Stephanie Faulks is a SAAFE CRC PhD candidate at the University of South Australia, where she’s turning her passion for public and environmental health into innovative research on AMR. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) from Griffith University, where she first explored AMR using Bayesian Belief Network modelling to investigate the presence and fate of resistant organisms and genes in Advanced Water Treatment Systems and their supply networks. That project sparked her interest in AMR, particularly in how interactions within the ecological niches created by these systems, and broader environmental factors, influence AMR dynamics — a theme that now shapes her doctoral work.

In her current research, Stephanie is developing a novel Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) modelling framework to inform management options for AMR in key environmental hotspots. Using ecological and epidemiological modelling approaches to address the interplay between AMR determinants and AMR-pathogen evolution, she will inform exposure assessments for agribusiness, food production, and environmental sectors. Her work is designed to bridge complex system dynamics with real-world application — offering practical tools for decision-makers to mitigate AMR risks more effectively.

Stephanie was drawn to SAAFE by its ambitious, collaborative model that brings together experts from across sectors to combat one of the most pressing global health threats. As someone early in her PhD journey, she’s currently immersed in reviewing the literature, shaping her research design, and preparing to present her Honours work at international conferences like WaterMicro25 and NextWater25. Her motto, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” reflects her commitment to making an impact — both through her research and in the broader AMR conversation.

When she’s not buried in papers or preparing presentations, Stephanie enjoys getting outdoors for camping and hiking or losing herself in a fantasy novel. A self-proclaimed coffee enthusiast, she’s also on a mission to discover Adelaide’s best cafes — a tradition she began on the Gold Coast with a 30+ venue leaderboard. And if given the chance to dine with anyone, Stephanie would choose her 90-year-old Gran's younger self. Her Gran has been a matriarchal hero in her life, and with the current difficulties in communication because of dementia, Stephanie would cherish the opportunity to connect with the vibrant woman she remembers.