Dr Poonam Mudgil | UNSW Research

Biography

Dr Poonam Mudgil has a PhD in Molecular Microbiology. She held research fellowships at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and Western Sydney University before working as an Australian Research Council (ARC)-Linkage scheme Research Fellow at Western Sydney University collaborating with industry internationally, followed by a Postdoctoral Research Officer at Western Sydney University School of Medicine teaching medicine students in the MD program and supervising higher degree research students. She was a Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Year 1 convenor of the MD program at Charles Sturt University before joining the University of New South Wales.

Her research aims to address major public health issues in eye and infectious diseases using research approaches in microbiology, biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. She has an international reputation in the area of ophthalmology as evidenced by invited participation as speaker, moderator, poster judge, and contributor to various committees including Annual Meeting Program Committee of the largest eye and vision organisation, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

She is a 2021 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) with Advance HE, UK for her professional recognition of university teaching and higher degree research supervision.

She is a 2022 Gold Fellow of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (FARVO), USA for her contributions, leadership and services in research.

She holds honorary positions as Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University.

My Grants

Research Infrastructure & Support Scheme Grant, Charles Sturt University, 2024

Tri-Faculty Conference Support Scheme Grant, Charles Sturt University, 2024

Badugulang Launch Transforming Teaching Grant, Western Sydney University, 2021

Leadership Development Program Mentor Travel Grant, ARVO Foundation for Eye Research, 2018-2025

Research Infrastructure & Capital Equipment funding, Western Sydney University, 2014-2021

Research Grant, Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, ANSTO, 2009

International Research Initiative Scheme Grant, Western Sydney University & University of Texas, USA, 2006

Seed Grant, Western Sydney University, 2004

My Research Activities

Dr Poonam Mudgil’s research areas are ophthalmology, microbiology and infectious diseases. Her research in ophthalmology has revealed new structural features of the tear film on the ocular surface, discovered antimicrobial role of tear lipids, and found causative mechanisms and treatments for the dry eye disease which affects millions of people worldwide. Her research in microbiology and infectious diseases has investigated antibiotic resistance in bacteria and explored lipids and other biomolecules as alternatives to antibiotics for addressing the problem of antimicrobial resistance which is a crucial global public health issue.

She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications (>80% as first/senior author) and her research has been funded through government, industry and university grants. She has active research collaborations with national and international organizations including University of Louisville USA, University of Colorado USA, University of Texas USA, Western Sydney University, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, and South-West Sydney Local Health District. She has peer-reviewed for 18 international journals, served on 5 committees of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, USA, and mentored 22 early career researchers from 12 countries. She has a track record of supervising Undergraduate, Honours, Master’s, PhD, and MD research projects in ophthalmology, microbiology and infectious diseases.

Current projects:
•   Ocular surface diseases - dry-eye and microbial infections
•   Tear film in health and disease using biophysical, microbiological and biochemical approaches
•   Infectious diseases
•   Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, alternatives to antibiotics, and novel antimicrobials

My Engagement

Gold Fellow, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), USA

Fellow, Advance HE (UK)

MASM, Australian Society for Microbiology

Member, Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society, (TFOS) USA

Elected Member, Annual Meeting Program Committee - Cornea section, ARVO, USA, 2024-present

Member, Ethics and Regulations in Human Research Committee, ARVO, USA, 2019-2022

Mentor, Women's Leadership Development Program, ARVO, USA, 2018-present

Mentor, Global Mentorship Program, ARVO, USA, 2019-present

Member, Commercial Relationships Committee, ARVO, USA, 2018-2021

Member, Diversity Initiative Committee, ARVO, USA, 2015-2018

Member, Workplace Health and Safety Committee, Western Sydney University, 2013-2016

Member Communications Working Group of ARVO Strategic Plan (Science Pillar), USA, 2013-2014

'Scientist' in 'STEM Professionals in Schools' Program of CSIRO, AUstralia, 2012-2023

Member, Global Members Committee, ARVO, USA, 2010-2013

Member, Women in Eye and Vision Research (WEAVR), USA, 2009-present

Mentor, Developing Country Eye Research Fellow Program, USA, 2008-2018

Media coverage:

Fatty Acids Can Enhance Eye Drops (The New Feed)

Meibomian lipids possess antimicrobial property, study finds (News)

Spotlight on research: International collaborations support our understanding of the eye (International Collaboration)

My Teaching

Dr Poonam Mudgil is an evidence-based university educator and teaching coordinator in medicine and biomedical sciences curricula specializing in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology.

Current teaching:
BABS1202 Applied Biomolecular Sciences
MICR2011 Microbiology I
MICR2012 Microbiology for the Pharmaceutical Sciences
CHEM1829 Biological Chemistry for Optometry Students

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