Tara Louise Pukala is an Australian scientist who is a professor of biological chemistry at the University of Adelaide,[1][2] board member of Nature Scientific Reports, Superstar of STEM, 2023–2024, and Director of the Adelaide Proteomics Centre.[3][4]

Tara Pukala
EducationUniversity of Adelaide
OccupationBiological chemist
EmployerUniversity of Adelaide
Known forBiological chemistry
TitleProfessor
Websitehttps://www.pukalalab.org/

Education and career

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Pukala was awarded a PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2006 for her thesis "Structural and mechanistic studies of bioactive peptides".[5] She then moved to the University of Cambridge in a post-doctoral role, researching native mass spectrometry.[6][7] Since 2017, she has been the director of the Adelaide Proteomics Centre,[8][9] leading a multidisciplinary group of researchers.[10]

Pukala is a member of the editorial board for Analytical Chemistry, and an associate editor for Frontiers in Chemistry (Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry). She is also associate editor of Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry,[11] editor of the European Journal of Mass Spectrometry,[12] and a board member of Nature Scientific Reports.[13] She was also vice-president of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry (ANZSMS).[14][15]

Pukala's research involves the intersection of chemistry and biology, working with molecular proteins, including DNA and other biomolecules. She is interested in visualising the structures, shapes, and ways that various biomolecules interact with each other. This research helps with understanding medical and health sciences, and the mechanistic biological and chemical processes.[16]

Awards

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  • 2017 – Australian and New Zealand Society of Mass Spectrometry Bowie Medal.[17]
  • 2021 – Faculty of Sciences Mid Career Research Excellence Award.[8]
  • 2022 – Superstar of STEM, Science Technology, Australia.[16]

Selected publications

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  • Pukala, Tara L.; Bowie, John H.; Maselli, Vita M.; Musgrave, Ian F.; Tyler, Michael J. (2006-06-01). "Host-defence peptides from the glandular secretions of amphibians: structure and activity". Natural Product Reports. 23 (3): 368–393. doi:10.1039/B512118N. ISSN 1460-4752.
  • Pukala, Tara; Robinson, Carol V. (2022-04-27). "Introduction: Mass Spectrometry Applications in Structural Biology". Chemical Reviews. 122 (8): 7267–7268. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00085. ISSN 0009-2665.

References

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  1. ^ "SPEAKERS". ANZSMS29. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  2. ^ "Proteomics programs" (PDF).
  3. ^ "CIPPS Annual report" (PDF).
  4. ^ Hay, Alison. "Congratulations Tara Pukala – a Superstar of STEM! | RC APD". Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  5. ^ Pukala, Tara Louise (2007-09-05), Structural and mechanistic studies of bioactive peptides, retrieved 26 May 2024
  6. ^ "UOW - Phys Chem" (PDF).
  7. ^ "RSC School Seminar - Assoc. Prof. Tara Pukala (University of Adelaide)". ANU Research School of Chemistry. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  8. ^ a b "Science awards celebrate 2021 academic, student and staff success". Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology | University of Adelaide. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  9. ^ "Australian biochemist" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Tara L Pukala — ASN Events". proteomics-2020.p.asnevents.com.au. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  11. ^ "Professional activities".
  12. ^ "European Journal of Mass Spectrometry". SAGE Publications Inc. 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  13. ^ "Editors | Scientific Reports". www.nature.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  14. ^ "PROFESSOR TARA PUKALA - 25th International Mass Spectrometry Convention". imsc2024melbourne.com. 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  15. ^ "ANZSMS" (PDF).
  16. ^ a b "Dr Tara Pukala". Science and Technology Australia. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  17. ^ "Bowie Medal Award for Tara Pukala". Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing. 2017-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
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