Willa Huston

Professor Willa Huston is a molecular microbiologist and Professor at the School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She is currently the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) for the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly Chlamydia trachomatis, with contributions to diagnosis, treatment, and understanding disease sequelae. She leads a world-class Chlamydia culture facility at UTS, collaborating with organizations like Family Planning NSW. Her work also extends to antimicrobial resistance and developing diagnostics through the AMR Hub partnership.

Education: PhD in Microbiology (The University of Queensland, 2004), BSc Honours (First Class, UQ, 1999). Postdoctoral training at the University of York (UK) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where she held a NHMRC Peter Doherty Research Fellowship. She completed a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education at QUT.

Research interests include STI pathogenesis, vaccine development, and bacterial host interactions. Her recent publications analyze Chlamydia viability, vaccine immunology, and antimicrobial innovations. She has been recognized with awards such as the ASM Frank Fenner Award (2020) and Young Tall Poppy Award (2012).

Funded projects include developing CRISPR-based diagnostics, studying host-pathogen interactions via organoid models, and contributing to the ARC AMR Hub. She consults for biotech firms like Radatec and SpeeDx, focusing on Chlamydia protocols and diagnostic tools.

Teaching: Advocates for curricula that prepare students for societal impact, emphasizing authentic assessment. Leads initiatives in higher education pedagogy within science disciplines.