CCRG Alumni: A/Prof Shaun Gregory
A/Prof Shaun Gregory pictured far left with Fellow Panel Members at the inaugural Critical care Research International Summit, March 2023. Pictured top (L-R): S. Gregor, J, Bělohlávek, N. White, M. Urner, O. Tronstad, M. Malfertheiner, L. Gandini, H. J. Cho, and N. Obonyo
Former CCRG Fellow, A/Prof Shaun Gregory
What initially inspired you to join the Critical Care Research Group?
I was an undergraduate engineer working in the ICETLab in 2006. I was working with Daniel Timms and enjoyed the research we were doing, so I stayed to do my Masters and PhD. After my PhD was completed, I became the ICETLab director from 2013-2017. So it was a gradual progression from honours student to lab director within the ICETLab , which became part of the CCRG along that path. My time in the CCRG was fantastic. I received an excellent education with significant support from senior members of the group which inspired me to publish, attract funds, and grow a research group. As the group grew larger, the infrastructure around that increased but not quite at the same rate – there were minor issues that stemmed from that (as expected). But overall, I couldn’t be more thankful or happy with the support offered by the CCRG in establishing my career.
Where did your career lead to following your time at the Critical Care Research Group?
I was approached by Monash University while working at the CCRG. After lengthy discussions, I joined Monash in 2018 where I am now a Senior Research Fellow in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the co-chair of the Victorian Heart Institute New Technologies Group, the Director of the Cardio-Respiratory Engineering and Technology Laboratory, a Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, and more. I’ve had significant success since leaving the CCRG, but it’s largely due to the education I received within the CCRG.
How did the Critical Care Research Group help you grow?
The CCRG gave me a multidisciplinary environment to learn and thrive. I learned how to work with other disciplines and speak different “languages” (e.g. learned how to speak with a clinician), how to develop ideas, how to write research grants, how to conduct high-quality research, and how to disseminate that research. I learned how to be a leader in my field.
What advice would you give to a student or professional interested in joining the Critical Care Research Group?
Choose the CCRG if you’re a highly driven individual that wants to learn from some of the brightest minds in their field. This isn’t the environment for minimal effort – this a place where the best come together, collaborate, and work hard to make themselves and each other better. If you join, take some time at the beginning to learn about each of the groups, what they do and how they do it. It’s through this multidisciplinary environment that new and exciting ideas can begin to flow.
CCRG Fellowship programme
Learn more about unique ways to advance your research career with the Critical Care Research Group. From Estonia to Kenya, Italy to Japan, our Fellows come from all corners of the globe with enthusiasm, dedication, and integrity as we look at ways to advance clinical understanding of critical illness.
Interested in joining us? Read more and apply below.