Publications Student profiles Eva Duck
Eva Duck
- Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in Marine Science
- Courses
- Future Students
- Current Students
- Research and Teaching
- Partners and Community
- About JCU
- Reputation and Experience
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- Anthropological Laboratory for Tropical Audiovisual Research (ALTAR)
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC)
- Living on Campus
- How to apply
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- Alumni
- AMHHEC
- JCU Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Australian Lions Stinger Research
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Boating and Diving
- JCU-CSIRO Partnership
- Employability Edge
- Career Ready Plan
- Careers at JCU
- Careers and Employability
- Chancellery
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- CMT
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyber Security Hub
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Research Division
- Services and Resources Division
- Education Division
- Elite Athletes
- eResearch
- Environmental Research Complex [ERC]
- Estate
- Fletcherview
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- General Practice and Rural Medicine
- JC 'U' Orientation
- Give to JCU
- Governance
- Information for JCU Cairns Graduates
- Art of Academic Writing
- Art of Academic Editing
- Graduate Research School
- Graduation
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Indigenous Engagement
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- International Schools
- International Students
- Research and Innovation Services
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Events
- JCU Global Experience
- JCU Ideas Lab
- JCU Job Ready
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Prizes
- JCU Sport
- JCU Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- CEE
- LearnJCU
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- MARF
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- New students
- Off-Campus Students
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Virtual Open Day
- Orpheus
- Outstanding Alumni
- Parents and Partners
- Pathways to university
- Planning for your future
- Placements
- Policy
- PAHL
- Publications
- Professional Experience Placement
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Safety and Wellbeing
- Scholarships
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- Staff
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TARL
- TESS
- TREAD
- TropEco for Staff and Students
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- Work Health and Safety
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab
I grew up in a country town, Gympie, and the prospect of moving to the ‘big smoke’ was daunting. Once I realised there was a university in Townsville that had a great medical and science program, I knew it was where I wanted to study.
I applied for the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences with the end goal of Medicine. I stuck with biomed, not only because I found it interesting and engaging, but because it’s essential. While biomedical scientists aren’t front and centre like doctors are, the work we do is ground-breaking.
I loved the practical classes! Whether it was examining cadavers, dissecting mice, or discovering disease-causing bacteria from clinical samples — I found it all very engaging and exciting. I grew fond of all my lecturers. Their experiences, stories and personalities made all the difference. It made learning fun.
Everything that I learnt, particularly in my microbiology classes, in addition to my year of Honours research, has been applied within my work. One of the things I’m proud of is that I managed to finish Honours. It was one of the hardest, most challenging, but definitely most rewarding years of my degree, and I came out on top.
I’m currently working as a full-time research assistant at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine. My work specifically looks at the potential synergistic or antagonistic effect of salicylates and antibiotics on both planktonic growth and biofilm formation of various pathogens. Essentially, we’re looking at different ways to treat bacterial infection by using different combinations of drugs than that which is conventionally used by doctors and surgeons. This research interests me because it could lead to an innovative and new way to treat bacterial infection in patients. We hope this research will reduce the clinical use of antibiotics, ultimately decreasing the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria.
Research is essential for the continuation of successful medical treatment for patients. That is something that I am proud to be a part of. Knowing that my research is contributing to the greater good is what keeps me going. Find your drive and let it propel you forward.
We could change the world if we all cared enough to do something with what we have. I’d love to see people become less self-seeking and become more others-focused. A little can go a long way. I want to increase my capacity to help people. It seems simplistic, but regardless of what I’m doing in life, if I’m always striving to help people I’m satisfied.