By: Hayden Krause
Dr. Shokoofeh Shamsi is a professor of Veterinary Parasitology at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, Australia, known for her work in understanding the roles parasites have in ecosystems, discovering new species and connecting the gap between parasitology and public health. Her passion for parasitology began during her time as a student in her home country of Iran. As a woman in stem in Iran, she experienced many obstacles that shifted her early interest in snake ecology to a successful and impactful career in parasitology.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Shokoofeh during her visit to our lab this summer. During her time, I showed Dr. Shokoofeh how we use sentinel fish exposures to sample parasites in river systems, and in return, she taught me how to discover various fish parasites in the guts of coastal rockfish. Dr. Shokoofeh’s love of parasitology is infectious (pun intended), and she quickly became a role model for me. I am honored to interview her and share her story in parasitology.
Interview:
What sparked your passion for parasitology? Was there a specific moment or experience that made you fall in love with this field?
I started out studying biology, majoring in zoology (1989 to 1993), and for my honours research (1993), I focused on the taxonomy and systematics of snakes in Iran, where I was born. However, after the Islamic Revolution (1978), it became incredibly difficult for Iranian women to pursue research careers, especially in disciplines requiring fieldwork like mine. Continuing my work on snake biology and ecology was off the table.
After graduation, I ended up applying for a job as a fish biologist at the Iranian Fisheries Research Institute, and I was successful! But when I arrived, my boss told me, quite casually, that the fish biologist position was no longer available. Instead, I was to replace a female parasitologist who had left to follow her husband, who was going elsewhere. He even joked that I should marry someone in the institute to avoid the hassle of anyone else leaving! I went home crying that day, knowing how rare research opportunities were for women. But I also knew I had to take the job.
What happened next completely changed my life. On my first day, I watched a tech “Mr Farhad Aghlmandi” enthusiastically dissect a fish, and as a newly graduated 22-year-old, I knew nothing about fish parasites. But within hours, seeing those beautifully diverse, living parasites under the microscope, it opened my eyes to an entirely new world. I was hooked! I went from studying big snakes to becoming obsessed with tiny “snakes”—parasites—and I’ve been in love with them ever since. 😊
What unique opportunities has your research in parasitology provided you, that you may not have encountered otherwise?
Even though it was extremely difficult for a young woman to work in my research field in Iran, I continued working on parasites and slowly started publishing papers and collaborating with international researchers. This led to one of the most life-changing opportunities: I was awarded two scholarships—one from the University of Melbourne and one from the Australian government. These scholarships allowed me to pursue a PhD in Parasitology at the University of Melbourne, which not only changed my life but also the life of my baby daughter, who was just 26 days old when I moved to Australia in 2002. That move set the course of our lives; Australia became the country I chose to call home and where I raised my daughter.
What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing parasitology? Why do you believe this field is important, and how can we motivate more students to get involved?
Honestly, the field of parasitology is so fascinating that I’ve never had to work hard to motivate students. Parasites take us to the deepest, most complex layers of life on Earth. One of the most exciting things we can do is embark on this journey with parasites and see the world through their ‘lens’. It’s like a real-life adventure that goes even beyond the scope of David Attenborough’s documentaries. Laugh at me if you wish, but although I’m a huge fan of his works, I do think the series must be redone to be inclusive of parasites impacts! Parasites are more than just wiggly, wormy creatures; they’re highly adaptable and successful organisms with unique life strategies. Once people—students or anyone—realize this, they can’t stop ignoring them!
Throughout your career, you've discovered numerous new species of parasites. Is there one in particular that stands out to you? If so, why?
Yes, there’s one that stands out among the many I’ve found, although it hasn’t been published or officially named yet. This one is special to me because when I was studying it, my daughter would often join me in the lab after school. We’d look at it together, and she was always fascinated by a star-shaped structure on its body. It really grabbed her attention, so I’m planning to name it after her.
You recently gave a TEDx talk, highlighting the importance of parasites in ecosystems. In it you mentioned Toxoplasma gondii (introduced as Tom, like Tom and Jerry Walt Disney characters) and its impact on public health. How can we improve the public’s understanding of parasites as a potential cause of illnesses?
The key to shifting public perception about anything is simple: education. Most people’s fear or aversion to parasites is learned. And no matter what someone does for a living, being aware of parasites and their role is crucial. As I mentioned in my TEDx talk, it’s surprising that even major fields like environmental science often skip over parasites. Take Toxoplasma, for example. If medical doctors, psychologists, food handlers, optometrists, and veterinarians all understood how it links to blindness, strokes, mental health issues, and more, imagine how much better public health would be. Now think about adding all other parasites into the mix—those that infect animals, plants, and entire ecosystems and still are overlooked. Recognizing the deep connections between all living organisms would lead to a more inclusive and sustainable future for life on Earth. That’s the true “One Health” approach!
Finally, could you share a funny story from your research experiences?
Oh, I think I’ve got a good one! So, one day we had visitors from Taronga Zoo at Charles Sturt University, invited by one of our pathologists. After a long day, we all went out for dinner. It was a beautiful, warm summer evening in Australia, and we sat at an outdoor table on a busy street. My daughter, who was in primary school at the time, was with me as usual—I was happily a single mom, and she was often my little sidekick.
During our chat, I found out they had a freezer full of various dead animals back at the zoo. Naturally, my brain immediately jumped to the potential parasites in those specimens! Now, I’m also a very animated speaker—I’m Persian, after all—so I was passionately gesturing and talking about “dead bodies” being transferred to Wagga and the best way to move them. I didn’t realize how this sounded to everyone around us! Suddenly, my daughter leaned over and whispered, “Mom, you’re so embarrassing. Everyone thinks we’re a bunch of murderers! Did you notice how people are staring at us?!” I quickly made sure to say loudly and clearly, “I mean the poor animals that passed away and need to be examined for research to save the lives of other animals in the zoo!” Let’s just say, I toned down my excitement after that. 😊
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