Rate My Professor Jemma Geoghegan

Professor Jemma Geoghegan holds the Webster Family Chair in Viral Pathogenesis and serves as a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology within the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Otago. She is an Evolutionary Virologist and Rutherford Discovery Fellow. Originally from Scotland, she completed a BSc (Hons) First Class in Genetics at the University of Strathclyde and earned her PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Otago in 2012 under Professor Hamish Spencer in the Department of Zoology. Her career trajectory includes a Research Associate position at New York University focusing on HIV (2012-2013), Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney (2013-2017), and Lecturer at Macquarie University where she established her own laboratory (2017-2020). She joined the University of Otago in 2020, was promoted to Professor, and appointed to the Webster Family Chair in 2023.

Geoghegan's research centers on viral evolution, ecology, and emergence, utilizing metagenomics to reveal virosphere diversity, examine major viral infections like SARS-CoV-2, and develop computational approaches for virus analysis. She co-led New Zealand's establishment of genomic sequencing for SARS-CoV-2, recognized as world-leading, which informed the public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic. She holds a Health Research Council project grant for post-travel viral genomic surveillance and supervises students to enhance virus genomics capacity in the Pacific region. Key publications include "Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into New Zealand" (Nature Communications, 2020), "The hidden diversity and evolution of viruses in market fish" (Virus Evolution, 2018), "Viral surveillance of invasive mammals in New Zealand reveals unique viral lineages reflecting their introduction history" (Genetics & Molecular Biology, 2026), and "Uncovering the faecal virome of New Zealand sea lions" (Virology, 2025). Her accolades encompass the Prime Minister's Emerging Scientist Prize (2021), Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal (2023 Otago Research Awards), Genetics Society of Australia Alan Wilton Award (2017), and Macquarie University Faculty of Science and Engineering Excellence in Early Career Research Prize (2017).