Jessica Kretzmann

Jessica Kretzmann is a Forrest Fellow at The University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Molecular Sciences and Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer. Her research focuses on DNA origami and nanoscale interactions for applications in biosensing, drug/gene delivery, and nanomedicine. She holds a PhD in Nanotechnology from UWA and completed a Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Previously, she was an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at TU Munich, where she engineered DNA origami for biomedical applications.

Education:

• PhD in Nanotechnology, UWA (2015–2019)
• Fulbright Scholar, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2018)
• Honors Research, UWA (2014)

Research Interests: Jessica’s work spans interdisciplinary fields including DNA origami design, targeted drug delivery systems, nanoparticle synthesis, and biosensor development. She aims to establish DNA origami as a foundational research area in Western Australia through projects like DNA-based nano-sensors and viral diagnostic systems.

Awards:

• 2023 WA Young Tall Poppy Award
• Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) Rising Star Award
• Forrest Fellowship (2021)
• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2020)

Grants & Activities: She leads projects funded by the Forrest Research Foundation, NHMRC, and ARC. Engages in public outreach programs like ‘Sausages and Science’ to promote STEM education. Organized the DNA Origami Workshop 2023 and coordinates initiatives to engage Indigenous youth in science.

Labs/Teams: Central to the Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on viral diagnostics and nanomedical solutions.