Stephen is a third-year PhD candidate through the University of Western Australia (UWA), based in the Leukaemia Translational Research team at the WA Kids Cancer Centre. Stephen completed his undergraduate studies through UWA, obtaining a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Pharmacology, GPA = 7, WAM = 93.6, Valedictorian) in 2020 followed by a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours in Medical Research, First-Class) in 2021. Currently, his overarching doctoral research focuses on identifying novel, safe and effective treatments for paediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL), a rare form of leukaemia associated with poor outcomes.

In addition to his strong academic record, Stephen has established an impressive track record in his emerging research career. Stephen has received competitive funding to pursue both his Honours (Hackett Foundation Alumni Honours Scholarship) and PhD (Stan and Jean Perron Top-up Scholarship, Tour de Cure PhD Support Scholarship, WA Kids Cancer Centre PhD Sub-Project Grant and UWA Postgraduate Research Travel Grant).

Over October-December 2022, Stephen was a Visiting Student Research Collaborator at Princeton University, a top-ranking Ivy League college in USA. He used this incredible opportunity to study neuroscience, molecular biology and cancer metastasis, and has since applied the insights from this experience to his own PhD.

In 2023, Stephen was also 1 of 30 people chosen Australia-wide to sit on the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) Deliberative Panel on Sex and Gender in Medical Research in order to develop a world-first policy framework that will drive more equitable research outcomes. Evidently, he has a strong desire to produce high quality research in a research environment that champions diversity and inclusion.

Importantly, Stephen is also an up-and-coming leader in medical research. Since 2021 he has volunteered at the Discovery Centre, performing outreach activities for primary school students, and from 2023-2024, he was the Chair of the Student Leadership Group at The Kids Research Institute Australia. Finally in 2024, Stephen successfully completed the Skills, Pedagogical Approaches, Resources and Knowledge (SPARK) professional development program for university learning and teaching to complement his casual role as a Laboratory Demonstrator in the UWA School of Biomedical Sciences. Altogether, this highlights Stephen's desire to give back to the next generation of scientists.

Identifying novel treatments for paediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

1. Characterise and develop new cellular and mouse models of paediatric T-ALL
2. Identify a novel efficacious drug combination in paediatric T-ALL cell lines
3. Identify a novel efficacious drug combination in paediatric T-ALL mouse models

The Kids Research Institute Australia Discovery Centre (Volunteer)

Laboratory Demonstrator - UWA School of Biomedical Sciences

- SCIE1106

- PATH3309

- PHAR2220

- PHAR3311

- PHAR3321