Reena Mukhiya
PHD Student
+61 7 3845 3705Reena.mukhiya@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Reena worked as a microbiologist in Shi-Gan International College after passing her Master in Microbiology from St. Xaviers College, Nepal in 2012. Here, she was involved in teaching activities, as well as in different infectious disease related projects. She has since received a prestigious Australian Government Scholarship and completed Master of Laboratory Medicine from RMIT University in 2018. Following this, Reena joined an “Antimicrobial Resistance” project, led by International Vaccine Institute, in Nepal, where she was appointed as a technical microbiologist. Reena is currently a PhD student in the Human Malaria Immunology Lab at QIMR Berghofer under the supervision of Dr. Michelle Boyle.
CURRENT APPOINTMENT
PhD Student: Human Malaria Immunology Laboratory
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
The Human Malaria Immunology Lab is focused on identifying cellular mechanisms that drive the induction of protective humoral responses to human malaria infection. The group primarily focuses on Plasmodium parasite infection, the causative agent of malaria, using a human cohort of experimental and natural infection to understand immune development.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Identify the impact of cytomegalovirus in the development of both innate and adaptive immune response to malaria infection.
- Quantify and characterise the function of innate cells such as monocyte, natural killer cell and γδ T cells in experimental human malaria study.
- Identify epigenetic mechanisms in trained malaria immunity
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology
- Australian Society for Parasitology
- Outreach Global Member of American Society of Microbiology
AWARDS RECOGNITION
- Griffith University RTP Fee Offset and Stipend
- Australia Award Scholarship
- Travel grant, Kobe University, Japan
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- Master of Laboratory Medicine, RMIT University, 2018
- Master in Microbiology, St. Xaviers College, 2012