Dr Jessica Buck is using her unique training in both neuroscience and cancer to tackle the challenges of childhood brain cancer research. Brain cancer kills more Australian children than any other disease. Despite this, very little research focuses on children’s cancers, and new treatments are desperately needed to improve both survival and quality of life.

Jessica is an early career cancer researcher, specialising in finding better treatments for kids with brain cancer. In particular, since radiotherapy is an important part of treatment for childhood brain cancer, she works to find new combinations of drugs that increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy.

Jessica completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Newcastle in 2013. Following this she moved to the UK, where she completed her MSc in Neuroscience and a DPhil in Oncology in 2019 from the University of Oxford. Jessica was supported by Charlie Perkins, Chevening, and Oxford Australia scholarships, and was awarded the 2019 Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK award for her research, leadership and sporting achievements. Jessica is currently a Forrest Research Fellow in the
Brain Tumour Research Program, based at the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia.

As a Kamilaroi woman, Jessica also aims to increase the number of young Aboriginal women working in, studying, and enjoying STEM. She regularly hosts students and interns, and is involved in mentoring through the Aurora Project’s High School Program.

Dr Jessica Buck is a Superstar of STEM.