A love of science has led two researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast down two very different career paths – but today they share the same national honour.
Molecular biologist/microbiologist/immunologist Dr Bonnie Quigley and dietitian and public health nutritionist Dr Libby Swanepoel have both been named Superstars of STEM for 2024.
The award, by Science & Technology Australia, shines a spotlight on diverse role models in the field of science, technology, engineering and maths.
UniSC Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Ross Young said Dr Quigley and Dr Swanepoel were lighting an exciting path for the next generation of scientists.
“Their work to find new ways to improve human health has the potential to improve many lives, from Dr Quigley’s investigations into the epigenetic basis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to Dr Swanepoel’s work to improve diets in disadvantaged communities, through better nutrition” Professor Young said.
“Their passion shows us how fulfilling a career in science can be, because of the powerful and positive impact we can make on the people and the world around us.”
Understanding PTSD better to find new solutions
Dr Bonnie Quigley is based at the National PTSD Research Centre at UniSC's Thompson Institute, working to better understand the biology behind mental health.
“I'm passionate about breaking down the stigma that mental illness is ‘all in your head’, and I want to find ways to help our mind, through our body.”
“I’m focused on how our genetics and biochemistry can help us be resilient to traumatic events and what changes biologically when we develop conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Dr Quigley, who is a molecular biologist, microbiologist and immunologist.
She was drawn to biology in the mental health space because she noticed that many people believed physical and mental health to be unrelated.
“This is just not the case,” she said.
“If something is going on in our head, it often has a physical, measurable effect on our body and if something is going on in our body, it can have real impacts on our moods and perceptions.
“I'm passionate about breaking down the stigma that mental illness is ‘all in your head’, and I want to find ways to help our mind, through our body.”
Dr Quigley said PTSD could be a debilitating condition and treatments currently available did not work for everyone.
“I'm really proud of the novel treatments for PTSD we are trialling at the Centre.
“My research is starting to connect biological markers to the symptoms of PTSD and I believe this is going to make a real difference in how we recognise and treat PTSD in the future.
“Right now, I'm working on identifying what changes biologically when someone responds well to a PTSD treatment, so that we know what we are trying to achieve with treatment overall. Hopefully this will help us identify new treatments that can achieve the same biological changes and result in the same positive mental changes.
Dr Quigley, who is also affiliated with UniSC’s Centre for Bioinnovation, enjoys sharing the new knowledge from research with the wider community.
“There are just too many cool discoveries and amazing findings to keep to oneself,” she said.
“I have had a varied and diverse research career and I want young people to know that you can get into science and explore many different things. You don't need to know exactly what you want to do for your whole life to be a scientist - having a career in research is like doing research itself, you never know where it will take you.
“I also think it is important for everyone in the community, young and old, to know that there are researchers working on the hard problems (like ways to recover from PTSD) and, although progress might seem slow, we are making progress.
“I want young people to be inspired to realise that they could be the next generation of scientists and that we need a diverse range of people to get involved in research to find answers to the hard questions.”
A nutritious path to human health
Dr Libby Swanepoel is passionate about helping disadvantaged communities.
This, alongside a love for food, health and the ocean forms the perfect recipe for her career in nutrition and public health, particularly looking at how aquatic food systems, such as seaweed, can be used to feed communities.
“In this field, I can build a healthier, more equitable world through what we eat and how it's produced,” said Dr Swanepoel, who is a dietitian and public health nutritionist.
“I can use modern science alongside traditional knowledge to find sustainable, inclusive solutions for everyone.”
No two days are the same working in food and nutrition science, she says.
“Specifically, my research develops nutritious solutions to address malnutrition by improving aquatic food systems, particularly focusing on seaweed.
“This involves working closely with coastal communities in the Pacific and northern Australia to create new food products with farmed or wild-harvest seaweeds, considering the whole food system from production and processing to consumption.
“I also investigate the nutritional potential of these products for human health, emphasising seaweed as a vital resource in addressing global food security challenges.”
By building on the existing strengths, knowledge and opinions within villages, she has helped define new approaches to gain value from seaweed.
"Another great research outcome is analysing the nutritional content of seaweeds from Australia and the Pacific to understand their potential in contributing to human health.
“I've discovered some really positive nutrient profiles in seaweeds that have not been studied before and am now identifying how these can be used as foods to improve people’s health and prevent illness,” Dr Swanepoel said.
She is currently focused on two seaweed projects based in the Pacific.
“The first is an Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research project that focuses on co-culture of seaweed and oysters in Aboriginal communities in northern Australia and coastal communities in Fiji. Through shared learning, we're determining the best methods of production for nutritious and safe aquatic foods for local consumption and export.
“The second project, funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre, is focused on transforming women's seaweed enterprises into nature-based solutions in Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati.
“This project will determine the health potential of local seaweeds and develop market pathways for women-led village enterprises. There's a big focus on culturally rigorous knowledge sharing, and we're co-producing a suite of tools to assist with this.”
Dr Swanepoel said that as a mum of four kids, she was particularly driven to promote science as a pathway for girls.
“I love to show kids, and girls especially, the diversity of what working as a scientist can look like, the strengths that women bring to this role, and the journey in finding the right work-life balance,” Dr Swanepoel said.
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