Group members

Tracey Luu completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Melbourne in 2017. Her research project was with Dr. Yuning Hong on the synthesis of a cysteine-reactive fluorescent dye for detecting unfolded proteins in cells. She continued her research under Dr. Yuning Hong at La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science in late 2016. Tracey also went on to complete her Master of Biochemical Engineering degree at the University of Melbourne in 2020, where her focus was on the use of antibodies in current drug delivery systems. Now, she is currently undertaking her PhD in Dr Manuela Jörg’s group at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is co-supervised by Dr James Knight at Newcastle University. Her research mainly focuses on the development of fluorescently labelled pharmacological tools, specifically the development of bivalent probes. Beyond her academic life, Tracey enjoys listening to music, doing media work and taking scenery photos.

Katie Gristwood received the degree of Masters of Biological Sciences with Hons in Human Biology & Anatomy at the University of Liverpool in 2020. During her masters, Katie specialised in radiobiology and molecular cancer research. She is currently pursuing a PhD on the topic of Cerenkov radiation and photoactivatable compounds as cancer therapeutics. In her spare time Katie enjoys attending music concerts, taking on crocheting projects and spending time with her chinchillas.

Find out more about Katie’s work here.

Toni Pringle received the degree of Master of Chemistry with Hons in Medicinal Chemistry at Newcastle University in 2019. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Chemistry which is also at Newcastle. In her spare time Toni enjoys the outdoors, pursuing hobbies such as sailing, snowboarding and hiking in the Lake District. She is also currently eagerly learning to paraglide.

Inga Sirbu received the degree of Master in Environmental Sciences from the University of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in a collaborative Program with the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian Federation in 2010. She worked for 3 years as a senior nuclear and radiation protection inspector of the National Agency on Regulation of Nuclear and Radiological Activities, the regulatory body from Republic of Moldova. She is currently pursuing a PhD on the topic of Imaging Soil-Water Processes at Newcastle University. In her spare time Inga likes cross-stitching and visiting historical places with her family.

Find out more about Inga’s work here.