DrAlexandra Dvorscek

Dr Alexandra (Ali) Dvorscek is a Research Associate in the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. Working in the lab of Dr Ryan Thwaites, Ali is currently investigating the immune response to influenza, to better understand how we can improve vaccination and infection outcomes.

Ali completed her PhD at Monash University, Australia, under the supervision of Dr Isaak Quast and Prof David Tarlinton, where she investigated factors that regulate successful antibody production and immune memory formation. Her work at Monash led to a number of publications, including two first-author papers (Immunity 2024, EMBO Reports 2022), as well as numerous awards, including the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) New Investigator Award 2023, sponsored by Pfizer.

Ali has a strong interest in fostering collaboration and a supportive network among immunologists, evidenced by her engagement in numerous committees and representative roles. Ali was one of the founders and organisers of the ASI Mentor-Mentee Program, a program dedicated to providing mentoring opportunities to early career researchers, and continues to facilitate the program. Additionally, Ali was named one of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TOP 5 SCIENCE researchers for 2024, in which she undertook a media residency at the ABC, training in science communication and networking with some of Australia’s top science journalists.