Dr Amanda Smith

I am currently a second year Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland. I undertook this position in July 2013 after submitting my thesis for a PhD in medical biochemistry in June 2013. As a PhD student, my interests centered on understanding the molecular changes involved in cancer progression, specifically, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and chemotherapy resistance. By utilising a wide range of proteomic and molecular techniques, including immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in addition to processing of primary AML patient bone marrow and mononuclear cells, I have recently contributed a significant portion of work to a publication in the international journal, Cancer Research. My PhD work focused on the role of PP2A inhibition by receptor tyrosine kinases as drivers of disease, and the potential to target PP2A as a novel therapy. Two manuscripts reporting this work, for which I am first author, have been written and will be submitted in the near future. I also have two second author publications (Cancer Res. 2010 Jul 1;70(13):5438-47; Int J Nanomed. 2013;8:4705) and one first author book chapter (Basic Mechanisms of Leukaemogenesis Koschmieder, S. and Utz, K. (Ed) 2011). Recently, I published the first research publication arising from work during my postdoctoral research appointment under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Moore (Leuk Res. 2015 Apr;39(4):435-44). Furthermore, I have presented my research at numerous national conferences, and an international conference. In addition to research, I have tutored Bachelor of Biomedical Science students, both as part of their coursework and privately. I am currently a secondary supervisor for one final year PhD student. I am dedicated to a research career with a strong focus on clinical research and the development of new therapies for leukaemia patients. My goal is to secure competitive grant funding and build my own research program within the next 5-10 years.

EDUCATION

PhD

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health, the University of Newcastle

Newcastle, Australia, 2008-2013.

PhD thesis title: Mechanism of oncogenic c-KIT mediated inactivation of the tumour suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A).

Supervisors: Dr. Nikki Verrills and Professor Leonie Ashman

Scholarships:

• Newcastle Innovation Research Higher Degree Support Grant in Medical Innovation (2010)
• Australian Postgraduate Award (2008)
• Arrow-Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC) PhD Scholarship (2008)

Undergraduate

First Class Honours degree in Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BBMSc Hons), University of Newcastle, NSW, 2007.

EMPLOYMENT

Mid 2013- Present     Postdoctoral Fellow

                                   Moved to UQDI in March 2015; Previously Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute. 

                                    The University of Queensland

2012-present             Technical Officer- Part time

                                    Medical Biochemistry, the University of Newcastle

                                    Role: Responsible for the running and maintenance of the NanoPro1000

2011-2012                     Technical Officer- Part time

                                    Analytical and Biomolecular Research Facility

                                    Role: Support role for FACS facility

2012                             Technical Officer- Part time

                                    Teaching Support Unit, the University of Newcastle

Role: Support role in the set up and running of undergraduate student labs

Feb.-June 2009          Biomedical Science Tutor- Casual

                                    School of Biomedical Science, the University of Newcastle

Role: Tutored classes of 60 year 2 and 3 students in human bioscience laboratories

2007- 2008.                 Laboratory Assistant – 6 month contract- Part time

                                    Analytical and Biomolecular Research Facility

Role: Technical role maintaining and running BD FACSCalibur Bench top Analyser (3-colour Flow Cytometer) and BD FACSAria Cell Sorter (9-colour Flow Cytometer and Cell Sorter)

AWARDS

• Best Oral Presentation 5th Annual Hunter Cancer Research Symposium HMRI, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (2012)
• Biochemical Journal Poster Prize- Phosphatases in Human Disease, Satellite of Lorne Proteins, Melbourne, VIC (2012)
• Newcastle Innovation Research Higher Degree Support Grant in Medical Innovation (2010)
• Best Student Poster Prize- HMRI Cancer Research Program Seminar Day, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (2009)
• Australian Postgraduate Award (2008)
• Arrow-Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC) PhD Scholarship (2008)