Dr Lucia Zacchi

Lecturer

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
Faculty of Science
l.zacchi@uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 63149

Overview

I am a microbiologist and molecular and cellular biologist, specialized in antibody discovery, biochemistry, protein quality control, glycobiology, and mass spectrometry proteomics.

I graduated from Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Argentina. I then obtained a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue my Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the University of Minnesota, USA. For my dissertation I studied mechanisms of phenotypic variation in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. I did post-doctoral work in the laboratories of Dr. Jeffrey Brodsky (University of Pittsburgh, USA), Dr. Julio Caramelo (Fundacion Instituto Leloir, Argentina), Dr. Benjamin L. Schulz (SCMB, UQ), and the ARC Training Centre for Biopharmaceutical Innovation (AIBN, UQ). I have received Fellowships from the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, CONICET-Argentina, Endeavour-Australia, and The University of Queensland.

Research Area and Impact

Biologics are one of the most important and versatile types of biopharmaceutical products that have proven incredibly effective in treating and preventing a wide range of diseases. We are interested in developing new protein therapeutics through protein engineering and antibody discovery approaches. We also develop new and improved tools for antibody discovery and characterisation.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Minnesota

Publications

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Supervision

View all Supervision

Available Projects

  • We are always looking for enthusiastic, team-oriented, and fast-learning students with a background in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or related fields, and an interest in learning molecular and cellular biology, glycobiology, models of disease, proteomics, or antibody discovery. Previous experience in a molecular biology laboratory is required (we may request a reference letter).

    Our goal is to provide you with the best experience, both inside and outside the lab, which will contribute to train you for a career in research. An integral part of the experience in our lab will involve active participation in lab meetings and journal club discussions. We will encourage you to present your findings to the group. We will also endeavour to coach you in effective presentation techniques, scientific writing, ethics in research, good laboratory practices, and team-work.

    Available projects:

    1) There are three antibody discovery projects available that we are leading in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross (you will also get to work with them!)

    2) Microbial microevolution and fungal pathogenesis. Interested in dissecting the most fundamental mechanisms of life?

View all Available Projects

Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

  • Zacchi, Lucía F. and Schulz, Benjamin L. (2019). Data-independent acquisition for yeast glycoproteomics. Yeast systems biology. (pp. 191-202) New York, NY USA: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9736-7_11

  • Zacchi, L.F., Caramelo, J.J., McCracken, A.A. and Brodsky, J.L. (2016). Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation and protein quality control. Encyclopedia of cell biology. (pp. 596-611) edited by Ralph A. Bradshaw and Philip D. Stahl. Waltham, MA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-394447-4.10072-0

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • We are always looking for enthusiastic, team-oriented, and fast-learning students with a background in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or related fields, and an interest in learning molecular and cellular biology, glycobiology, models of disease, proteomics, or antibody discovery. Previous experience in a molecular biology laboratory is required (we may request a reference letter).

    Our goal is to provide you with the best experience, both inside and outside the lab, which will contribute to train you for a career in research. An integral part of the experience in our lab will involve active participation in lab meetings and journal club discussions. We will encourage you to present your findings to the group. We will also endeavour to coach you in effective presentation techniques, scientific writing, ethics in research, good laboratory practices, and team-work.

    Available projects:

    1) There are three antibody discovery projects available that we are leading in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross (you will also get to work with them!)

    2) Microbial microevolution and fungal pathogenesis. Interested in dissecting the most fundamental mechanisms of life?