Rate My Professor Michael Schuliga

Dr Michael Schuliga is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle, based at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Deakin University, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) from Monash University. His career includes a 14-year postdoctoral position in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Melbourne from 2002 to 2016, where he contributed to NHMRC-funded lung cell-molecular pharmacology research and commercial translational studies with biotech firms on novel anti-fibrotics. At Newcastle, Dr Schuliga leads investigations into idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), elucidating the roles of ageing mechanisms such as cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction in lung fibroblasts and alveolar epithelial cells. His research employs advanced molecular biology, proteomic, and cell culture techniques in collaborative projects with clinicians Prof Chris Grainge and Dr Claire Thomson, post-doctoral researcher Dr Andrew Reid, and pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim.

Dr Schuliga has authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, with first- or senior-author publications in leading journals including American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (nine papers), American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology (four papers), Clinical Science, Ageing Research Reviews, and British Journal of Pharmacology (four papers). Notable works include 'Senescence of IPF Lung Fibroblasts Disrupt Alveolar Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Promote Migration in Wound Healing' (2020), 'Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the senescent phenotype of IPF lung fibroblasts' (2018), and 'The fibrogenic actions of lung fibroblast-derived urokinase: a potential drug target in IPF' (2017). His impact is evidenced by an h-index of 34 and over 3,400 citations (Google Scholar), ranking him in the top 2% of scientists worldwide. Awards include the Lung Foundation Australia Eleanor Greenwood Memorial Travel Grant (2018), American Thoracic Society International Travel Trainee Scholar Award (2008), and first prizes at Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand meetings. He serves on the editorial board of American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology and presents at international conferences such as the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society, national events, and invited seminars.