Professor Jamie Rossjohn

Jamie Rossjohn

Jamie Rossjohn is one of Australia’s leading life scientists. Born and educated in Wales, Jamie undertook undergraduate and PhD degrees at Bath University, UK (87-94) – where he met his wife as a 1st year undergrad. Subsequently, in 1995, Jamie and his newly-wed wife, Lisa, relocated to Melbourne, Australia, where Jamie, as a post-doctoral researcher at St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, worked on bacterial toxins. In 2002, following the award of the Wellcome Trust Senior Research fellowship, Jamie relocated Monash University. Over the last 20 years, Jamie’s pioneering research program has focused on understanding mechanisms protective and aberrant immunity in humans, and how this information can lead to new immunotherapeutic treatments. Collectively, Jamie has published over 480 research papers and the research achievements has been recognised by a number of awards and fellowships, including:

  • 2004 - Science Ministers Prize: Life Scientist of the Year
  • 2006 - Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship
  • 2007 - Commonwealth Health Ministers Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research
  • 2011 - NHMRC Australia Fellowship
  • 2014 - Elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
  • 2015 - Elected as a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
  • 2015 - GSK award for Research Excellence
  • 2016 - Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation
  • 2016 - Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship
  • 2017 - Elected as a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences
  • 2017 - Elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
  • 2022 - Associate member, European Molecular Biology Organisation

In 2022, Jamie was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. Jamie is only the 2nd researcher in Monash’s 70-year history to be elected to the Royal Society (UK) - the oldest and most prestigious scientific academy in continuous existence in the world.

Simultaneously, Jamie has mentored and trained the next generation of future research leaders, with over 40 national/international fellowships being awarded to members of his team. Moreover, Jamie has developed innovative education & research programs, including sensory science exhibitions for the low vision communities.

Outside of work, Jamie’s interests are his family, sport, and his dogs. Jamie, was a black belt Judoka and competed nationally while at Bath, and has, over the last 7 years, been somewhat obsessed with long-distance running, with a 2hr 55min PB for the marathon. Jamie and Lisa have 3 children (Sian, Bevan and Hannah), and two big furry dogs (Ziggy, Amber), and three furry cats (Jett, Fudge and Simba).