UQ Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences

29/05/2026

Congratulations to Bostjan Kobe from UQ Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences on being elected a Fellow of The Royal Society, one of the highest honours in science. 🎖️

The Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy, with fellows including Charles Darwin.

Professor Kobe, a leading figure in the structural biology of infection and immunity, is one of only three Australian researchers elected in 2026, joining an exceptional group of international scientists.

13/05/2026

SCMB’s Dr Rhys Parry explains why the Hantavirus is very different to COVID and why the ‘Andes virus’ won’t cause the next pandemic. Read more in his article in The Conversation - tinyurl.com/4seypccw.

A virus doesn’t become a pandemic simply because it’s deadly.

👉 Read the full story: https://theconversation.com/hantavirus-is-very-different-to-covid-heres-why-the-andes-virus-wont-cause-the-next-pandemic-282595

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02/05/2026

Today is International Wild Koala Day! SCMB’s Dr Michaela Blyton studies how the koala gut microbiome shapes diet and is working to create probiotic capsules. She has developed a genetic method to tell what species koalas eat, and researches koala retrovirus’ links to the chlamydia epidemic.

Read more about her work here - https://tinyurl.com/mwhc9pdp; https://tinyurl.com/4huyxfmn; https://tinyurl.com/yps5hxjk.

28/04/2026

Congratulations to the top-performing SCMB tutors (as measured by combined student and staff evaluations, where available) for second and summer semesters 2025. Pictured with Head of School James De Voss and Director of Teaching & Learning Nick West are those tutors able to attend a ceremony at which they were presented with a certificate and a $50 retail voucher.

The winners are:
· Lauren Steele for MICR3001
· Angelique Asselin for PARA3002
· Harsh*ta Rupani for BIOC6001 and BIOT3004
· Mitchell Sorbello for BIOC6001
· Claudia Yap for CHEM1100
· Marc Morris for BIOC2052/CHEM6520
· Maria Victorova for MICR3004
· Nur Anis Binti Mat Sukri for CHEM1200
· Steven Li for MICR3004
· Oliver Lindsay for CHEM3030 and CHEM3016
· Tanika Duivenvoorden for CHEM3011
· Emily Keogh for CHEM1200
· Catherine Plint for CHEM1100
· Phoebe Shaw for MICR2000
· Marise Van Der Spuy for BIOL3006/BIOL3906
· Anneka Pereira Schmidt for CHEM1200

Summer Semester
· Hamish Carlile for CHEM1200 (Summer)

07/03/2026

Today is , celebrating the achievements of women! Prof Kirsty Short interviews Emerita Prof Mary Garson on the Women in Science podcast. The podcast is produced by SCMB's A/Profs Marina Fortes and Marloes Nitert Dekker.

Listen here - http://tinyurl.com/5an8kur2

07/03/2026

Today is , celebrating the achievements of women! Prof Kirsty Short speaks with Dr Evelyne Deplazes on the Women in Science podcast. The podcast is produced by SCMB's A/Profs Marina Fortes and Marloes Nitert Dekker. Listen here - http://tinyurl.com/38p6w38h.

07/03/2026

Today is , celebrating the achievements of women! Prof Kirsty Short, A/Prof Marina Fortes & A/Prof Marloes Nitert Dekker created and produce the Women in Science podcast. A new season is on its way!

Listen here - https://tinyurl.com/mrjk52xv

07/03/2026

Today is , celebrating the achievements of women! Prof Kirsty Short interviews Prof and ADR Avril Robertson on the Women in Science podcast. The podcast is produced by SCMB's A/Profs Marina Fortes and Marloes Nitert Dekker.

Listen here - http://tinyurl.com/223dfsxa

07/03/2026

Today is , celebrating the achievements of women! Prof Kirsty Short interviews Prof & Deputy HoS Joanne Blanchfield on the Women in Science podcast. The podcast is produced by SCMB's A/Profs Marina Fortes and Marloes Nitert Dekker.

Listen here - http://tinyurl.com/5bw458pc

23/02/2026

As first semester kicks off, we welcome our new postgraduate coursework students undertaking programs in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics. Good luck all!

20/02/2026

Congraulations to SCMB's Emerita Professor Mary Garson who has made history as the new President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. She is only the 2nd Australian & 3rd woman to lead the organisation in its 105-year history. Read more here - https://tinyurl.com/yjbr9xxr