Rate My Professor Pamela Cornes

Pamela Cornes is the Compliance Manager and Senior Technical Officer in the Department of Botany within the Division of Sciences at the University of Otago. In her role, she oversees laboratory compliance, health and safety protocols, and provides essential technical support for departmental research and teaching activities. Her contributions extend to managing sector-specific operations, as listed in the university's Department Laboratory Managers documentation. Contactable at +64 3 479 9064 or pam.cornes@otago.ac.nz, she plays a vital role in ensuring smooth laboratory functions and supporting botany staff and students.

Pamela Cornes was part of the Department of Botany team awarded the Staff Excellence Award for Sustainable Practice in 2023. The team's initiatives aligned with the United Nations' sustainable development goals and embodied the department's motto, 'Connecting plants and people for a sustainable future.' Key efforts included growing food for staff, students, and a local food bank using composted waste, donated seeds, and recycled containers; composting food waste; installing a green roof to enhance energy efficiency; utilizing a hybrid vehicle for fieldwork to lower emissions; operating a 'Free Table' for goods exchange alongside recycling depots; transitioning to electric vehicles; participating in climate marches; and establishing a covered bike park. These practices integrated sustainability across teaching, research, and administration. Additionally, Cornes has supported science engagement, collaborating with Associate Professor Janice Lord on activities for Tūhura Otago Museum's school programs. Her technical expertise is evident in acknowledgments across multiple publications and theses, including assistance with genotyping, phenomic screening, mycorrhizal ecology studies, and food science experiments. On ResearchGate, she is profiled with four publications: 'RFamide-Related Peptide-3 Receptor Gene Expression in GnRH and Kisspeptin Neurons and GnRH-Dependent Mechanism of Action' (2012), 'Endometrial cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 is inhibited by human chorionic gonadotrophin, and is increased in the decidua of tubal ectopic pregnancy' (2009), 'Gene profiling of uterine decidua from women with tubal and intra-uterine pregnancies to identify candidate genes as biomarkers for diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy' (2008), and 'Gene profiling of uterine decidua from intra- and extra-uterine pregnancies to identify differential expression of common immune response genes' (2007), accumulating 187 citations. Skills listed include cell culture, cloning, PCR, DNA analysis, gene expression, gel electrophoresis, molecular cloning, electrophoresis, RNA, and Western blot analysis.