Lynn is fascinated with the sense of smell (olfactory system). Did you know, the olfactory system, which is a part of your nervous system constantly regenerates (even after an injury)? This is quite different from the spinal cord, where the nerves can't repair themselves when injured. Lynn worked as a research assistant at Griffith University, investigating transplantation of olfactory cells to treat spinal cord injuries.

The olfactory system (in the roof of your nose) also directly connects the outside world to your brain. During her PhD, Lynn studied how pathogenic bacteria travels from your nose into your brain using the olfactory nerve.

Lynn now works as a postdoctoral researcher at CSIRO, growing the inside of the nose in a dish. She uses these complex models to understand how viral infections start and spreads from the nose. She also develops innovative strategies to stop these infections inside the nose.

Lynn is a passionate science communicator. She was awarded the ABC TOP 5 Science Award in 2023 and wrote a digital piece on how our noses act as a portal into the brain. Lynn also loves inspiring the next generation to pursue a career in STEM volunteering as mentor with Ecolinc Australia.