Dr Joanna Kirman
- Position
- Scientist
- Field
- Immunology
- Place of Work
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Dr Joanna Kirman has relocated to the University of Otago, where she will continue developing an improved vaccine for TB using the Biohazard 3 facility that can accommodate TB.
www.malaghan.org.nz/...dr-joanna-kirman-finds-her-place-in-the-world
Joanna's role also involves management of staff and PhD students, grant and research report writing, speaking at seminars and international meetings, and ensuring all research complies with safety, ethical and governmental regulations.
Region
Wellington
Job
The position involves hands-on cell biology and molecular biology lab work at Biohazard Safety Level II and III. This means that safety precautions, such as protective gowns or suits, fit-tested respirators, working in specialised negative pressure laboratories, as well as routine health monitoring, are important considerations in Joanna’s work.
I've always really, really enjoyed biology
To hear Joanna talking about her research, get Radio New Zealand audio: Tuberculosis vaccines
Career Pathway
Joanna enjoyed biology at school and decided to study Biochemistry at university because she was very interested in genetics. She did a summer studentship between her 3rd year and honours year in infectious diseases immunology in the Microbiology Department at the University of Otago, which she really enjoyed.
Cell biology enables visualisation of immunological changes under the microscope or by flow cytometry. It was this ability to observe real biological changes during an immune response against infection that Joanna found most exciting. From there, Joanna completed a PhD through the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research at the Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago. The focus of her research was the immune response to Tuberculosis. Her postdoctoral studies took her to the United States where she worked at the National Institutes of Health. While there, she worked in many leading infectious disease laboratories, including Colorado State University.
Joanna then returned to New Zealand where she was awarded a Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship which enabled her to establish her own research group. Joanna’s research projects, staff and students have been funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the New Economies Research Foundation, Lotteries Health, the Child Health Research Foundation, the Wellington Medical Research Foundation and Merck Sharp and Dohme.
Interests
Joanna enjoys travel, hiking, and has recently started doing triathlons.
Metadata
- Published:
- 14 November 2007
- Updated:
-
15 October 2012
