NSSN Ambassador receives Women in Science honour
NSSN Ambassador Dr Noushin Nasiri has been recognised for her work in nanotechnology sensing for the early detection of disease. Photo: Supplied.
NSSN Ambassador Dr Noushin Nasiri has been granted a prestigious Fellowship and valuable funding to further important research in nanotechnology as a sensing tool for detecting disease.
She is one of five exceptional female scientists in the early stages of their careers that were honoured by L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science at a ceremony in Melbourne this week.
Dr Nasiri leads NanoTech Laboratory at the School of Engineering, Macquarie University.
Her research lies at the intersection of science, technology and engineering focusing on the early-stage detection of disease through human breath analysis.
Dr Noushin is using nanotechnology to develop a new generation of cost-effective, miniaturised, yet powerful sensing technologies for recognising chemical molecules.
The funding will help design the first low-cost, portable sensing technology for the precise detection of key markers in complex gas mixtures such as human breath.
“Most of us only go to see the doctor once a year for an hour, which means that there are more than 8000 hours of the year that our health goes unchecked,” said Dr Noushin.
“Our healthcare system currently operates on a ‘sick care’ basis, meaning we are required to feel sick before we can seek treatment. But by the time we feel unwell, it is almost always too late to intervene.”
Modelled on the structure of dogs' noses, Dr Noushin’s sensors will fit on the tip of a finger, allowing for health monitoring from any location - revolutionising healthcare.
“This fellowship is a highly prestigious annual initiative with only 64 Fellows recognised in Australia and New Zealand since it was founded in 1998, and I am very honoured and humbled to be one of five recipients of this Fellowship in 2022.”
“The Fellowship comes at a perfect point in my career, as COVID-19 has been very challenging for my research.
“The recognition will give my research more visibility and will help me promote the urgent need for women in STEM within the Australian community.”
NSSN Co-Director Professor Julien Epps congratulated Dr Nasiri on being named Fellow.
“This is a highly deserved acknowledgement of Dr Nasiri’s impact and dedication to her field,” said Prof. Epps.
L’Oréal Australia and New Zealand CEO, Rodrigo Pizarro applauded the outstanding accomplishments of the Fellows.
“Each year through our For Women in Science program we see outstanding female scientists who are at the forefront of research, and yet there remains a significant global gender gap in all scientific fields,” said Pizarro.
“Through our Fellowships, we hope to bring visibility to this issue and to these exceptional women by giving them a voice.
“To tackle the challenges we face in today’s world, we need to change systemic barriers to ensure research is inclusive of all genders.”
Founded in 1998, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative has recognised 3,800 Fellows globally and 64 locally with 500 scientific experts involved in the selection worldwide.
The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), a consortium of nine leading universities across NSW and the ACT, is a not-for-profit innovation network that brings together universities, industry and government to translate world-class research into innovative smart sensing solutions that create value for NSW and beyond.