Ben M. Lawrence ESA-SRB-ANZBMS 2021

Ben M. Lawrence

Ben completed his Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Class I Honours at the University of Newcastle in 2020, studying the role of interleukin-22 in uropathogenic Escherichia Coli urinary tract infections. Ben was awarded both the Faculty Medal and the Dunkley Medal for research and academic excellence based on his Honours research project. Following this Ben received a PhD scholarship at the University of Newcastle with the Smith Lab under the supervision of Prof Lee Smith and Dr Diane Rebourcet, where he utilised a vast array of laboratory techniques to gain a further understanding of the androgen production pathways in men and how this can affect sexual development, masculinisation and fertility. In 2022, Ben was the winner of the Gail Risbridger ESA Junior Scientist Award. He is currently in the process of finalising his PhD. Ben has recently joined the Thylacine Integrated Restoration Research (TIGRR) Group at the University of Melbourne as an early career research fellow where he is exploring the development and function of placentas. His main interests are in reproductive endocrinology and placental development and function.