About
Oliver Looker is an optical microscopy specialist with a strong research background in parasitology. In 2019 he completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne where he worked up a correlative single-molecule light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy technique to determine the arrangement of malaria parasite-derived proteins at the host cell membrane. This work revealed new nanometre-scale insights into the processes that underpin parasite virulence.
He then gained further imaging expertise while working at the Katharina Gaus Light Microscopy Facility, UNSW Sydney. In this mixed research and technical support role he provided assistance across a wide range of light microscopes. Following this he went on to a Postdoctoral research position at the Burnet Institute, Melbourne where he utilised his combined imaging and parasitology background to discover and characterise novel antimalarial drugs and antibodies. Oliver joined QIMR Berghofer in 2025 as a Senior Microscopy Analyst. In this role he supports researchers with expertise in the design, development and delivery of microscopy experiments across a range of high-end imaging equipment. He also provides on-instrument training and troubleshooting, as well as assistance with the management and analysis of imaging data.
Research Skills
- Microscopy
- Imaging
- Immunofluorescence
- Image analysis
- Parasitology
Area of Interest
- Microscopy
- Image analysis