Parwinder Kaur
{{Short description|Indian biotechnologist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date = May 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date = May 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Parwinder Kaur
| office = Member (Elect) of the Western Australian Legislative Council
| term_start = 22 May 2025
| party = Labor
| profession = Research scientist, associate professor (biotechnology),
| citizenship = Australia
| alma_mater = Punjab Agricultural University (BSc), University of Western Australia (PhD)
| birth_place = Punjab, India
| state = Western Australia
| premier = Roger Cook (politician)
| predecessor = Sally Talbot
}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Parwinder Kaur
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| other_names =
| alma_mater = University of Western Australia
| thesis_title = Pathogenic behaviour of Albungo candida on Brassica juncea and mechanisms of host resistance
| thesis_url = https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/pathogenic-behaviour-of-albungo-candida-on-brassica-juncea-and-me
| thesis_year = 2010
| known_for = Biodiversity and science
| employer = University of Western Australia
| occupation =
| title = Associate Professor
| salary =
| networth =
| height =
| weight =
| term =
|website
| footnotes =
}}
Parwinder Kaur is an Australian biotechnologist and politician. She was elected to the Western Australian Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council of the at the 2025 state election for WA Labor. Prior to entering politics she was director of the DNA Zoo Australia, and associate professor at the University of Western Australia. Her research involves genomic techniques to help conservation efforts. On International Women's Day in 2023, Kaur was inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame.
Early life and education
Parwinder Kaur spent her early life in Nawanshahr, Punjab.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
She obtained her undergraduate degree in agriculture from the Punjab Agricultural University, subsequently completing her masters degree in entomology. She obtained an international scholarship to pursue a PhD at University of Western Australia (UWA) with a focus on molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-16 |title=My Australian Story: Dr Parwinder Kaur {{!}} Western Australian Museum |url=https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/episodes/conversations/2024-05/My-Australian-Story-Parwinder-Kaur |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=visit.museum.wa.gov.au |language=en}}
She received a PhD from UWA in 2010 for her thesis, "Pathogenic behaviour of Albungo candida on Brassica juncea and mechanisms of host resistance".{{Cite thesis |title=Pathogenic behaviour of Albungo candida on Brassica juncea and mechanisms of host resistance |url=https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/pathogenic-behaviour-of-albungo-candida-on-brassica-juncea-and-me |date=2010 |degree=PhD |first=Parwinder |last=Kaur}}
She said that her "biggest challenge was convincing family and community that female education and pursuing a career is of value, and a better investment than the traditional route of dowry and marriage", and that winning a PhD scholarship at the right time was a way to escape this, and move to Australia to follow her research interests.{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Allison |date=2021-09-21 |title=‘Escaping marriage’ by winning a PhD scholarship: How Dr Parwinder Kaur smashed stereotypes to pursue science |url=https://womensagenda.com.au/leadership/advice/escaping-marriage-by-winning-a-phd-scholarship-how-dr-parwinder-kaur-smashed-stereotypes-to-pursue-science/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Women's Agenda |language=en-AU}}
Career
Kaur is a biotechnologist who has spent more than a decade researching genomic methodologies, including cross-disciplinary biodiversity genomic research, as well as conservation biology and genomics,{{Cite web |title=International Women's Day: Scientist Parwinder Kaur inducted into WA Women's Hall of Fame |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/punjabi/en/podcast-episode/international-womens-day-award-winning-scientist-parwinder-kaur-inducted-into-wa-womens-hall-of-the-fame/rlbakfqfm |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=SBS Language |language=en}} to help conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species.{{Cite web |title=Science Technology Australia |url=https://www.industry.gov.au/science-technology-and-innovation/diversity-stem-review/dr-parwinder-kaur}} Her research aims to use genomic technologies to investigate biodiversity and natural environments, with the goal of working towards sustainable futures. Her research has also used AI, in biodiversity and genomic innovation.{{Cite web |last=Ong |first=Michele |date=2022-12-10 |title=DNA: The Code of Life and Diversity for Innovation with Dr Parwinder Kaur |url=https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/parwinder-kaur |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Steam Powered |language=en}}
She was director of the DNA Zoo Australia, and associate professor at UWA.{{Cite web |title=Associate Professor Parwinder Kaur |url=https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/dr-parwinder-kaur/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Science and Technology Australia |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Science Technology Australia |url=https://www.industry.gov.au/science-technology-and-innovation/diversity-stem-review/dr-parwinder-kaur}} On International Women's Day in 2023, Kaur was inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame.
She is also an entrepreneur in the biotechnology sector, with a company called Ex Planta Pty Ltd combining technology with bio-engineering solutions.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Other activities
Kaur is also an ambassador for GirlsXTech.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
She was appointed to be on a Diversity in STEM expert panel within the office of the Minister for Industry and Science, Australia, being appointed by Hon. Ed Husic, MP.
Kaur has written for The Conversation on Avian Flu, and how migrating birds can bring the virus to Australian birds. She wrote that preparation including understanding ways of detecting and tracking outbreaks of viruses in wildlife is necessary to protect against viral outbreaks crossing from wildlife to humans.{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Parwinder |date=2023-05-03 |title=Migrating birds could bring lethal avian flu to Australia's vulnerable birds |url=http://theconversation.com/migrating-birds-could-bring-lethal-avian-flu-to-australias-vulnerable-birds-204793 |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}
Kaur has been in the media for her work, increasing the participation of women and boosting diversity in STEM subjects.{{Cite web |title=Tribune India - Kaur wins award |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/indian-origin-scientist-parwinder-kaur-named-to-stem-expert-panel-in-australia-hails-from-punjabs-nawanshahr-464453}}
Recognition
- 2023: Finalist, Agenda Setter of the Year, Women's Agenda Leadership Awards{{Cite web |last=Hislop |first=Madeline |date=2023-09-13 |title=Announcing the finalists of the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards |url=https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/announcing-the-finalists-of-the-2023-womens-agenda-leadership-awards/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Women's Agenda |language=en-AU}}
- 2023: Australian Sikh Woman of the Year{{cn|date=June 2024}}
- 2023: WA Women's Hall of Fame, on International Women's Day{{Cite web |date=2023-09-11 |title=Out & About: Morning tea to launch Hall of Fame nominations |url=https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/wa-womens-hall-of-fame-socials-gallery-from-morning-tea-at-parliament-house-to-call-for-nominations-c-11731205 |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Biotechnologist and Social Scientist honoured in WA Womens Hall of Fame |url=https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2023/march/biotechnologist-and-social-scientist-honoured-in-wa-womens-hall-of-fame |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=www.uwa.edu.au |language=en}} on for her contributions to science and diversity
- 2021–2022: Superstar of STEM, Science & Technology Australia{{Cite web |title=2021 Superstars of STEM Archives |url=https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/list/2021-superstars/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Science & Technology Australia |language=en-AU}}
- 2019–2020: Microsoft's AI for Earth award
- 2013: Science and Innovation Award, Australian Academy of Science
Politics
Kaur is affiliated with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) which is aligned with the Progressive Labor (Labor right) faction.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=Labor’s Right set to pick biotechnician for Upper House |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/labors-right-faction-set-to-pick-biotechnician-for-upper-house-as-left-struggles-to-keep-all-sitting-mps-c-15057544 |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hastie |first=Hamish |date=2025-03-12 |title=WA Labor’s factional makeup has changed dramatically since Saturday. Here’s what we know |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/wa-labor-s-factional-makeup-has-changed-dramatically-since-saturday-here-s-what-we-know-20250312-p5lizv.html |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
She was elected to the Western Australian Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council of the at the 2025 state election for WA Labor, with the new Legislative Council being sworn in on 22 May 2025.{{Cite journal |last=Fullarton |first=Alexander |date=2021 |title=Submission D 34: Ministerial Expert Committee Review of the WA Electoral System for the Election of the Western Australian Legislative Council |url=https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3892547 |journal=SSRN Electronic Journal |doi=10.2139/ssrn.3892547 |issn=1556-5068}}
Personal life
Kaur is married with two children. She has spoken publicly about her Sikh faith.
References
{{Scholia}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaur, Parwinder}}
Category:Australian women academics
Category:Indian women scientists
Category:Australian women scientists
Category:University of Western Australia alumni