Aswathi Gopalakrishnan

Dr. Aswathi Gopalakrishnan is a dedicated bioengineer specializing in human stem cell-based disease models. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, she is working under the guidance of Prof. Stefan Thor and A/Prof. Michael Piper. Her research focuses on developing human hypothalamic organoid models to understand sleep and circadian disturbances in neurodegenerative disorders. With hands-on experience in tissue engineering and a deep understanding of cGMP protocols, Dr. Gopalakrishnan excels in optimizing tissue functionality and designing innovative research models.

Before her current role, Dr. Gopalakrishnan served as a Research Officer at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, where she was involved in generating mesenchymal lineage cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). During her doctoral research at the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, she developed an in vitro cardiac aging model using hiPSCs and specialized in 3D bioprinting of cardiac tissue. As an academic at UQ, Aswathi has also designed and delivered lectures, tutorials, laboratory practical lectures, and supervised assessments, contributing to the holistic growth of aspiring bioengineers.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan's academic journey is decorated with notable achievements, including the AIBN HDR International Travel Award (2022), The University of Queensland Career Development Award (2022), and the Wonder of Science Young Science Ambassador Award (2022). She holds an M.Tech in Molecular Medicine from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and a B.Tech in Biotechnology from the National Institute of Technology Calicut. She is a QLD ECR representative for the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE). Dr. Gopalakrishnan’s contributions to stem cell culture platforms and cardiac tissue engineering have been published in reputable journals, underscoring her commitment to advancing biomedical sciences.