Professor Jemma Geoghegan’s work has had substantial and measurable impact across research, public health, policy and wider society, demonstrating how fundamental microbiological research can be translated into real-world outcomes.
From tracking Covid outbreaks in real time to uncovering thousands of previously unknown viruses, Professor Jemma Geoghegan has spent her career revealing the hidden forces that shape infectious diseases.
That work has earned her one of Microbiology's highest honours – the 2027 Fleming Prize.
Named after Sir Alexander Fleming, a pioneer of modern medicine, the Microbiology Society awards the Fleming Prize annually to an individual who has achieved an outstanding research record.
Jemma, from Otago’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is also the Webster Family Chair in Viral Pathogenesis and a Rutherford Discovery Fellow. She will receive the award at the Society’s Annual Conference in Birmingham, United Kingdom, next year, where she will also deliver the Fleming Prize Lecture.
“I'm really pleased and honoured to receive the Fleming Prize, particularly given the history of the award and the calibre of researchers who have received it previously,” Jemma says.
“It's especially nice to have my work recognised by the Microbiology Society, as much of my research sits at the intersection of virology, evolutionary biology and genomics.”
For Jemma, the recognition is not only for the scientific discovery she’s led, but also for her work in demonstrating how fundamental microbiological research can be translated into real-world outcomes.
Over the past decade, she has helped rewrite scientists' understanding of how viruses evolve and emerge. She has challenged long-held assumptions about virus-host relationships, expanded the known virosphere by uncovering thousands of previously undescribed viruses and transformed the application of viral genomics to public health.
While these might appear to be different strands of research, for Jemma they are all part of the same story.
“They're all connected by an interest in understanding viruses and their interactions with hosts.
“It's particularly rewarding to have that breadth of research recognised, and it gives me encouragement to keep pursuing new questions and taking the research in different directions.”
Her interest in understanding viruses put her at the forefront of Aotearoa’s Covid pandemic response.
In 2020, she established the SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance programme, helping place viral genome sequencing at the centre of outbreak investigations.
This programme, later described as “world leading”, demonstrated how real-time genomic data could inform public health responses by identifying transmission pathways, resolving outbreak clusters and guiding interventions.
It was also an example of how fundamental research can become incredibly important in a practical setting, Jemma says.
“We can't always predict which discoveries will turn out to be useful, or when.
“During Covid, we were able to take approaches developed through years of research into virus evolution, apply them directly to understanding transmission and informing New Zealand's public health response.”
The impact of her research has extended far beyond the laboratory, turning her into a trusted expert voice on infectious diseases. Her work in public engagement was recognised with the 2025 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize.
“Communicating science is a really important part of being a researcher, particularly when you're working on something that directly affects people's lives.
“Good science communication isn't just about telling people what you've discovered. It's also about making research accessible, explaining why it matters, and helping people understand the evidence behind decisions. It is something I genuinely enjoy doing.”
Winning the Fleming Prize comes at a time when Jemma’s research is cutting across disciplines and borders, influencing scientific understanding and real-world public health policy and practice across the world.
Her research is expanding into pathogen genomics across human, wildlife and environmental systems, contributing to integrated surveillance approaches that will strengthen preparedness and improve responses to future infectious disease threats.
“I think some of the most interesting scientific questions don't fit neatly within a single discipline.
“Viruses are a good example because understanding how they evolve, spread and emerge requires expertise from evolutionary biology, ecology, genomics, epidemiology and public health, among others.
“Bringing these different perspectives together often allows us to ask questions we wouldn't otherwise think of, or approach problems in new ways.”
The Fleming Prize is also a reflection of the contribution of these different perspectives, Jemma says.
“I'd really like to acknowledge the students, postdocs and collaborators I've worked with, both in New Zealand and internationally.
“Science is very much a collective effort, and I've been fortunate to work with some fantastic people who have contributed enormously to the research being recognised by this award.”
~ Kōrero by Sandra French, Adviser, Internal Communications