2023 Young Alumni Award
Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), 2011, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015
A rising star in the molecular biology of stress, Dr Natalie Matosin has risen to international prominence for her pioneering research illuminating the brain biology of mental illness to develop new and effective drug treatments.
Natalie is Director of MINDS, UOW’s Mental Illness, Neurobiology and Disorders of Stress Lab and is and an Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellow in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience. Her research program has uncovered more than 20 genes and proteins affected in mental illness, driving drug discovery, informing human clinical trials, and identifying novel drug targets. The program has also given rise to a spinout company developing 3D human stem cell models to fast-track drug discovery in a human-relevant model.
In just over five years post-PhD, she has published 34 highly cited articles and attracted $1.18 million in research funding. She has also secured several prestigious fellowships, including several undertaken at the world-leading Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Germany. Here, she developed highly specialised expertise and built robust international collaborations, bringing them back to Wollongong to expand the University’s research horizons and generate new publications and funding opportunities.
Natalie’s commitment to science communication is extraordinary. She reaches out to broad audiences through her blog, Instagram and Twitter feeds, shares research insights via mainstream media, and participates in a range of scientific outreach events. Notably, Natalie's TEDx talk on scientists' responsibility to engage with the public gained significant popularity, showcasing her ability to convey complex concepts in an engaging manner. She is a dedicated mentor to students and early career researchers and a vocal champion for equity and diversity, particularly regarding mothers to young children.
Natalie’s impact has been recognised with many awards, including the Forbes 30 Under 30, NSW Young Tall Poppy Award, and the Rebecca L Cooper Memorial Award. She was named a UOW Global Impact Maker and one of Women’s Agenda’s Top 15 Australian Graduates to Watch.
Dr Natalie Matosin’s stellar research track record, international profile, and commitment to science outreach are outstanding and speak to her vast potential for research impact into the future.