UQ biotech alumni stories - School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

With 2025 marking the 25^th anniversary of UQ’s new biotechnology undergraduate program, there is no better time to celebrate the success and impact of biotech graduates in an industry that is transforming our world and the lives of the people in it.

Below, UQ biotechnology alumni share memories of their time at UQ and the fascinating stories of their career journeys. Be inspired!

Erin Evans

As CEO of Australia’s peak industry body for genomics and precision medicine, Dr Erin Evans is working to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge genomics into the healthcare system.

Linda Lua

After a career spanning industry, academia, and now executive coaching, Emeritus Professor Linda Lua has built a legacy that extends far beyond the lab. Her journey has been anything but conventional.

Chris Pettigrew

As Head of the HCF Research Foundation – the largest non-government funder of health services research in Australia – Dr Chris Pettigrew's work supports projects that can change healthcare delivery in real time.

Vivian Chan

As an Entrepreneur in Residence at Techstars London, Dr Vivian Chan helps early-stage deep tech startups scale through strategic advisory and commercialisation.

Maany Ramanan

As a Senior Scientist at The EVERY Company, a San Francisco-based food technology startup, Dr Maany Ramanan is helping to revolutionise the way we produce and consume proteins.

Prashanth Rajan

As an Investment Analyst at Australia’s largest life sciences venture capital firm, Dr Prashanth Rajan plays a critical role in identifying, funding, and supporting groundbreaking biotech startups.

Yastika Banerjee

As a PhD Candidate at UQ’s RNA Virology Lab, Yastika Banerjee's research has the potential to shape future vaccines and therapeutics. She is also passionate about making science more inclusive.

Lucas Ngo Dee

As an R&D Consultant at prmpt, Lucas Ngo Dee helps companies access federal government tax incentives. He is particularly interested in how to make biotech research more economically viable.

Ali Alhomaidan

As the Executive Director for Product Evaluation and Standards Setting at the Saudi FDA, Dr Ali Alhomaidan plays a key role in shaping global regulatory policies and fostering local biotech manufacturing.

Kym Baker

As General Manager of Patheon Biologics, a brand of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dr Kym Baker leads a team that manufactures biotherapeutics for clients around the world.

Ahilya Mathew

As a Pharmaceutical Strategy Consultant for Pharma Business Partners, Ahilya Mathew has embraced the full spectrum of what biotech careers can offer.

Devanshi Patel

As Manager of Strategy, Partnerships and Impact at the India Health Fund in Mumbai, Devanshi Patel works at the intersection of technology innovation and public health.

Julian Sng

As a Research Assistant in UQ's Short Lab, Julian Sng’s work focuses on understanding respiratory viruses, including long-COVID and avian influenza.

Elouise Comber

As a PhD Candidate at the Centre for Children’s Health Research, Elouise Comber's work focuses on improving outcomes for children undergoing chemotherapy.

Martina Jones

As Operations Manager of AIBN's National Biologics Facility, Dr Martina Jones leads a team helping to transform early-stage discoveries into clinical trial-ready biologic therapies.