Maria Liaskos

Associate Professor Maria Kaparakis-Liaskos is a leading international scholar in the discipline of microbiology, in particular, the field of bacterial pathogenesis.

Her primary research interests are focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions with particular focus on Helicobacter pylori and bacterial membrane vesicles.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a PhD – majoring in microbiology and immunology -  from The University of Melbourne

Maria joined La Trobe in Nov 2016 as a Senior lecturer and group leader and was rapidly promoted to Associate professor in 2019. At La Trobe, Maria leads a vibrant research team focused on understanding immune responses to bacterial pathogens, in addition to teaching undergraduate, Honours and PhD students.

Maria has received multiple international and national awards, including the Australian Society of Microbiology Frank Fenner Award, an Inaugural veski Inspiring Women Fellowship, a Victorian Young Tall Poppy Award and the International Milstein Young Investigator Award.

Recently, Maria worked with other senior academic women to deliver the inaugural La Trobe University Women’s Academic Promotions Support Program. The Peer Support Program for academic women seeking promotion has been a massive success with over 200 women taking part as either mentees or mentors.