Dr Onisha Patel is a Business Development Manager at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, helping scientists take their innovations beyond the lab through commercialisation, funding, and industry partnerships. Her experience spans drug development in a biotech startup, academic research, and business development. As a structural biologist in a biotech startup, Onisha contributed to the structure‑based drug design of Momelotinib, now approved by the FDA for myelofibrosis. In academia, Onisha led the structural biology program on immune receptors that was critical to discovering a novel immune cell function, which led to the 2013 Eureka Prize for Scientific Research. This discovery also enabled the development of detection reagents now distributed by the NIH.

In addition to her role, Onisha has contributed to the startup ecosystem as a connector, mentor, and student coach. She grew up in India and moved to Australia to pursue a scientific career, inspired by Kiran Mazumdar‑Shaw, CEO of Biocon. Onisha’s love for science began in art, which taught her observation and experimentation. She is a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion in STEM and believes people with varied passions can thrive in science. She has contributed to STEM education through school and university mentoring and by developing an inquiry‑based STEAM program with the Protein Data Bank Europe. In her free time, she creates art that blends science and creativity and exhibits her work in galleries.

Dr Onisha Patel is a Superstar of STEM.