Dr Cairncross is a post-doctoral researcher whose research focuses on the structural and mechanical properties of airways in health and chronic respiratory disease. She also has a special interest in the epidemiology of lung disease in collaboration with the long standing Busselton Health Study.

Dr Cairncross manages the airway Structure-Function program at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital. Her current research has been extended to incorporate and optimize a new non-invasive imaging technique, polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography, as a diagnostic tool in the management of airway diseases such asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Her research footprint includes ~$400K in research funding as a Principle investigator or chief investigator since 2014, with 10 peer-reviewed publications. She was the recipient of the Bright Ideas Award (Charlies Foundation for Research) and the Janine Panizza Award (TSANZ, 2021) for contribution to Respiratory Research in Western Australia.

Professional membership includes the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand WA Branch Executive Committee, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Healthcare Group Research Governance Committee (Scientific Officer), and the Western Australia Sleep Disorders Research Institute member to name a few.

She has successfully co-supervised, with Associate Professor Peter Noble, Honours students since 2017 at the School of Human Sciences.