Anna Gemmell

Dr Anna Gemmell is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland (UQ). She obtained her PhD in Polymer Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering from UQ in 2020 within the Centre for Advanced Imaging and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology under the supervision of Professor Kristofer Thurecht for her work designing and investigating the in vivo application of next-generation polymeric cancer nanomedicines using an advanced molecular imaging approaches in pre-clinical models. Her work was recognised by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Polymer Division with the Treloar Prize for outstanding oral presentation at the 37th Australasian Polymer Symposium in 2019.

Her expertise lies in the field of polymer chemistry and the design of 'smart' materials capable of responding to environmental cues to inform and improve performance in biomedical applications. Building on her first postdoctoral position where she worked on the development of sustainable, bio-degradable polymers for advancing the chemical and material properties of medical textiles funded through an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship, Dr Gemmell is currently working on an industry-tied project to develop biomolecule separation membranes.

Dr. Gemmell also has a strong background in research administration and has gained valuable experience in the development and management of competitive research grant funding within the tertiary education sector. She has worked as a Research Administration Officer for over 12 months, where she developed her skills in project management, critial review of grantsmanship, elegibility and compliance, reporting processes, and gained an understanding of the funding landscape within Australia.

In addition to her research, Dr. Gemmell is dedicated to encouraging and enabling the next generation of STEM researchers from all walks of life. She is actively engaged in undergraduate teaching and has played a leadership role in numerous committees. As an early-career academic, she is deeply committed to advocating for positive change in the research environment for gender and cultural equity and diversity, and for improving mental health and well-being.