Emily Gao
Adelaide,SA
Summary
Dynamic Specialist with over 4 years of industrial project management experience, bringing proven success in project planning, data collection and analysis, engagement in interdisciplinary collaborations, report/paper writing, and market analysis to support the translation of research outcomes. Passionate about delivering excellent commercialization support to the research community with superior technical knowledge in nano-biointerfacial chemistry, inorganic porous materials, nano-biohybrids, biocatalysis, nanomedicine, and drug delivery.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Adelaide
2023.01 - Current
- Led multiple ARC/NHMRC/Industry funded projects focused on advanced formulations for mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccines and cancer therapeutic nanoplatforms in a multidisciplinary environment within strict deadlines
- Conducted regular updates and reporting to stakeholders about project progress, challenges, and changes, while establishing feedback loops that allow stakeholders to provide ongoing input into the project
- Wrote project progress reports, research papers, and funding proposals
- Conducted safety checks, oversaw chemical storage, and coordinated lab supply orders, ensuring a safe and efficient research environment
- Liaised with the university's patent department for patent filings, application process, and compliance assurance with institutional requirements
- Engaged with industry partners for rigorous testing and potential commercialization opportunities for research outcomes.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Merck Innovation Program, Swiss Federal Institute Of Technology Lausanne
2020.07 - 2022.10
- Managed industrial project on novel biocompatible materials for gene therapy in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams funded by Merck & Co
- Organized regular industrial stakeholder meetings that serve as platforms for discussion, decision-making, and alignment
- Delivered tailored technical and strategic support to industrial stakeholders, while coordinating with team members and external stakeholders to ensure effective communication under tight deadlines and conflicting demands
- Performed market research to determine the gap and potential market for the products
- Managed data processing, composed reports, and delivered presentations to stakeholders
- Participated in budget management to guarantee efficient resource distribution according to the faculty's policies and procedures
- Interacted with industrial stakeholders and presented results to facilitate workflow improvement and research translation.
Education
Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering -
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Dean's Award06.2020
M. Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering -
University of Hong Kong (HKU)
12.2015
Skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Matlab, Image J, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, GraphPad Prism, Origin, and ARC/NHMRC/ANSTO funding application systems.
Grant Securing
Report/Proposal Writing
Public Presentation
Activity/Event Organization
Industrial Project Management
Budget Development
Academic Publication
Mentoring and Training
Adapt Learning
Problem Solving
Interdisciplinary Coordination
Teamwork and Collaboration
Proactive Communication
Industial Project Management
- Led the Bio-hybrid mRNA Lipid Nanoparticle Vaccines project in collaboration with BioCina (2023-2024);
- Led an international Merck & Co.-funded project by developing biocompatible porous materials for CRISPR/Cas9 medicated gene therapy (2020-2022);
- Managed an industrial project on cellulose fiber materials modification funded by the Hong Kong paper manufacturing company (2016);
- Directed an entrepreneurial team to establish Yantai Jinhang Leather Studio in collaboration with Yantai Leather and Protein Research Center, securing funding from the Yantai Startup Entrepreneurship Program (2012-2013).
Awards
- Dean's Award for Outstanding PhD Thesis, UNSW (Top 3%, 2020);
- Best Presentation Award in Postgraduate Research Symposium, UNSW (Top 5%, 2019);
- Australia International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2016);
- The first prize in the 3rd National College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest (Top 0.1%, 2013).
References
- Prof. Vicki Chen (FTSE, Australia), Vicki.Chen@uts.edu.au
- A. Prof. Jingwei Hou, jingwei.hou@uq.edu.au
Accomplishments
- Publications: Six first/co-first-author top-tier articles and a book chapter, attracting over 750 citations;
- Grants: Grant Proposal Reviewer of Australian Synchrotron SAXS/WAXS; Led and participated in over 15 grants funded by ARC, NHMRC, and ANSTO.
- Conference Presentations: Presented at over 8 international conferences, including the 9th and 10th International Nanomedicine Conferences, the International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, etc.
Timeline
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Adelaide
2023.01 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Merck Innovation Program, Swiss Federal Institute Of Technology Lausanne
2020.07 - 2022.10
Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering -
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
M. Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering -
University of Hong Kong (HKU)
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