Meet Our Team
A multidisciplinary team spanning molecular biology, multi-host protein expression, bioprocess engineering, analytics and ISO 9001 quality management, translating Australian research from gene to clinical drug substance.
The People Behind the Science
Scientists, engineers and specialists powering biotherapeutic discovery and manufacturing
A/Prof Seth Cheetham
Seth directs the NBF facility and leads a research group aimed at developing next-generation targeted biotherapeutics. He holds a PhD in molecular genetics from the University of Cambridge.
Dr Martina Jones
Martina has a PhD from The University of Queensland in engineered antibodies. She assists researchers around Australia in using the NBF's capabilities for antibody discovery and process development.
Dr Christian Fercher
Christian designs and runs upstream production across NBF's multi-host expression platforms, with deep expertise spanning bacterial, yeast, insect and mammalian systems.
Dr Rachel Chang
Rachel has a PhD in Biochemistry and a Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation from UQ. She brings a strong track record in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement.
Kym Hoger
Kym works closely with the team in quality and project management. She brings over 20 years of experience in Phase I enabling process development.
Karen Hughes
Karen leads technology transfer at NBF and contributes deep downstream processing expertise. She brings over 20 years international experience in the development and cGMP manufacture of mammalian biologics.
Dr Justin Goh
Justin drives R&D activities across upstream processing and protein expression, with deep expertise in molecular biology, cell line development and recombinant protein production.
Alex Pinder
Alex leads the Analytics group within NBF with extensive experience in-process and release testing assays and method validation.
Ben Hughes
Ben brings over 25 years of international expertise in process development, cGMP manufacturing, and facility design for biologics.
Dr Hwee Ing Ng
Hwee Ing coordinates partnerships and projects across NBF, supporting collaboration with academic, industry and government users of the facility's protein production and biologics services.
Dr Myllena Melo
Myllena has a PhD in molecular biology and brings extensive life science skills to NBF in antibody discovery.
Dr Dalton Ngu
Dalton drives nanobody discovery campaigns, applying immunisation, library construction and selection workflows to generate high-affinity single-domain binders.
Mohit Patel
Mohit provides hands-on technical support across molecular discovery workflows, expression platforms and the UQ Resource Centre supply chain.
Dr Greeshma Ratheesh
Greeshma has a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and works at NBF as a Bioprocess Engineer in Upstream Processes.
Dr Courtney McAleese
Courtney works as part of the Upstream Processes team and has a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Dr Surekha Nimma
Surekha specialises in the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS), supporting demanding eukaryotic targets including membrane proteins and multi-subunit assemblies.
Dr Maria Soliman
Maria contributes specialist expertise across the upstream and downstream protein production pipeline, with a focus on impurity clearance, formulation development and protein characterisation.
Meena Chandar
Meena supports the protein expression team across cloning, expression screening and purification workflows.
Craig Armitage
Craig is a downstream process specialist with over 20 years of bioprocess experience from development through to large-scale cGMP manufacturing.
Olivia Van Wieren
Olivia contributes a strong background in bioscience, providing integral support across upstream and downstream processing.
Dr Hong Luo
Hong supports purification and downstream process development across the multi-host expression platforms, delivering high-purity protein for diverse research applications.
Dr Benjamin Yeo
Benjamin develops and runs purification strategies across NBF's downstream platform, with expertise in chromatographic and non-chromatographic separations.
Dr Tabassum Khair
Tabassum has a PhD in Chemical Biology with industrial and academic research experience in drug discovery and structural biology.
Dr Ritu Thapa
Ritu has a PhD in Pharmacy with research spanning small molecule and protein-based drug formulations for therapeutic development.
Danielle Yeo
Danielle supports high-quality analytical workflows for biologics development, drawing on experience in pharmacology and translational research.
Nimitha Ramachandran
Nimitha leads analytical characterisation across the protein expression platforms, including identity, purity, intact mass and integrity assessment.
Eve Radunz
Eve has a diverse background in Bioscience and brings a wealth of knowledge to downstream, analytics, and quality management.
Nigel Zin
Nigel provides broad operational support, maintaining equipment, coordinating shipping and receiving, and ensuring a quality lab environment.
Mallory Daleris
Mallory has wide-ranging biotechnology experience across recombinant protein expression, purification, and protein analytics.
