. Despite only a few weeks into semester, have already done some successful RNA extractions and ran an RNA gel.
Salomie Valenzuela
Denison summer scholar (2024). A UTS pre-med student undertaking summer research at both UNSW and USyd in one summer! Teaming up with Maddy to optimise a new fluorescence technique to detect protein and potential drug interactions. Loves the Filipino dessert halo-halo.
Angela Nikolic
Structural biology Lab Manager for 14 years and Sydney Analytical Senior Technical Officer (i.e., the person who really runs the Lv 6 labs). Have moved onto a full time position with Gelion, a start-up. Makes the best potato salad.
Bill Bubb
It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Bill. He was Ann’s mentor and an Honorary Research Associate from 2010-2024. “Retired” in 2009 but helped Ann and her group so much throughout the years in between traveling the world. Bill, I can’t thank you enough for what you did for the NMRs, me and my group.
Tom Allport
Hons student (2023) and Volunteer (2022) co-supervised by Sandro. Master at Dungeons and Dragons and equally brave and ambitious in the research world. Has done so well working on a new technology in Hons that he is now working in Toby’s new start-up following on his Hons project.
Rachel Luo
DSP student (2023) co-supervised by Jessica and Sandro. Working on a class of RNA mimics called PNAs to scout out their suitability for development as biotech tools and future therapeutics. A quiet achiever with a magic whisper that seems to coax PNAs to stay in solution better than anyone else in the lab.
(Jan) Yupaporn Phonok
Now Dr Phonok! PhD student (2019-2023) co-supervised by Jinlong (Westmead Dental School). Is a dentist and lecturer in Thailand but has found a calling in dental research and picked up the baton from Anthony working on novel ways to target P. gingavalis proteins to control chronic periodontal disease.
Feiyun Cheng
Hons student (2022) co-supervised by Luciano. After a summer project on cattle grazing behaviour, has followed Ellie’s footsteps to hunt down unknown biomarkers that can detect respiratory diseases in cattle. Have super human discipline and once fasted for 7 days except for water!
Jackie Yau
Volunteer (2021-2) and summer scholarship student (2021). A very fast learner and has already picked up many tricks of the stats trade from Kelvin and is also now handling NMR data analysis with ease! Nabbed by NMI for Year-in-Industry program in 2021-2 while working to develop better protocols for NMR metabolomics on the side.
Jennifer Zhao
Volunteer (2022), DSP Student (2020) and Hons student (2021) co-supervised by Sandro. Lives life on the fast lane. Had great success with making Avi-tagged FtsY during DSP and now onto RaPID screens with Toby to find new peptide antibiotics.
Belinda Zhang
Volunteer and summer scholarship student (2021) co-supervised by Sandro with ambitious goals. Came well trained after a year in industry and two DSP project units. Working on developing antibiotic lead molecules. Also an amazing flautist and former SUSO (USyd Symphony Orchestra) president. Regrets not expelling Ann from orchestra.
Angela Pan
Summer scholarship student (2022) co-supervised by Sandro with strong interest in translational research and very keen to maximise lab experience. Working on improving the purification protocol of our antibiotic target and progressing the latest round of antibiotic leads. VP of USYD Combined Medicine Association.
Jessica Qiao
2022 summer scholarship student who is diving deep into the world of metabolomics, biochemical pathways and statistical analyses. In her spare time, loves listening to true crime podcasts, watching TV shows and hanging out with friends.
Shalini Vijeyakumar
2022 summer scholarship student co-supervised by Sandro keen to delve further into scientific research. Has picked up how to solve crystal structures very quickly. Will be starting her MD and in a race against time to finish the gazillion structures Sandro has planned. Other interests include basketball/netball and true crime shows.
Justin Tan
2022 summer scholarship student and currently enrolled in UNSW MD after completing Year 1 at USyd. Currently investigating how flexible regions in hydrophobins may act a control switch for assembly. Has the full set of Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards that most of us can only dream of. Also a cellist.
Luiz Mello Lima
2021 summer scholarship student residing in Brazil who plans to study medicine. Leading a group of BIOL1997 students to transform their COVID assignment from Sem 2 into informative and eye-catching inforgraphics posters for the digital poster boards around the Molecular Bioscience building.
Kelvin Liu
Former DSP (talented student program) project and now pseudo summer scholarship student who majors in Math and Stats. Expert in R and statistical analysis and is working with Betsy on metabolomics data analysis as well as training Jackie as his apprentice.
Reza Nematollahi
2014-5. Visiting student from Pharmacy
Jack Zeng
2016-7. Undergraduate TSP student