Jacqueline Matthews is the Professor of Protein Chemistry and Deputy Head of School in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney. She obtained a BSc (Hons I) in 1989 from the University of New South Wales, co-majoring in chemistry and biochemistry with an honours year in chemistry. Matthews completed her PhD in Biological Chemistry in 1995 at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Sir Alan Fersht, focusing on protein folding. She then undertook postdoctoral research from 1994 to 1998 at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne, investigating protein folding and protein-protein interactions in cytokine signalling, particularly interleukin-6. In 1998, she joined the University of Sydney and established her independent research laboratory in 1999 in the Department of Biochemistry, which is now part of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Matthews employs structural biology, biophysical, and molecular biology approaches to study protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions in gene regulation. Her research elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which proteins bind DNA to switch genes on or off, processes vital for normal development and implicated in diseases such as cancer. Notable publications include "mRNA display reveals a class of high-affinity bromodomain-binding motifs that are not found in the human proteome" (2023), "The molecular details of a novel phosphorylation-dependent interaction between MRN and the SOSS complex" (2023), "DNA-binding, multivalent interactions and phase separation in transcriptional activation" (2023), and "Tropoelastin bridge region positions the cell-interactive C terminus and contributes to elasticity" (PNAS, 2012). She has secured Australian Research Council funding, including grants DP220101489 and LE110100171. With over 7,400 citations, her contributions have advanced protein chemistry. Matthews serves as President of the Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, has led the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, edited "Protein Dimerization and Oligomerization in Biology" (2016), teaches Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, supervises PhD students, and promotes women in science via conference committees.

Professional Email: jacqueline.matthews@sydney.edu.au