26 November 2025
Designing DNA origami to reprogram cells and revolutionise medicine
From exploring the world through snorkelling in Karratha and expeditions in Antarctica, to leading international science summits and presenting at TEDx, Jessica’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Her fascination with the microscopic world led her to nanotechnology, where she now engineers DNA origami—precisely folded DNA structures that can interact with cells in remarkable ways.
Jessica’s research harnesses these nanoscale tools to reprogram cells and deepen our understanding of biology, enabling transformative applications ranging from improved regenerative medicine to personalised therapies. By mapping how this DNA origami behaves inside cells, she aims to engineer smarter medical treatments.
Her work has already led to patents and publications in top-tier journals, including Nature Communications and Nature Nanotechnology, and she’s been recognised with prestigious fellowships including the NHMRC Emerging Leader, ARC DECRA, Humboldt Fellowship, and Fulbright Scholar as the flagship prestigious programs for Germany and the US respectively. But for Jessica, the real reward is seeing science spark curiosity—especially in young minds from rural
and underrepresented communities, where she regularly leads outreach programs.
Outside of her research, Jessica is deeply passionate about mentoring younger women in STEMM and actively leads a team of two PhD students and five master's students.