School of Chemistry
Download/print as PDF

 Brianna Thompson

Brianna attended the Wollongong High School of Performing Arts. In year 11 and 12 she completed 3U Maths, 2U English (Advanced), 3U Legal Studies, 2U Chemistry, 2U Biology.

Now after completing a science degree at the University of Wollongong she is in her first year of a PhD at the Intelligent Polymers Research Institute (part of the Department of Chemistry).

 

Brianna Thompson

Why did you choose to study science?

I always liked Science subjects at school, and in legal studies we looked at some of the legal and social aspects of biotechnology. I didn’t like the legal side, but I realised I did like the science that we were looking at. HSC Biology was quite easy, so I decided that Biotechnology or Medicinal Chemistry was what I wanted to do at University.

What is your Research Project?

I am currently studying the Controlled Release of Neurotrophins from Conducting Polymers – depending on how my research goes over the next two years, I will also do some work on biofuel cells (fuel cells which work using a biological mediator to make electricity).

Do you get paid?

I am mostly funded by the government, under an Australian Postgraduate Award through the University. But as a PhD student within IPRI, I also receive a top-up scholarship from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science.

What are you trying to achieve?

We want to use a polymer that can conduct electricity (polypyrrole) to release nerve growth factors when we electrically stimulate it. The point of this is to encourage nerve cell growth towards bionic devices, such as the Bionic Ear.

 

Is it exciting?

It is VERY exciting, because we are working with people from the Bionic Ear Institute to improve the way that the Bionic Ear works, and help people to hear who otherwise would not be able to. In a broader sense, the technology may be applicable to other implantable bionic devices – we are paving the way to integrate man-made devices with the nervous system. I think that’s pretty exciting!

cell

Rat auditory nerve cell body seeded onto polpyrrole containing nerve growth factor.

What are you enjoying most about it?

The people within the Department of Chemistry, and my research group at IPRI, are incredibly friendly – there is a lot of socialising as well as a lot of good science. And when your experiments work well it is a pretty good feeling to think that you have discovered something that no one else knows.

What has been the most memorable moment?

My “awesomiest” moment is probably when I met Graeme Clark (who invented the Bionic Ear) for the first time. It was pretty cool meeting someone who has his own exhibit in the Powerhouse museum, and now I share an office with him!

 

fibroblast

Fibroblast cell growing on polpyrrole polymer

Why would you encourage others to get involved in science and research?

If you want to be interested by what you do every day, there is no better job than science research. You answer questions to things that most people don’t know on a daily basis, and everyone wants you on their Trivia team.

Where to next?

I love being on the interface between biology and chemistry so in 5 years I would really like to still be doing research that incorporates both areas.

Last reviewed: 7 May, 2007