Maria Lee

Maria Lee obtained her BSc. (With Honours) and MSc. in Clinical Microbiology with emphasis in Mycology in the United States. Following completion of the graduate studies, she worked as a Research Lab Specialist at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor on various fungal research projects, from studying population genetics of the frog pathogen, Batrachocytrium dendrobatidis to understanding the mating behaviour in white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. She then held a position as a Research Associate at the Department of Biological Sciences in the National University of Singapore. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Western Australia. Her research interests focus broadly on understanding: 1) co-evolution and tripartite interactions between plants-fungi and its ecological environments, and 2) molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity using bioinformatics, mathematical modelling, and genetics. One of her long-term goals is to help improve agricultural practices with a sustainable return in farm productivity, improved pest management strategies, better health for the environment, and ultimately food security as we face inevitable global climate change. She looks forward to the challenges ahead and hope to contribute her knowledge to advance this field both as a teacher and a researcher.