Dr Erika Freemantle

Erika Freemantle joined Te Hononga Akoranga COMET in 2024 as our WeSTEM Project Manager. She is a life-long learner and has a PhD in Human Genetics from McGill University; an MSc in Physiology and Biophysics from the Université de Sherbrooke; and a BSc in Anatomy and Cell Biology from McGill University. She has worked as a Post-Doc Research Fellow in Canada, Finland and New Zealand in biochemistry, genetics, bioinformatics and neuroscience.

Erika's research experience includes conducting advanced electrophysiology experiments, 3D bioprinting and developing innovative research protocols. She loves everything tech. Her passion is combining multimodal high-throughput omics data to advance our understanding of the human brain. 

Before joining COMET, Erika volunteered for several years as an assessment advisor for COMET’s Curious Minds South Auckland programme. She is rapt about uniting science and industry to promote STEM education among diverse communities. In her role at COMET, Erika aims to inspire and support students in their pursuit of STEM education, fostering a community where science, creativity and education converge.