Christina Zdenek
Dr Christina Zdenek is a former Fulbright Fellow, former professional basketball player, a 2021 ABC Top 5 Scientist, and an ambassador for Inspiring Australia. As a biologist and toxinologist, she works as a post-doctoral researcher at The University of Queensland. Her research explores the systemic effects of animal venoms (mostly snakes), therapeutic options to treat snakebite, snake behaviour, snake ecology, and the human-snake conflict. With her PhD conferral in 2020, she has already published 54 scientific publications. Beyond the science, she trains people on safe venomous-snake handling with her co-owned company, called Australian Reptile Academy.
She also has a passion for science communication: she has been interviewed countless times on ABC Radio National, ABC’s The Science Show, 4 times on TV, and has published 5 articles in The Conversation. The primary purpose of her science and communication activities is to help wildlife conservation and reduce the human-snake conflict. She hopes to use science to promote a better world, for humans and for wildlife.