Class of 2010
Dr Ebony Monson
Young Achiever and Entrepreneur Inductee 2021
Dr Ebony Monson is a young scientist who has become an expert in virology in a relatively short time. However, her story is one that many young Loreto women can aspire to.
Unsure what to do when she graduated from Loreto College in 2010, Ebony had a passion for biology and science subjects and opted for a degree in Biological Science; trusting that continuing to focus on what she loved was the right choice. She juggled intense study, extra-curricular activities and part-time work; travelling between Melbourne and Ballarat to complete a Bachelor of Biological Science and First-Class Honours degree.
Committed to continuing her studies, Ebony received a competitive government scholarship to complete a PhD at La Trobe University in the field of virology with a focus on immune responses to viruses by cells. Ebony's research uncovered novel mechanisms by which our bodies respond to viral infections which she hopes will contribute to new antiviral treatments.
Respected by her peers and mentors, her research has been internationally acknowledged and published in multiple international journals and she has been invited to present at many international conferences, culminating in her being awarded the 2019 'Rising Star' award by the Australasian Virology Society. This prestigious award is presented to an outstanding virology PhD researcher who has made important contributions to the virology discipline and who demonstrates a strong potential to become a future leader in virology research.
Ebony continues her research exploring the intricate details of our immune system, focussing on manipulation of the enhanced immune response in therapeutics that will hopefully be effective against viral threats and potentially be useful for treating new viral outbreaks. Her research has recently been granted funding of just over $500,000 by the National Medical Funding Scheme (NHMRC) to work towards this. Ebony hopes that her research has the potential to shape novel therapeutics for viral infections; something that is all too relevant in today's world with COVID-19 being such a devastation.
Ebony now encourages and inspires the next generation of young entrepreneurial scientists, and has been acknowledged for her outstanding work as Sessional Teacher at La Trobe University. Ebony never imagined that she would be able to have such a lasting and positive impact on the careers of others and continues to encourage and inspire the next generation of young scientists.
Current as at 08/02/2021