Dr Jacquline Kent started her academic career with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology at UWA. After completing her undergraduate degree she undertook a Diploma of Education at the University of Sydney and worked as a teacher for a year. However, teaching wasn't the career of choice for Dr Kent and she returned to science to do her Masters Preliminary at UWA in endocrinology, researching vitamin D and calcium metabolism. Dr Kent was then employed overseas for biochemistry laboratories in America and England, but later moved back to Australia to work in endocrinology at Sir Charles Gardner Hospital. In 1986 she secured a position as a research assistant at UWA in the Hartmann lactation lab. She completed her PhD in 1999 and has been working here as a Research Associate ever since.

The Human Lactation Research Group is funded by Medela AG

Research Collaborators

Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group
Professor Peter Hartmann
Dr Donna Geddes
Dr Ching Tat Lai

As part of the Hartmann lab, Dr Kent researches the biochemistry and physiology of lactation and breastfeeding in babies. By understanding exactly how the process of lactation works, researchers such as Dr Kent are able to provide and evidence base to improve treatment when medical difficulties arise in breastfeeding mothers, encourage more mothers to breastfeed and improve existing technology in hospitals, such as breast pumps.

Research Areas
Physiology of milk synthesis
Milk expression from the breast
Mechanics of infant breastfeeding