Dr Elizabeth Barber has a BSc (Food Science & Technology), MSc (Nutritional Biochemistry) and PhD in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Her industry-funded PhD focused on exploring the mechanisms of an anti-diabetic drug in glucose transport. She was awarded an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow,  investigating how omega-3 fats affect lipid droplet formation in fat cells. During her non-research career, she worked with the Australian federal government to develop several methods currently used nationally and internationally to assess internal radiation contamination. Later, she joined the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food, Monash University, as an academic and researcher. Her expertise includes detailed analysis of the biological potential and chemical composition of functional foods, including digestion, metabolism and health. Using advanced molecular nutrition and food science research skills, she is currently interested in exploring the role of plant bioactive compounds in inducing healthy digestion to improve metabolic dysfunction. Elizabeth is a mother of two young children and identified as culturally and linguistically diverse, able to speak English, Malay and Tamil fluently. She has been an active member of the Australian Diabetes Society, the Nutrition Society Australia and a Registered Nutritionist for several years.

• Food Science
• Nutrition Science
• Laboratory Practicals

• effects of bioactive compounds in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism
• food digestion and colonic fermentation
• new food product development
• glycaemic response
• enzyme assays - method development and validation