Bit about me

Growing up in regional Queensland, my childhood consisted of weekend sport, community productions and my spare time was spent at the local beach. My passion for science moved me to Brisbane where I completed my undergraduate degree in diagnostic pathology and my Honours year in molecular genetics. After thorough deliberation, I decided to pursue a PhD with the Dermatology Research Centre and Integrating Genomics into Medicine group which encompasses two fields I am most intrigued by: dermatology and genetics. In 2023 I received an offer to commence my medical studies at the University of Queensland where I hope to have the opportunity to directly translate my research findings into clinical practice.

Awards & Recognition

• 2023 University of Queensland Higher Degree Research Joan Allsop Travel Award ($5600 to visit collaborators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, New York, and present at the American Society of Human Genetics conference)

• 2023 University of Queensland Higher Degree Research Thomas McIntyre Scholarship, UQ ($3000 to visit collaborators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, New York, and present at the American Society of Human Genetics conference)

• 2023 ASSC Early Career Travel Award ($3000 to present at the World Congress of Dermatology in Singapore)

• 2022 University of Queensland Postgraduate Elect for the Academic Board and Academic Board Standing Committee

• 2022 University of Queensland Higher Degree Research Joan Allsop Travel Award, UQ - ($6000 to visit collaborators in Barcelona, Spain and present at the European Society of Human Genetics conference)

• 2022 Frazer Family Foundation Travel Award, University of Queensland Frazer Institute ($5000 to visit collaborators in Barcelona, Spain and present at the European Society of Human Genetics conference)

• 2022 Jian Zhou Predoctoral Travel Award, University of Queensland Frazer Institute  ($2500)

• Translational Research Institute Foundation Higher Degree Research Travel Award  ($1000 to visit collaborators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, New York, and present at the American Society of Human Genetics conference)

• University of Queensland Higher Degree Research Symposium Faculty of Medicine Judges Choice Award ($100)

• University of Queensland Higher Degree Research Symposium Faculty of Medicine People’s Choice ($50)

• Frazer Institute Outstanding Student Award of the year 2021 ($50)

Selected Publications

(see ORCiD for all publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1035-7279)

1. Wallingford, Courtney K., Maas, Ellie J., Howard, Antonia, DeBortoli, Emily, Bhanja, Deboshmita, Lee, Katie, Mothershaw, Adam, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Willett, Rod, Betz‐Stablein, Brigid, Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter, and McInerney‐Leo, Aideen M. (2023). MITF E318K: A rare homozygous case with multiple primary melanoma. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 37 (1) 68-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.1312200

2. Maas, Ellie J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Aoude, Lauren G., Soyer, H. Peter, and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2022). Unusual suspects in hereditary melanoma: POT1, POLE, BAP1. Trends in Genetics 38 (12) 1204-1207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2022.06.007239

3. Maas, Ellie J., Wallingford, Courtney K., DeBortoli, Emily, Smit, Darren J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Aoude, Lauren G., Stark, Mitchell S., Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter, and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2023). GOLM1: expanding our understanding of melanoma susceptibility. Journal of Medical Genetics 60 (9) jmg-2023-109348 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg-2023-1093481210

4. Primiero, Clare A., Baker, Amy M., Wallingford, Courtney K., Maas, Ellie J., Yanes, Tatiane, Fowles, Lindsay, Janda, Monika, Young, Mary-Anne, Nisselle, Amy, Terrill, Bronwyn, Lodge, Jason M., Tiller, Jane M., Lacaze, Paul, Andersen, Hayley, McErlean, Gemma, Turbitt, Erin, Soyer, H. Peter, and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2022). Attitudes of Australian dermatologists on the use of genetic testing: A cross-sectional survey with a focus on melanoma. Frontiers in Genetics 13 919134 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.9191342115