Dr Katie Ashton

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 2009
• Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)(Honours), University of Newcastle, 2004
• Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology), University of Newcastle, 2003

Research

Research keywords

• Cancer Genetics
• Endometrial Cancer
• Gene Expression Profiling
• HNPCC
• Melanoma
• Mutations
• Polymorphisms
• Skin Cancer
• UV-light Radiation

Research expertise

Molecular genetics and pathology of cancer.

Collaboration

The molecular mechanisms of UV-light induced skin cancers

Base excision repair in melanoma

Nucleotide excision repair in melanoma

Genetic variation and endometrial cancer risk

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery and Information-Based Medicine

Group

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member - American Association for Cancer Research
• Member - Australian Society for Medical Research
• Member - Australasian Microarray and Associated Technologies Association
• Member - Human Genetics Society of Australasia
• Hunter Medical Research Institute Cancer Research Program Seminar Day Coordinator

Awards

Distinction.

2003	Faculty of Science and Information Technology Commendation List for Outstanding Achievement University of Newcastle (Australia) Placement on Faculty of Science and Information Technology Commendation List for Outstanding Achievement.

Research Award.

2010	HMRI PULSE Education Prize Hunter Medical Research Institute (Australia) Attendance at 101st American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, USA
2008	HMRI Bogner Cancer Research Fellow Hunter Medical Research Institute (Australia) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
2006	HMRI Jennie Thomas Special Competitive Research Fund for Early Career Researchers in Cancer Hunter Medical Research Institute (Australia) Support for a PhD student to undertake part of their thesis work in a collaborating laboratory/institute outside of Newcastle. The research was performed for 6 months at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany under the supervision of Professor Ute Hamann.
2005	Australian Postgraduate Award University of Newcastle (Australia) Support for PhD studies

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

2009 - HMRI New Building Lab Coordinator

I represented the Information-Based Medicine group at the HMRI new building meetings for the design of the laboratory space.

2009 - Mentor/Mentee Program

This program was introduced at the beginning of 2009 to improve mentoring within the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Australia. I was involved as a mentee within this program and was assigned a mentor who was a senior researcher within the school.

2008 - Interviewed by the Newcastle Herald

"Out of School" Success Story

The title of the article was "Cancer Crusader" which outlined my development into a successful cancer researcher in the Hunter Region.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Bioinformatics
• Genetics

Teaching expertise

Student Supervision

• University of Newcastle, Australia

Bachelor of Biotechnology (1 Student)

Research Assistant

July 2008 - current

• University of Newcastle, Australia

Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (2 Students)

Work Experience and Student Placement (HUBS3409)

December 2008 - February 2009 and July 2009 - November 2009

• University of Tromsø, Norway

Master of Pharmacy (2 Exchange Students)

6 month research project to complete their studies

November 2008 - May 2009

Casual Academic

• Computer Lab Tutor

§ HUBS2409

Introduction to Online Databases

July 2008

§ HUBS1202

Human Genomics

September 2009 - November 2009

Teaching interests

• Bioinformatics
• Genetics

Programs

• Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences

Courses

• HUBS1202 - Human Genomics
• HUBS2409 - Introduction to Online Databases