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  5. Elsie Williams
Our people

Dr Elsie Williams

Senior Research Scientist

Taking students

Working groups

elsie.williams@burnet.edu.au
Dr Elsie Williams

Background

Elsie is a Research Officer with the Burnet Diagnostics Initiative (BDI). Her research interests lie in using protein engineering to advance human health. Her PhD at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) focused on using engineered nitroreductase enzymes for cancer gene therapy.

More recent work at VUW (2020-2022) involved discovering, characterizing and evolving novel antibiotic and chemotherapeutic resistance proteins found in environmental DNA libraries. As a postdoctoral researcher at Emory University she investigated the biotechnological applications of bacterial encapsulin proteins.

View Elsie's publications profile.

Qualifications

  • 2013: PhD in Biotechnology , Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
  • 2008: BSc (Hons) of Biomedical Science, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ 
  • 2007: BSc in Biology and Biochemistry, University of Canterbury, NZ

Positions

  • 2020-June 2022: Postdoctoral Research, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
  • 2016-2019: Postdoctoral Research, Emory University, USA
  • 2013-2015: Postdoctoral Research, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ

Burnet publications

25 Mar 2023

A metagenomic library cloning strategy that promotes high-level expression of captured genes to enable efficient functional screening

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Elsie M. Williams

Current projects

Efficacy assessment of a new point-of-care test for confirmation of active syphilis in men who have sex with men

Efficacy assessment of a new point-of-care test for confirmation of active syphilis in men who have sex with men

We're developing a novel rapid point of care test based on lateral flow technology for diagnosis of active syphilis in a single visit.

Diagnosis of active syphilis
Open to students

Diagnosis of active syphilis

We're developing point-of-care diagnostics for active syphilis, aiming to transform syphilis management globally and contribute to World Health Organization goals.

Past projects

Improved point-of-care test to eliminate congenital syphilis

Improved point-of-care test to eliminate congenital syphilis

Congenital syphilis affects more newborns than any other infection (including HIV or tetanus) with many infants dying within the first year of life.

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