Lottie Morison participates in the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany; Ethics and social impact in focus.
Women in Research #LINO75: Lottie Morison - Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Ethics and Social Impact in Focus
Published 13 August 2026 by Ulrike Böhm
Women in Research #LINO75: Lottie Morison
Lottie from Australia is a PhD graduate at the MCRI Home – Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Parkville , Australia.
Her research interests are communication impairments in genetic childhood dementia disorders. She is passionate about how systematically phenotyping speech and language features can inform genetic testing referrals, support prognostic counselling, monitor disease progression, & guide clinical decision-making.
Lottie participates in the 75 th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (#LINO75 – Interdisciplinary).
Enjoy the interview with Lottie and get inspired:
What inspired you to pursue a career in science
I initially was interested in studying speech pathology in high school, as I had some family members who had disabilities and used speech pathology services. I had seen firsthand the impact of communication accessibility on quality of life. I was drawn to the intersection of clinical sciences and languages, as well as helping and working with others. I was equally interested in the genetic underpinnings of speech and language disorders, particularly in rare, monogenic conditions. We are learning exponentially more about monogenetic conditions, so it is such an exciting time to be in this space!
Who are your role models?
It may be cliché, but my greatest role model is my PhD supervisor and lab head, Prof Angela Morgan. She is a true pioneer in the genetics of speech and language disorders, whilst also shepherding the next generation of researchers, many of whom are young women, through their studies.
How did you get to where you are in your career path?
After my undergraduate degrees in International Studies and Genetics, I pursued a Master’s in Speech Pathology and then, most recently, a PhD. I was interested in speech pathology as I enjoyed the intersection between the Arts and Languages, and Science, alongside a passion for working with people with disability. After completing my Master’s degree, I worked with children with developmental disabilities. I was fortunate, as there was a research team specialising in the genetics of speech and language disorders in the city I was living in (Melbourne, Australia). I then had the opportunity to do my PhD in an area that intersected with all my interests: disability, communication and genetics.
What is the coolest project you have worked on and why?
During my PhD, I characterised speech and language profiles in four rare genetic conditions that cause skill regression in children: Kleefstra syndrome, KIF1A-associated neurological disorder, CLN2 disease and CLN3 disease. It was such a privilege to work with the young people living with these conditions, and their families. I think meeting with the families and learning from their experiences was invaluable, and for this reason I consider all of these projects very special!
What’s a time you felt immense pride in yourself
To be frank, I find being proud of my work difficult. I think this may be the product of imposter syndrome, being a young woman and, until recently, a student. There is also a culture of ‘tall poppy syndrome’ in Australia, where it is not common to openly show pride or talk about one’s achievements. I think these factors all combine to make it challenging for me to be truly ‘proud’ of achievements – something I am working on!
What is a “day in the life” of you like?
A day in my PhD life naturally looked very different across the course of my studies. Some days I had many middle-of-the-night Zoom calls (the Australian time difference is not kind!) with families from all over the world. During these calls, I would do speech and language assessments, then score these assessments during the day; this data would in turn become the results of papers once they were ready to be written up. A given day would also be peppered with emails, meetings, reading, and writing.
What are you seeking to accomplish in your career?
I hope to improve the lives of young people living with rare, genetic conditions and their families, especially regarding their access to therapeutic services such as speech pathology.
What do you like to do when you’re not doing research?
I am a pop culture fanatic and spend far too much time listening to music and watching movies. I also love travelling and being in the outdoors, swimming, and hiking. My partner, friends, and family are also very important to me! Lastly, my Dad has young-onset frontotemporal dementia, so I spend time with him and my Mum, and I volunteer for the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association.
What advice do you have for other women interested in science
My advice is to seek out trusted mentors who are in your corner. They will uplift you and provide invaluable support as you navigate different opportunities and decisions. The insights I received from other women who were studying for a PhD or had recently completed a PhD were hugely helpful and continue to be.
In your opinion, what will be the next great breakthrough in science
Some of my colleagues at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute are doing fascinating work into the monogenic underpinnings of severe childhood speech disorders. This research is already “breaking through,” but I am so excited to see how this work evolves in the near future.
What should be done to increase the number of female scientists and professors?
As I am sure is the same with many disciplines internationally, access to research funding is a core concern for many people, especially women, in my industry. There is an understandable desire for job security, particularly if women want to have a family.
Ulrike Boehm is a physicist and science enthusiast. She works as an optical scientist at ZEISS in Oberkochen, Germany. Previously, she did her Ph.D. studies at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen in the Department of NanoBiophotonics of Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell, followed by research stays in the US at the National Institutes of Health and HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus, developing tools for biomedical research. She is generally passionate about designing and building (optical) instruments to image, probe, and manipulate (biological) structures. Furthermore, she is passionate about science communication and open science and is a huge advocate for women in science.
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