Growing up on a small farm near Horsham in regional Victoria, Dr Georgia Atkin-Smith never envisioned becoming a scientist.
Despite always having an interest in science, it wasn’t the typical career path chosen by students at Horsham College, where she received her secondary schooling.
It was not until she went to university that Dr Atkin-Smith realised the plethora of opportunities that existed in science and research.
Now a postdoctoral researcher working with Associate Professor Edwin Hawkins at WEHI and Associate Professor Ivan Poon at La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Dr Atkin-Smith said the excitement of making new discoveries brought her back to the lab each day.