QUBIC is excited to announce the addition of Emma De Costa to the team. Emma has started on her PhD journey in our Brain Theme under the mentorship of Prof. Lezanne Ooi and Prof. Haibo Yu, in collaboration with Prof. Youngchan Kim and Prof. Marco Sacchi, from the University of Surrey. Emma is the recipient of the University of Wollongong / University of Surrey Joint-Dual Degree PhD Scholarship.

Her research focuses on TDP-43, a protein strongly linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Emma aims to investigate how disease and structure-linked mutations affect TDP-43 aggregation kinetics and phase separation behaviour, using novel quantum tools as well as techniques like Brillouin light scattering microscopy.

“Traditional biophysical methods often lack the sensitivity and resolution to capture real-time processes.” says Emma. “By collaborating across QUBIC teams, we’re using quantum sensing techniques, and Brillouin light scattering microscopy to overcome these challenges. This will help us understand how specific mutations affect TDP-43 dysfunction and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.”

Emma’s path to science was unconventional. Initially enrolled in Science Education, she discovered her true passion lay in the science itself, so she switched to a Bachelor of Science, where she completed her Honours year researching Parkinson’s disease.

Emma finds immense reward in the collaborative and communicative aspects of science. She values the supportive community at the University of Wollongong where she’s based. Her colleagues’ humour and dedication make every day in the lab worthwhile.

A strong advocate for diversity in science, Emma encourages young people to pursue their interests regardless of background or challenges. She believes science offers diverse opportunities, from technology and coding to fieldwork and data analytics.

QUBIC is thrilled to have Emma on board, and we look forward to her contributions to neurodegenerative disease research!