Ethan Duff
Ethan first joined the Bionics Institute in 2021 for a summer internship and kept returning – first for his honours and now to complete his PhD in optogenetic strategies for chronic pain.
He completed his biomedical engineering degree at RMIT and has always been interested in the engineering side of science, originally planning to study mechatronics.
Moving away from his comfort zone of engineering, Ethan is working with the optogenetics team at the Bionics Institute.
I decided to change tack because I’m always looking to challenge myself. A PhD project at the Bionics Institute appealed to me because of the institutes long-standing reputation of translating theoretical concepts into real-world medical devices. Ethan Duff
His work looks at using light-sensitive proteins to alter the transmission of pain signals before they reach the central nervous system. Ethan is working with A/Professor Rachael Richardson and her team who are studying the use of optogenetic techniques to selectively activate or suppress nerve activity, which could have a role in the treatment of chronic pain.
Ethan says the culture at the Bionics Institute and the support he has received has helped him challenge himself in his studies.
I love doing what I do. And when you’re surrounded by individuals that are just as passionate about the work they are doing, the resulting inspiration can be infectious. Ethan Duff
