Joanna joined Macquarie in April 2024 and manages the recruitment strategy, market execution, agency partnerships, and team support for the China market.

Her first impression of Macquarie’s campus is it’s “refreshing and vibrant”, and she recommends sitting on the grassy lawn at the Central Courtyard (and duck-watching on the lake) for stress management to any prospective students. Her other advice to students is to make the most of the internships and practicums available at Macquarie to gain hands-on experience – ‘whether you plan to pursue further studies or enter the workforce, this will be a standout on your resume’.

When Joanna finds time to relax, she likes to visit recommendations from RedNote or Instagram, and she has recently fallen in love with Baduanjin (traditional Chinese fitness).

Joanna is based in Nanjing with her two dogs - a chocolate Border Collie and Poodle-mix.

Macquarie University researchers have secured significant funding from the UK's Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) to develop the world’s first synthetic plant chromosomes.

Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB), and Dr Briardo Llorente from the Australian Genome Foundry, will lead the Australian arm of this $13.2 million AUD international collaboration with University of Cambridge, The University of Western Australia, and Phytoform.

The project aims to create synthetic chromosomes that can function in living plants, enabling capabilities beyond conventional breeding or gene editing can achieve. These engineered plants could reduce agricultural water use and maintain crop yields under challenging climate conditions.

$2.24 million secured to fast-track the commercialisation of battery swap technology poised to transform drone operations

“The ability to autonomously swap a battery mid-air removes one of the biggest roadblocks in drone-based operations,” says Professor Richard Han. “It opens new doors for continuous, long-range missions without the need to land and recharge.”

The funding, awarded under Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) Innovate program, will support the University’s Autonomous Drone Battery Swap project, which addresses the battery limitations of drones by performing mid-air battery exchanges and recharges.

#MacquarieUniversity | Professor Subhas Mukhopadhyay | Dr Avishkar S. | Dr Endrowednes Kuantama | Professor Richard Han | Dr Alice James