Hudson profile Kimberly D'Costa

Kimberley D'CostaCentre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases (CiiiD)

Research Group: Gastrointestinal infection and inflammation laboratory

Supervisor: A/Prof Richard Ferrero

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy, 3rd year

Area of Study: Effect of Helicobacter pylori interactions with host epithelial cells on inflammation and disease

What do you hope to achieve as a researcher?

To enhance knowledge in the field of infectious diseases and hopefully provide a potential diagnostic or therapeutic option for patients.

What are the potential clinical benefits of your research?

By contributing to the field of Helicobacter pylori, we can better understand how it persists in humans and what causes gastric carcinogenesis to enable early detection of infection and more treatment options.

What do you enjoy about your research?

The opportunity to constantly learn new things with an aim to help society. It also sharpens my problem solving skills and keeps me motivated.

What is life like as a student at Hudson Institute?

Being a part of a smaller group of like-minded individuals enables you to make friends easily and grow a support/peer network.There are numerous social opportunities for networking - not only other students but also post-doctoral researchers and laboratory heads.Being an active member of the Hudson Institute Student Society (HISS) has helped me to foster friendships while nurturing leadership, communication and organisational skills.

What has been a student at Hudson Institute helped you achieve?

It has helped me grow as a basic research scientist while also exposing me to the importance of clinical and translational research. The proximity to the Monash Medical Centre and interaction with clinicians has also helped.I have also enhanced my knowledge about different research areas by attending at seminars, usually given by world renowned speakers.There is also a strong focus on students presenting their research which has significantly improved my ability to analyse and synthesise my data as well as communicate my research.

Describe a typical day in the lab...

Continuing a series of thought out experiments to answer specific aims, analyse data generated, attend meetings/seminars and most days have some spare time to catch up with colleagues for coffee/lunch.

Why did you choose Hudson Institute?

The research interests of CiiiD and Hudson Institute in general aligned with my personal scientific ambitions. It offered me a different work/research environment from what I had experienced as an undergraduate student.