After more than three decades supporting Murdoch University’s staff and students, laboratory technician, microscopist, and respected parasitologist Aileen Elliot was last night awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.
Reading the citation, Technical Manager Health Sciences Louise Pallant said Dr Elliot’s career had amounted to far more than what might typically have been expected from an individual in a professional role.
“Aileen is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when passion and opportunity collide,” she said.
Dr Elliot joined Murdoch in 1983 as an animal house assistant, later transferring to the parasitology department to work as a lab assistant where she supported teaching and research and examined specimens for the parasitology diagnostic service.
Over the next 30 years she became a skilled microscopist, sought-after across the institution, state, country, and internationally.
She quietly amassed an impressive publication record with an h-index rivalling many of her academic colleagues and achieved this substantial output whilst diligently supporting an increasing course and unit load and laboratory teaching activities.
Over her career Dr Elliot collected an extensive library of rare specimens and upon retirement in 2022, she had succeeded in creating a catalogue to assist future generations of parasitology students and researchers in their identification of species. She has twice been honoured with the naming of newly identified parasite species.
In 2009 Dr Elliot was awarded a Senate Medal in recognition of her contribution to Murdoch University, and in 2011 her position was reclassified to Technician – Parasitology better reflect her efforts and expertise. In 2015 Aileen received second place in the Science Photography category of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
Dr Elliot is regarded as an important researcher in the field of wildlife parasitology and her work has helped Murdoch University to achieve a pre-eminent research position among Australian universities in Animal and Veterinary Science.
Addressing the audience against the stunning backdrop of Murdoch’s Boola Katitjin last night, Dr Elliot took inspiration from comic fantasy novelist Terry Pratchett.
“Murdoch oozes education like Terry Pratchett’s Unseen University oozes magic,” she said.
“I am so proud to have been part of the Murdoch University Department of Parasitology, where I was introduced to the amazing and wonderful world of parasites - it is a world like no other, straight out of the pages of science fiction.
There is a saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, well I know that it takes a university to create a parasitologist.”
Dr Elliot thanked her family, friends, colleagues, and the many postgraduate students that brought interesting finds for her to investigate.
“Life is a voyage of discovery, we are constantly learning and evolving,” she said to her fellow graduates last night.
“Never be afraid to question even if you think it is silly; never fear failure, we all fail at some point and quite often from failure comes learning and success; never be scared to move out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges; respect and be respected in return.
“If I can achieve this, so can you.
“To quote my favourite author again, Sir Terry Pratchett, ‘the world is your mollusc’.”