Dr Setoh Yin Xiang
2009–2012 (PhD)
- Medical Lead for Vaccines (Takeda Pharmaceuticals)
- Adj. Associate Professor (The University of Queensland)
- Adj. Assistant Professor (National University of Singapore)
People
Principal investigators, postdoctoral researchers, students and visiting scientists at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, UQ.
Principal Investigator
I began my career in industry with AGEN Biomedical, where I spent nearly a decade working across manufacturing, product development and research. This experience gave me a strong foundation in translating science into practical diagnostic tools.
I completed my PhD in 2010 with the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease and am now an Associate Professor at The University of Queensland. My research focuses on mosquito-borne virus discovery and the development of innovative vaccine and diagnostic platforms.
I have helped uncover and characterise multiple new mosquito-associated viruses and developed high-throughput, antigen-independent assays and monoclonal antibody panels to support virus discovery.
More recently, my work harnesses insect-specific viruses to design safe, next-generation vaccines and diagnostics for pathogenic viruses, translating fundamental virology into practical public health solutions.
Principal Investigator
I completed my BSc (Hons) at The University of Queensland and began my research career working on mosquito-borne viruses, later undertaking a PhD through James Cook University.
After several years at The University of Western Australia, I returned to UQ in 1995 and am now Emeritus Professor of Virology and a founding member of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre.
My research has focused on understanding the structure and function of flavivirus proteins and how they contribute to viral pathogenesis, with the goal of identifying targets for antivirals, vaccines and diagnostics. This work spans globally important pathogens, including Zika virus, West Nile virus and Chikungunya virus.
A parallel theme of my research is viral ecology and epidemiology, including the isolation and genetic characterisation of new arthropod-borne viruses in Australia. These studies have driven the development of improved surveillance strategies, novel diagnostic reagents and recombinant platforms for producing safe and effective vaccines.
Dr. Jessica J. Harrison
ARC DECRA Fellow
Jess is a molecular virologist developing innovative vaccine and diagnostic platforms for mosquito-borne viruses. She co-developed the BinJV recombinant platform and helped advance the MAVRIC virus discovery pipeline, technologies now embedded in national and international surveillance programs. Her research has been published in leading journals, including Science Translational Medicine, Nature Communications, and Science Advances. She mentors a diverse cohort of higher-degree students and manages high-containment PC2/PC3 laboratories, combining translational research with hands-on leadership.
Dr. Henry de Malmanche
Postdoctoral Researcher
Henry is a biotechnology specialist who spends his days growing and engineering viruses (safely) using insect cell culture to help build next-gen vaccines. He likes playing around with bioprocessing and figuring out how to turn clever virology into a scalable manufacturing system to turbocharge translation of the ISVac™ platform. Outside the lab, he paints abstract art and loves to read books.
Dr. Ryan A. Johnston
Postdoctoral Researcher
Bio coming soon
Christopher Ang
PhD Candidate
Hi! I’m Chris, and I started my PhD in the Peters Lab in 2024 after working on arbovirus discovery and dengue virus reverse genetics under the supervision of Dr Setoh Yin Xiang in Singapore. I’m currently working on the BinJV ISVac™ platform in saltwater crocodiles and exploring the virus’s translational potential as a biological control agent in mosquitoes. Outside the lab, I’m a big music lover and craft beer appreciator.
Madeline Thompson
PhD Candidate
I began my PhD in 2025 after completing my Honour’s degree in the JHP lab. My project centres on the application of our chimeric virus technology to combat disease caused by alphaviruses – mosquito-transmitted viruses such as Ross River and Chikungunya virus. My project exists at the intersection of molecular virology and the translational sector, from the generation of chimeras to studies underpinning their authenticity and safety, ultimately establishing them as novel candidates for diagnostics and vaccines.
Dr. Gervais Habarugira
Postdoctoral Researcher
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Bio coming soon
Roos van Werven
Visiting Research Student (Master of Molecular Life Sciences)
Wageningen University & Research, Jelke Fros Group
Bio coming soon
Tricia Lee
Research Assistant
Bio coming soon
Ghazal Mansooribirjandi
Honours Student
Bio coming soon
Varshika Kannan
Undergraduate Research Student (Bachelor of Biotechnology)
Bio coming soon
Mary Lobusta
Undergraduate Research Student (Bachelor of Biomedical Science)
Bio coming soon
Calista Lynch
Undergraduate Research Student (Bachelor of Science, extended major in Microbiology, Infection and Immunity)
Bio coming soon
We celebrate the contributions of our past members who have moved on to new endeavors
2009–2012 (PhD)
2021–2024 (PhD)
2018–2022 (PhD)
2019–2025 (Honours; Research Assistant; PhD)
2017–2021 (Research Assistant; Honours)
2021–2023 (Honours; Research Assistant)
2020–2023 (Honours; Research Assistant)
Summer 2025 – June 2026 (Research Student)
Visiting PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
Postdoctoral Researcher
Senior Research Assistant