The Co-ed Advantage: Jiarna Zerella on thriving in STEM and sport

Jiarna Zerella (Class of 2016) doesn’t just play Australian Rules, she breaks the rules. This trailblazing Old Ignatian is challenging gender stereotypes through her work in science and on the footy field. Her coeducational experience at Saint Ignatius’ College taught her to see no limits.

Jiarna, you juggle two very different passions: cancer research and SANFLW football as a small forward for Norwood. Did you ever picture yourself as a ‘slashie’ growing up?

I’ve always been active and knew I wanted to stay involved in sports after school, but football wasn’t something I ever envisioned for myself. When I was growing up, there wasn’t really an opportunity to play football.

Being a ‘slashie’ now [though] gives me great balance in life. When I have a tough day in the lab [as a PhD candidate with the University of Adelaide], playing football provides an escape. It allows me to unwind, have fun, and focus on something completely different, which helps me reset and stay energised in both my career and sport.

Were there any early signs that hinted these would become your life’s pursuits?

From a young age, I always had a strong interest in science. It wasn’t always easy for me, but that challenge is what I enjoyed the most.

It pushed me to really work hard to understand complex concepts. I was the only one in my family who was decent at it, and I liked that.

On the other hand, sports came very naturally to me and my family. We’ve always been active, outdoorsy people, and I loved playing netball, soccer, and other sports as a kid.

Please tell us about the PhD you’re currently undertaking.

My PhD began with an Adelaide family, where two generations were affected by blood cancers and blood diseases.

After a colleague discovered a DNA mutation that could be the underlying cause of the family’s disease, my research focuses on investigating whether this mutation [ERG deficiency syndrome] – and similar mutations found in other families worldwide – could be the cause of their hereditary conditions and cancers.

Genetics was my favourite subject at university. It was challenging, but so fascinating. I knew right after completing my medical science degree that this was the area I wanted to focus on. Our genetics shape who we are, for the better or worse, and that is so fascinating to me.

You play football for Norwood, with fellow old scholars Alice Winter (Class of 2017) and Sarah Branford (Class of 2020). How does it feel to have three Old Ignatians in the league?

Even though Alice, Sarah, and I were in different year levels, having fellow Old Ignatians in the team creates an extra sense of connection with these teammates, as we share a similar upbringing and background.

I also stay in touch with many of my schoolfriends outside of football, and they’ve become my lifelong friends. The Old Ignatians network has been really important to me. It helps maintain those bonds and provides a strong sense of community.

Describe an average day in your life. How do you juggle it all?

My typical day starts with a gym session. Getting that out of the way early helps set me up for the rest of the day.

I begin my PhD work at 9am. Most of my day is spent in the lab, conducting various experiments with different cells. I make sure to grab a quick snack from my ‘snack stash’ in my bottom drawer at work before heading straight to training [at about 5pm]. Training usually finishes around 8.30pm, and after that, I have dinner and head straight to bed.

Juggling everything is easier when you love what you do. Both my research and football bring me joy in different ways.

When you’re passionate about what you’re doing, working hard doesn’t feel like work. Plus, being around great teammates and colleagues means I get my social fix from both worlds. 

The College encourages students to make the world brighter and spark change. Have those values shaped your career in any way?

Absolutely. Being a scientist is all about making the unknown known, but it’s also deeply about helping people, especially when it comes to diseases. Our work shows that just because a disease is rare doesn’t mean it’s any less important.

I love knowing that what we do has a real impact, not just on people around the world, but also close to home. Meeting the Adelaide family that started my project reminded me that my research actually means something and directly affects real people.

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the challenges in the lab when things don’t go as planned, but it’s important to remember the positive change we’re making.