Juliet Gerrard

Dame Juliet Ann Gerrard (born 1967) is a New Zealand biochemistry academic. She is a professor at the University of Auckland and was New Zealand Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor during the administration of Jacinda Ardern.

Early life Gerrard was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1967. Her family frequently moved around the United Kingdom when she was a child, living in various locations including Nottingham, Wales and Grimsby. She liked science and focused on chemistry in her studies. and then in 1992 a DPhil She moved to Crop and Food in New Zealand in 1997 and then the University of Canterbury in 1998, where she rose to full professor. Having been the recipient of Marsden grants herself in 1998 and 2003, Gerrard went on to serve as the chair of the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund Council from 2012 until 2018.

Her research includes investigations of protein-protein interactions, lysine biosynthesis (particularly the enzyme dihydrodipicolinate synthase) and the application of protein chemistry to the food industry. She has over 175 publications, including three books. and taking up the role for two three-year terms starting 1 July 2018. In her role she has tried to "draw on as many science voices as possible", and to be "rigorous, transparent, accessible and inclusive". In 2018, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. In 2017, Gerrard was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "150 women in 150 words", celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand.

Other She has a koru tattoo on her back, purchased for by her lab group for being made professor before her fortieth birthday.

She has spun out her own company called Hi-Aspect, which produces protein nanofibres for medical and other uses.

She is divorced and has two children.

Selected works Books

Journal papers