The Career Path to Solving Brain Mysteries

Today, as a Group Leader and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Emerging Leader Fellow at The University of Queensland (UQ), Laura is at the forefront of research that explores some of the most complex and mysterious phenomena of the brain. Her work, which focuses on developmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, is reshaping our understanding of these conditions and offering hope for future breakthroughs.

Laura’s academic journey began at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, where she graduated in 2007. Reflecting on her time at the school, she admits her dedication to academics set the stage for her future career.

‘I didn’t do a lot of co-curricular activities and can remember getting to Year 12 without any pockets on my blazer. At the time, I felt like I might have missed out by not getting more involved, but in retrospect, I put everything into my classes and really loved learning.’

A natural puzzle-solver, Laura’s fascination with the brain grew during her time at Girls Grammar as she was always very interested in puzzles, brain teasers, and “solving”.

‘My interest grew stronger in secondary school through studying biology and chemistry. I realised you could take natural phenomena and find and solve rules that govern them—it seemed like the ultimate puzzle.’

Despite her early passion for science, Laura’s journey to neuroscience was not straightforward. After high school, she initially intended to pursue medicine. But in Year 11, she became seriously ill, missing significant school time, including the undergraduate test for medical admissions. She ultimately chose to study a Bachelor of Science at UQ, with the plan to sit for the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) a year later. But life threw another curveball.

‘I was offered a place to study Medicine at UQ, but in an unexpected turn of events, I had an existential crisis that made me question my expected career path. I turned down the offer to study medicine and was lucky to have exceptionally loving and understanding parents who supported my decision.’

In a serendipitous twist, a new Master’s of Neuroscience course opened at UQ, and Laura embraced the opportunity. She quickly discovered her true calling.

‘I loved it, so I stayed on and did a PhD. Now, I get to work on, and solve, puzzles of the brain every day. The moments of looking down a microscope and seeing the evidence of a discovery, or new information that confirms your hypothesis, are absolutely the best.’

Her path to research excellence has been nothing short of extraordinary. Laura has garnered numerous accolades for her work, including the prestigious Krieg Cortical Kudos Scholar Award in 2016 from The Cajal Club, one of the world’s oldest neuroscience societies. In 2019, she was named a Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award winner by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science.

As a researcher, Laura is passionate about uncovering the mysteries of the brain—an organ she believes holds endless puzzles yet to be solved.

‘The brain is so complex, and there are seemingly very basic things about it that we have no idea about—that enduring mystery and the fact that there is so much scope for solving puzzles are some of the most exciting things about what I do.’

Today, Laura leads a team of researchers at UQ, where her work is making significant contributions to the understanding of developmental disorders. Her research aims to illuminate the underlying causes of conditions such as autism and schizophrenia, with the hope that it will eventually lead to better diagnostic tools and treatments.

In 2023, Laura won a prestigious A.W. Campbell Award from the Australasian Neuroscience Society which recognises the best contribution by a member of the Society during their first five postdoctoral years.

Looking back on her journey from Girls Grammar to the forefront of scientific discovery, Laura reflects on how her career unfolded in ways she never could have predicted.

‘My involvement in science was a slow burn. But once I found my passion, everything else fell into place. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and I’m excited to continue solving the mysteries of the brain."

Through perseverance, curiosity, and a love of learning, Laura has transformed a moment of crisis into a career dedicated to unravelling some of the brain’s greatest mysteries—one puzzle at a time.