As the Senior Manager for UQ-HBI Partnerships, Dr Kinnari Shelat facilitates partnering and engagement with Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI) and the University of Queensland. Kinnari’s responsibilities include facilitating collaborative educational initiatives, identifying partnership opportunities with HBI and UQ, and supporting research and governance staff.

Kinnari received her PhD in Material Sciences from the Ian Wark Research Institute at the University of South Australia in 2008. Her research was focused on understanding the co-relation of structure and property to enhance material performance. Kinnari has excellent analytical skills in using various state-of-the-art metrology tools to obtain mechanical, spectroscopic and chemical analysis for nano to micron scale.

Kinnari joined the University of Queensland in 2008 and has had a long association with the university in varied roles as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at QAAFI, and Senior Professional Officer and Business Development Manager at ANFF-Q. Kinnari has also worked in manufacturing and information technology sectors in China and Australia. She is well conversant with LEAN methodology and Agile Project management approach.

Furthermore, Kinnari volunteers and supports the life sciences committee of Women in Technology and the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (Queensland Branch).