Matilda Handsley-Davis

Ms Matilda Handsley-Davis

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

PhD Candidate

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Matilda is a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), supervised by A/Prof. Laura Weyrich, Prof. Emma Kowal and Prof. Lisa Jamieson. Her research project is multidisciplinary, with a focus on understanding oral microbial communities (microbiomes) and oral health in Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, as well as the ethical implications of microbiome research for Indigenous peoples. Matilda is also a research assistant and member of the Organising Committee for Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics (SING) Australia (www.singaustralia.org).

Matilda was awarded a Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship for her PhD in 2018 and is an alumna of the Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics Sherwin B. Nuland Summer Institute in Bioethics. She is also an editor and contributor at Collage, an Adelaide-based arts and culture online publication (www.collageadelaide.com).

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2018 - ongoing Research Assistant Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics (SING) Australia
    2017 - 2018 Casual manuscript preparation University of Adelaide
    2017 - 2019 Writing Mentor University of Adelaide
    2017 - 2017 Policy Intern Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA)
    2017 - 2018 Tutor Flinders University

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2019 Award Best Research Poster University of Adelaide School of Biological Sciences Australia
    2018 Scholarship Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship Westpac Scholars Trust Australia $101,185
    2018 Scholarship Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Australian Government Australia
    2016 Award Best Honours Presentation University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 Scholarship University of Adelaide Summer Research Scholarship University of Adelaide Department of History Australia $1000
    2014 Award Lynda Tapp Prize University of Adelaide Australia
    2014 Scholarship Australian National University Summer Scholarship ANU School of History Australia $1200
    2013 Award Frederic S. Zuckerman Prize University of Adelaide Australia
    2012 Award Natalia Davies Prize University of Adelaide Australia

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    French Can read, write and understand spoken

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2018 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    2016 - 2016 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours)
    2012 - 2015 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Arts
    2012 - 2015 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science

  • Research Interests
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Information and Knowledge Systems Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Management Bioethics Ethical Use of New Technology Microbiology
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