Research Officer

Mahta completed her Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences undergraduate degree at Monash University. This involved theoretical and laboratory-based skills in organic and synthetic chemistry as well as analysis of drug-like properties. This led to her completing an Honours research year with a focus on the fragment-based design of novel hits targeting HIV-1 RT where she learned how to think critically, plan and work independently. In 2023, Mahta completed her PhD at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences under the supervision of Prof Peter Scammells and A/Prof Sheena McGowan where she worked on the the design, synthesis and evaluation of aminopeptidase inhibitors as antimalarials. Throughout her PhD both ligand-based and structure-based design strategies were utilised to successfully identify a novel class of inhibitors with a three-fold improvement in activity and enhanced drug-like properties. This research was done in conjunction with her role as a Teaching Associate and Spectroscopy Assistant. As a Research Office at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Mahta currently works in the Sleebs lab as part of a team to develop small molecules as an immuno-oncology therapy in collaboration with an industry partner and the Inflammation and Structural Biology Divisions.