Dr Rhys Parry

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
Faculty of Science

Overview

I completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Molecular Biology at The University of Queensland (2015). I then completed my PhD (2016-2021) at the School of Biology (UQ) under the guidance of Prof Sassan Asgari, studying the virome and microbiome of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and the tripartite interactions between the virome, mosquito and Wolbachia pipientis infections. I continued my research on molecular virology as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Prof Alexander Khromykh's laboratory at (SCMB) in 2021. I helped utilise and develop the SARS-CoV-2 circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) reverse-genetics methodology. As a physical containment 3 (PC3) researcher for both Flaviviruses and SARS-CoV-2, I examine the virological properties of these viruses under strict PC3 conditions.

In addition to my role as a molecular virologist, I provide active bioinformatics and phylogenetics support within UQ and internationally. Talk to me if you wish to collaborate utilising differential gene and ncRNA expression analysis, ATAC-sequencing, ancestral state prediction, virus discovery, or microbiome analyses.

Research Interests

  • Interferon-antagonistic activities of amino acid residues in the West Nile virus capsid protein identified by deep mutational scanning
  • Interferon antagonism by SARS-CoV-2 proteins
  • Flavivirus evolution and diversity

Research Impacts

As a COVID-19 scientist, I am actively combating misinformation about COVID-19 research through academic channels and providing expert analysis to independent journalism organisations engaged in Fact-Checking. Some examples include COVID-19 vaccine misinformation examined by the Australian Associated Press and Health Feedback, an organisation contracted by Facebook to verify misinformation.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

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Publications

Journal Article

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision