Alexandra McAllan

In 2019, I actually got in contact with my supervisor, Associate Professor Michael Gantier, about another project our group was working on. To my dismay, it turned out that that project was already taken, but I was inspired by the passion he showed for the work our lab does and got hooked on my bioinformatics project instead. I did an Honours year with the lab in 2020, and was lucky enough to be able to stay on as a PhD student in 2021. What really drew me to Hudson Institute was the amazing collision of so many disciplines and fields of study in one place, and the keen curiosity and interest of researchers in what they do.

My research centres around microRNAs, tiny molecules in our cells that play an important role in controlling gene expression. Each microRNA comes in multiple forms, and I am working to categorise the molecular differences in these microRNA isoforms between cells, as well as in cases of disease such as COVID-19 infection and cancer. Through my research, I hope to find out whether microRNA isoforms can be used as a biomarker to detect disease, and to develop tools to help researchers understand and harness the diversity of microRNAs between different cells.

Being a student at Hudson Institute can really be whatever you want to make it – no matter what you want to pursue after studying, there are constant opportunities to engage with and develop your interests. Students are never seen as lesser than senior researchers, and everyone around you is incredibly supportive and wants to help you succeed. Something I particularly love is the curiosity and engagement that is fostered through weekly seminars from researchers within and between Centres, and the occasional broader seminar exploring the intersection of, for example, gender, sexuality, or disability with medical research. These are just a few of the ways that Hudson Institute maintains a culture of collaboration and inclusivity that is lovely to be part of.

Despite my time as a student being occasionally overshadowed by lockdowns and travel restrictions, I have had the opportunity to attend several conferences and symposiums, which has been a great experience. Through a more social lens, being a Centre Representative in the Hudson Institute Student Society has been a great opportunity for me to get my head out of coding and meet people from other Centres.

With a bit of luck and hard work, I hope that my research will lead to a new way to use microRNAs to detect disease, and to a greater understanding of the complex microRNA landscape within all our cells.