Lynn Nazareth

Dr Lynn Nazareth is an olfactory or “sense of smell” expert and has studied this system for over a decade. As the shortest distance from the outside world to your brain is through the nose, Lynn studies how the olfactory system (located in the roof of your nose), can act as a portal to into your brain. She has previously worked with pathogenic bacteria, including a species endemic to Australia that causes deadly brain infections after entering through the nose.

Lynn is currently working at CSIRO developing ex-vivo models of the nasal epithelium i.e. growing the inside of your nose in a dish. Lynn uses these complex 3D cell culture systems to study how viral infections start and spread through the nose. She is also working with colleagues at CSIRO to develop targeted therapies to block these infections within the nose.

Lynn is a passionate, award winning science communicator and has used various platforms to make her research accessible to the public which includes- live radio interviews, writing blogs, media pieces, and through social media. Lynn received the ABC TOP 5 Science Award and through this completed a 2-week media residency training program with Radio National Australia. Through this opportunity Lynn hopes to continue bridging the gap between science and the general public. Lynn is also a part of the 2025/26 Superstars of Stem.