Joel is an expert in the field of proteomics; this field aims to study the proteins of cells to understand functional biology. His PhD focused on how environmental factors could be leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He has performed research collaborations across many institutions such as NSW Department of Primary Industries, the University of Sydney, and the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG).
Joel’s Fulbright Future Scholarship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Caltech) will be aimed at investigating microbes that can survive on cleanroom surfaces and survive interplanetary atmospheric entry. These extreme condition tolerant microbes have unique biology that needs to be understood. This project will bring together several research groups from Australia and the United States, building enduring relationships that will have an impact on the future of space exploration.