We are pleased to announce that Professor Rebecca TRAUB as Chair Professor of Parasitology and concurrently as Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health from 5 February 2024.
Professor Traub received her BSc, BVMS and PhD from Murdoch University, Australia. She taught Veterinary Public Health at the University of Queensland and then moved to the University of Melbourne where she was appointed as a Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and was an ARC Future Fellow.
Professor Traub’s research encompasses the field of veterinary public health, with an emphasis on the epidemiology and control of parasitic zoonoses, human geo-helminthiasis and rickettsial zoonoses. Much of her research has involved the development and/or application of molecular-based diagnostic techniques to detect parasites directly from clinical samples. Her research has led to novel discoveries about parasite epidemiology, distribution and zoonotic potential.
Professor Traub has consulted widely, including for the World Health Organization, Food and Agricultural Organisation, Australian Council for International Agricultural Research, the pharmaceutical industry, and non-profit organisations.
Professor Traub has received numerous accolades including the Bancroft Mackerras Medal of Excellence in Parasitology and the John Frederick Adrian Sprent Medal by the Australian Society for Parasitology. She is also a Founding Director of the Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites (TroCCAP) and served as the President of the Australian Society for Parasitology. Prof. Traub has published over 187 international peer-reviewed papers and book chapters covering the diagnosis, epidemiology and control of canine endoparasites and vector-borne diseases, with much of her research based in the Asia Pacific.
We would like to take this opportunity to record a vote of thanks to Professor Patrick BUTAYE for his contribution as Interim Head of Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health over the past months.