Dr Natalie McKirdy
This person does not currently hold a position at QUT.
Biography
After completing her Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Science) at Queensland University of Technology, Natalie pursued an Honours research project to develop a transplantable layer of cells grown upon a silk membrane with the aim of restoring sight to patients with corneal endothelial dystrophy. After two years working in clinical trials and feto-maternal research, she returned to her first love (ophthalmic research) to earn her PhD enrolled through the University of Queensland’s School of Medicine, with her lab work carried out at the Queensland Eye Institute. Awarded in 2018, her PhD project investigated compounds from raw silk in a range of therapeutic applications, including as a biomaterial for restoring a key cell population lost due to the common blinding condition, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).After several years project managing a state-wide science outreach program, Natalie has returned to QUT to contribute to the MRFF-funded corneal bioengineering project and project manage the international collaborations she established to investigate a rare blinding condition, Iridocorneal Endothelial (ICE) Syndrome.
Personal details
Discipline
Medical Biochemistry and Metabolomics, Medical Microbiology
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (University of Queensland)
Professional memberships and associations
Women in Technology, Golden Key Society.
Teaching
Natalie has taught into several subjects at QUT within Anatomy and Physiology, including Understanding Disease Concepts (LSB111), Human Anatomy and Physiology (LSB142), and held a team leadership position as Academic In Charge for the LS47 Medical Laboratory Science cohort of the newly devised Human Anatomy (LQB187) course in 2021.
She also has a wealth of experience in science education, with previous roles working in and with schools on STEMM outreach projects, creating curriculum aligned learning sequences, designing and delivering lesson plans, and facilitating teacher professional development sessions for both metro-based teachers and those in rural, regional, and remote areas across Queensland.
Experience
Natalie is a PhD-qualified scientist who understands the importance of not only conducting and publishing research with clinical relevance, but communicating those findings to the wider community. She is an enthusiastic STEMM literacy advocate, using her passion to generate support for, and an appreciation of, rigorous scientific research while volunteering as a Young Science Ambassador with Wonder of Science for 5 years, before working as a Project Officer with them for another 3 years.
Natalie has a passion for sharing STEMM research processes and outcomes with the general public in the spirit of transparency and accountability, which has led to her involvement in a wide variety of community outreach events including a TEDx talk, sci-comedy panels with Science Says! and Convince Me, MCing science outreach events with Wonder of Science and Pint of Science, and participating in science communication competitions such as 3 Minute Thesis (UQ Faculty of Medicine Finalist, 2016) and FameLab (Queensland Winner and National Finalist, 2016).
Selected publications
QUT ePrints
To find publications by Natalie, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.