"I was very interested in biomedical subjects when I was in high school. It was the time when Dolly the Sheep was born, and the Human Genome Project was in full swing. Hence, I studied BSc (Hons) in Genetics at Otago. Through my undergraduate time at Otago, I discovered my calling in life, which is making a difference in society through science.

I chose the health sector as my way of doing so, particularly tuberculosis (TB), which claims 5,000 lives daily. I joined the Department as a summer internship student in 2004 and am now an Associate Professor. Harnessing my 20+ years of institutional knowledge, I provide academic and pastoral support for domestic and international students."

Htin Lin Aung

BSc in Genetics (class of '05)