zahra.tajbakhsh@uwa.edu.au

Dr. Tajbakhsh is a lecturer in the Department of Optometry at the University of Western Australia. She obtained her Bachelor and Master of Optometry degrees in Iran before completing her PhD at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney, in 2022. Her doctoral research focused on ocular surface neuroimmunology during ocular allergy.

Dr. Tajbakhsh has authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers, a book chapter, and presented her research findings at numerous national and international scientific conferences. She has received several travel grants, including those from the International Society of Contact Lens Researchers (ISCLR), the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Cornea and Ocular Surface Biology and Pathology, the Gordon Research Conference, and Heidelberg Engineering.

She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and serves as an academic editor for PLOS ONE journal, and a reviewer for several optometry and ophthalmology journals. Dr. Tajbakhsh is proud to be one of the inaugural PhD champions of UNSW Woman in Math and Science and is committed to promote diversity in STEM fields.

Her research interests lie in ocular surface diseases and the identification of novel biomarkers to predict, diagnose, and monitor the treatment of both ocular and systemic diseases.