Dr Jennifer Fifita
Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Dr Jenn Fifita completed her PhD in 2017, studying the genetic origins of motor neuron disease at The Centre for MND Research at Macqurie University. Her pursual of a greater understanding of the genetic landscape of this neurodegenerative disease began in 2009 as a Research Assistant, and she has dedicated an over 15 year career to this endevour. She has built a strong research track record, having secured competitve funding, publishing in high impact journals including Nature Communications, and international and national collaborations.
Jenn has a strong interest in research support activities. This includes a passion for mentoring junior staff and students, involvement in ECR training and events and involvement in Research Centre and university working groups.
She has a particular interest in strategic review of grant applications, as well as supporting HDR student training and career development, and mentoring junior ECRs on the transition from student to independant researcher.
Outside the office, Jenn spends time with her family inlcuding two young daughters. She loves arts and crafts, reading, music and musicals and endevours to make more time for these activities in the day to day life as a working mum.
Jenn is a keen HDR supervisor, passionate about supporting her students to ensure their success. She has supervised both Masters and PhD students to completion, with excellent outcomes including thesis by publication, thesis acceptance with minimal to no corrections, and award of HDR excellence achievements.