Dr Fiona Whelan (She/Her)
Senior Lecturer

Organisation unit

College of Sciences School of Biological Sciences

Location

Adelaide University, Molecular Life Sciences, Level 3
Profile of Dr Fiona Whelan

About me

I have a PhD in Biochemistry, previously based as a Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of York, UK, my research is focused on the structural biology of viral, bacteriophage and bacterial nucleic acid binding proteins; Staphylococcal cell surface adhesins and two-component sensors. I deploy methods including bioinformatics, structure prediction, molecular biology, bacterial recombinant protein expression and purification, X-ray crystallography and small angle X-ray scattering to determine the relationship between the structure and the function of target proteins. After relocating to Adelaide University, I was awarded a Ramsay Fellowship in Applied Science, focused on synthetic biology for development of small molecule biosensors, currently supported by an ARC discovery project grant. I was seconded to develop the Adelaide Microscopy cryo-electron microscopy facility, where we are now refining structures of bacteriophage protein assemblies. I was recently appointed to an academic position in Biotechnology and I am establishing my own group, developing cryo-EM structure determination and supporting this technique for researchers in South Australia; and integrating molecular dynamics coarse-graining and all atom simulations for protein engineering and structure/function studies.

As a teacher, I identify with the analogy that teaching is like sculpting; if you can find ways to engage students to activate their natural sense of wonder and interest, then they will seek more knowledge and learn to teach themselves. I am uncovering the natural talent that was there all along; shaping how the student engages with the world, thoughtfully and thoroughly. My role is to support students in critical enquiry, facilitating lifelong learning, appraising the evidence and gaining a depth of knowledge and expertise sufficient to critique the orthodoxy. 
To date, I have lectured into courses including Microbiology II, Biochemistry III and Advanced Research Platforms: cryo-EM; I am looking forward to a new role as a course coordinator working with the Masters Biotechnology cohort, focused on Protein Purification: Principles and Practice, Semester 2, 2026.

I am a member of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB); and the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (AMMS); special interest group CryOz.
Last updated on 29/04/2026 by Fiona Whelan