The Association of Women in the Sciences encourage women to use and develop their scientific abilities and to achieve their full potential. AWIS AWIS

Become a Member

Benefits of becoming a member include receiving the AWIS Newsletter, staying in touch with AWIS, and having your say

Sample Newsletters
September 2009
December 2009

Liz Carpenter

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Name: Liz Carpenter

Your role in AWIS: Extra committee member & forwarder of all mail to the AWIS snail mail address

Academic background: BSc(Hons), Dip Tchg, PhD in Immunology

Current job title: Science consultant & Careers Advisor (Health)

Area of science: I am in a career transition phase!   Having been part of the AgResearch restructuring and experiencing redundancy first-hand I have now s set up a consultancy business (Carpenter Consulting) and work part time in the Waikato region, supporting Careers Advisors in rural schools, promoting health careers to secondary school students.  The latter role means I can pay my bills! I have worked as a research scientist (immunology) both within NZ and overseas. I worked at AgResearch for nine years, most recently as a senior scientist leading a research group working on the development of Hyperimmune Milk through vaccination of dairy cows.  The project involved basic research through to addressing questions on commercialisation of a high-value dairy product. 

How I got here: I started my working career as a secondary school science teacher in Dunedin for two years, before working on a PhD in Immunology, based in Australia.  Thanks to the vagaries of science funding, I have worked in New Zealand, Kenya and Scotland, in research labs with a vaccine interest.  I was awarded the NZ Association of Scientists Science Communicator Award in 2006 and the Hamilton Science Excellence Award for Science Educator/Communicator in 2008 as recognition for involvement with school and community groups in the Waikato region.

Extra-curricular activities: I am a past convenor of the national Association for Women in the Sciences and currently the Waikato branch convenor. I keep busy in my 'spare time' - singing in two choirs (and chair of both committees!), gardening, taking photos, going to the movies and keeping two chickens in luxurious accommodation.