Kate Kearney RSBS PhD Student

Kate majored in genetics and did her Honours project in Cell Biology at the University of Melbourne. Kate had heard that Professor Saint, in the Molecular Genetics & Evolution Group at RSBS had an excellent reputation, both as a researcher and a supervisor. After visiting the lab, this was confirmed. “Everyone was very enthusiastic about the lab and the work. I am really interested in developmental biology and genetics, and these were combined well in the research area of the lab”, Kate says.

Kate joined RSBS and commenced her PhD in 2004. “I’m trying to establish whether a particular domain of a particular gene has a role in the development of Drosophila Melanogaster (vinegar fly) embryos. I’m using targeted homologous recombination to replace a copy of that gene, with one that is missing the domain of interest. I’ll be able to then look at homozygous mutant embryos and determine what, if any, processes in development are disrupted. My project will involve a technique that hasn't been done yet, replacing a copy of a gene, in its genomic location, with a mutated version, via targeted homologous recombination.”

“I’m doing my PhD for a number of reasons. The foremost: being a desire to direct my own research. The silliest: to be able to call myself Dr, and to get that floppy hat for graduation”, Kate says.

Upon graduation Kate’s first aim is to live in the same city as her partner. “We’ve been living in different cities for the last 2.5 years. He’s doing his PhD in computer science at Monash University”, Kate says. “Then in terms of my career, I’d like to work somewhere in Europe, doing similar research in the field of developmental biology. I’d also like to get some experience with teaching at a university level.”

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