Dr Lauren Schooth

Dr Lauren Schooth is a postdoctoral researcher in Professor Simon Keely’s laboratory within the Immune Health Research Program at the University of Newcastle. A microbiologist by training, her research focuses on the complex interactions between the gastrointestinal microbiome, host immunity, and human health, with particular emphasis on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and disorders of gut–brain interaction.

Lauren’s work integrates advanced anaerobic microbial culture, metagenomics, and bioinformatic analysis to explore how microbial communities contribute to mucosal healing, immune homeostasis, and disease progression. She is currently leading investigations into stool microbial variation in active and remitted IBD, aiming to identify key taxa that may influence clinical outcomes.

Lauren completed her PhD in Microbiology at The University of Queensland, where she developed novel ex vivo methods combining microbial culture with metagenomic sequencing to characterise the mucosa‑associated microbiota in digestive health and disease. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research has produced numerous contributions to the field, including first‑author publications, industry-funded microbiome reports, and invited presentations at national conferences.

Her work has been recognised through multiple competitive awards and grants, including the Gastroenterological Society of Queensland Young Investigator Award (2024) and several Centre for Research Excellence in Digestive Health Pilot Grants.

In addition to her research, Lauren is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. She has served as a lead laboratory demonstrator and tutor in microbiology, immunology, and molecular cell biology, and has supervised undergraduate research projects to high achievement.

Driven by a passion for translational science and microbial ecology, Lauren’s ongoing goal is to improve our understanding of host–microbe interactions and support the development of microbiome‑informed therapeutics for gastrointestinal disease.