Stephanie Gras
Lab Head
NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
Associate Professor Stephanie Gras is a Laboratory Head and NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at Monash University within the Biomedicine Discovery Institute. She is leading a laboratory of 10 members (staff and students) working on the T cell response towards infections with a primary focus on HIV and influenza. After a PhD in France focused on Structural Biology and T cells, she moved to Australia in 2007 to join Prof. Rossjohn lab at Monash University. A decade later she has established her research group focused on the understanding of the molecular mechanism and key event of an effective immune response.
She has successfully secured funding from both the ARC and NHMRC to support her lab, as well as been awarded the Dean’s award for Early Career researcher, and the Georgina Sweet Award for Women in Quantitative Biomedical Science. Stephanie has also been extremely successful at presenting her work at both national and international meeting, as well as publishing her research in high profile journals such as Nature, Nature Immunology, Immunity and Science Immunology. Stephanie has a passion for science and love to communicate with the scientific community as well as the public about her exciting findings.
For more details on Stephanie’s CV follow the link
To read Stephanie’s publications follow the link
@GrasLab
Emma Grant
Research Fellow
NHMRC Early Career Fellow
Dr Emma Grant is an NHMRC Early Career Fellow working at Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Dr Grant completed her PhD studies, “Understanding immune responses to Influenza viruses” in 2015 at Melbourne University under the supervision of Prof. Katherine Kedzierska. Following her PhD, she was awarded an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship, undertaking her first 2 years at Cardiff University in Wales, UK, under the mentorship or Prof. David Price. She has since returned to work at Monash University, firstly within the Rossjohn Laboratory under Prof. Jamie Rossjohn, and more recently in the newly established Gras laboratory under the mentorship of A/Prof. Stephanie Gras. Her interests remain within anti-viral immunity and her research focuses on understanding key correlates of immune protection against different viral infections.
For more details on Emma’s CV follow the link
To read Emma’s publications follow the link
Dimitra Chatzileontiadou
Research Fellow
Dimitra is a postdoctoral research fellow working at Monash University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace in Greece, and moved to the University of Thessaly in Greece to do her Master of Science on Molecular Biology and Genetics applications – diagnostic markers, in the Structural and Functional Biochemistry laboratory, at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology under the supervision of A/Prof. Nikolaos Balatsos. Following her Master’s degree she completed her doctoral studies in the same laboratory performing biochemical studies on human Angiogenin under the supervision of Prof. Demetrios Leonidas. She was then awarded an IKY Fellowship for excellence of postgraduate studies in Greece – SIEMENS program 2017, as a research fellow in the same laboratory. Dimitra then moved to Australia to work at Monash University, firstly within the Rossjohn Laboratory under Prof. Jamie Rossjohn, and more recently in the newly established Gras laboratory under the mentorship of A/Prof. Stephanie Gras.
Dimitra is currently working on the field of anti-viral immunity using multisdisciplinary approaches, including biochemistry, molecular biology, crystallography and cellular/functional assays, in order to understand the immune system actions when facing with viral infections.
For more details on Dimitra’s CV follow the link
To read Dimitra’s publications follow the link
Christopher Szeto
Research Fellow
Christopher is a postdoctoral research fellow working at Monash University, Clayton, Australia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours from Monash University and went on to complete his doctoral studies in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2016. Following this, he began work with the Rossjohn Lab under the guidance of A/Prof Stephanie Gras for two years and later moved to join Stephanie Gras’ team in her new structural immunology lab.
Christopher is working on various projects related to the influenza virus with particular interest in the biochemical and structural aspects of immunity.
For more details on Chris’ CV follow the link
To read Chris’ publications follow the link
@ChorizoSzeto
Dhilshan Jayasinghe
Research Assistant
Dhilshan Jayasinghe is a Senior Research Assistant working at Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Dhilshan completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University in 2014. He then completed an Honours degree at the Hudson Institute, investigating a cancer induced mouse model “MYC overexpression drives distinct subsets of Small Cell Lung Cancer”. Following this Dhilshan was employed within the Rossjohn Laboratory in Stephanie Gras’ team. Recently Dhilshan has recently moved to work in A/Prof Stephanie Gras’ newly established lab. Dhilshan specialises in protein expression in both mammalian and bacterial systems, purification and crystallography techniques.
Outside the lab Dhilshan is an avid cricket fan, supporting Sri Lanka. He is also into many health and fitness activities, and enjoys going to the gym.
For more details on Dhilshan’s CV follow the link
To read Dhilshan’s publications follow the link
@djayy_93
Andrea Nguyen
PhD student
Andrea is a first year PhD student at Monash University investigating new influenza epitopes. Andrea completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) at La Trobe University in 2016. Following her studies, she worked as a research assistant with Stephanie in the laboratory of Professor Rossjohn at Monash University studying influenza using various biochemistry techniques.
She was awarded a Monash University Biomedicine Discovery Scholarship in 2019 to support her PhD studies in the Gras Lab.
For more details on Andrea’s CV follow the link
To read Andrea’s publications follow the link
@AndreaTNguyen
Christian Lobos
PhD student
Chris’ bio is in progress
Chris Lobos is a first year PhD student in the newly-established Gras Laboratory. Previously, Chris completed a Master’s Degree in Biomedicine and Health Sciences at Monash University in mid-2018. During the research component of his degree, he was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Stephanie Gras while undertaking a research project, titled “An investigation of the T cell mediated response to HIV infection”. Following his studies, Chris worked as a research assistant in the Rossjohn Laboratory in Stephanie Gras’ team. Chris was awarded a Monash University Biomedicine Discovery Scholarship in 2019.
Chris’ research interests revolve around anti-viral immunity and HIV.
Outside the lab, Chris enjoys live music, spending time with his friends and family, and a well-made drink.
For more details on Chris’ CV follow the link
To read Chris’ publications follow the link
@dollarstoreDR
Hannah Sloane
Honours student
Hannah Sloane is currently undertaking her Honours year under the supervision of A/Prof Stephanie Gras in the newly established Gras Laboratory. Prior to undertaking Honours, Hannah completed her Bachelor of Science with a double major in Immunology and Microbiology at Monash University. During 2018, Hannah participated in the Global Leadership and Advanced Research Program (GLARP), run by the Centre for undergraduate Research and International Engagement (CURIE), and undertook a research project, titled “An investigation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen presentation” under the supervision of A/Prof Stephanie Gras, in the Rossjohn Laboratory.
Hannah’s research interests centre on bacterial and viral pathogenesis and the host’s subsequent immune response
For more details on Hannah’s CV follow the link
@HannahSloaneii