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Hire Matthew O.

Australia

USD 90 /hr

Freelance Scientist and writer with 10 years experience in molecular and biochemical analysis

Profile Summary

I am currently the group leader for the Integrated Multiomics Group affiliated with the Woolcock Institute, and I am internationally recognised for my ongoing development of mass spectrometry and proteomics techniques and technologies. I also hold intellectual property in MALDI technology (P40416AUP1, filed February 2016). I have published 32 papers, including 22 as first or senior author, focused on the development and application of mass spectrometry-based omics techniques for the analysis of disease and biological systems. Previously, I managed the MS Imaging and Biomarker Discovery Service at Sydney MS at the University of Sydney. My career demonstrates strong writing skills across multiple domains, including grant development, budget preparation, scientific publications, and strategic documentation. I have authored numerous successful funding applications, crafting clear, persuasive narratives and detailed budgets for major grants totaling over $7.5 million. These include two NCRI MRFF submissions valued at $2.99 million and $2.94 million, as well as competitive schemes such as DECRA ($469,000), Ian Potter Foundation ($275,076), and NHMRC Investigator ($662,040). In addition, I secured internal funding through well-written proposals for the UTS Internal Infrastructure Fund ($180,000), a Seed Grant ($10,000), and the UTS MCR ROCF scheme ($20,000). I also contributed to collaborative applications totaling more than $11 million, ensuring clarity and precision in the proteomics components of each submission. My writing extends to high-quality scientific outputs, including multiple first-author publications and collaborative contributions to studies on COVID-19, COPD, asthma, lung cancer, and post-translational modifications. These works required synthesizing complex data into clear, impactful manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals. Beyond research outputs, I have prepared governance-compliant documentation, milestone reports, and strategic plans, demonstrating attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Mass Spectrometry
• ★ Omics
• ★ Proteomics
• ☆ Analytical Chemistry
• ☆ Evolutionary Biology
• ☆ Microbiology
• ☆ Microbiome Research
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Transcriptomics
• ☆ Lipidomics
• ☆ Metabolomics
• ☆ Pathogenesis

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Product Development

Writing Medical Writing, Non-Medical Regulatory Writing, Technical Writing, Business & Legal Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing

Research Feasibility Study, Fact Checking, Gray Literature Search

Consulting Healthcare Consulting, Operations Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting, Regulatory Consulting

Product Development Concept Development

Work Experience

Post Doctoral Fellow

University of Technology Sydney

March 2021 - Present

Post Doctoral Researcher

Kolling Institute of Medical Research

November 2018 - March 2021

Teacher

TAFE NSW

January 2016 - January 2021

Technical Officer

University of Sydney

December 2016 - November 2018

Education

Bachelor of Law

University of New England

2017 - 2021

PhD (Proteomics)

University of Technology Sydney

January 2014 - November 2016

BSc (Science)

Macquarie University Faculty of Science

January 2009 - February 2012

Certifications

• Certificate IV in Training and education

  Fortress Learning

  April 2025 - Present

• Certifiate III of Basic Healthcare

  St John Amblance

  April 2024 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Elinor Hortle and Vi LT Tran and Kathryn Wright and Angela RM Fontaine and Natalia Pinello and Matthew B O'Rourke and Justin J-L Wong and Philip M Hansbro and Warwick J Britton and Stefan H Oehlers(2022). OXSR1 inhibits inflammasome activation by limiting potassium efflux during mycobacterial infection . Life Science Alliance. 5. (9). p. e202201476. Life Science Alliance, {LLC}

Mark P. Molloy, Cameron Hill, Matthew B. O’Rourke, Jason Chandra, Pascal Steffen, Matthew J. McKay, Dana Pascovici, Ben R. Herbert(2022). Proteomic Analysis of Whole Blood Using Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling for Precision Medicine Biomarker Studies . Journal of Proteome Research. 21. (4). p. 1196--1203. American Chemical Society ({ACS})

Matthew B. O’Rourke, Barney Viengkhou, Caine C. Smith, Lorenz Sonderegger, Matthew P. Padula, Greg T. Sutherland, Markus J. Hofer, Ben Crossett (2021). Matrix phase fractionation: Investigating the compromise between dynamic range of analyte extraction and spatial resolution in mass spectrometry imaging . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry.

O’Rourke, M.B., Viengkhou, B., Smith, C.C., Sonderegger, L., Padula, M.P., Sutherland, G.T., Hofer, M.J., Crossett, B.(2021). Matrix phase fractionation: Investigating the compromise between dynamic range of analyte extraction and spatial resolution in mass spectrometry imaging . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 35. (13).

Matthew B. O'Rourke and Sumit Sahni and Jaswinder Samra and Anubhav Mittal and Mark P. Molloy(2021). Data independent acquisition of plasma biomarkers of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma . Journal of Proteomics. 231. p. 103998.

O'Rourke, M.B., Sahni, S., Samra, J., Mittal, A., Molloy, M.P.(2021). Data independent acquisition of plasma biomarkers of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma . Journal of Proteomics. 231.

Santos, J., Dolai, S., O’rourke, M.B., Liu, F., Padula, M.P., Molloy, M.P., Milthorpe, B.K.(2021). Quantitative proteomic profiling of small molecule treated mesenchymal stem cells using chemical probes . International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22. (1). p. 1-20.

Jerran Santos, Sibasish Dolai, Matthew B. O’Rourke, Fei Liu, Matthew P. Padula, Mark P. Molloy, Bruce K. Milthorpe (2020). Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Small Molecule Treated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using Chemical Probes . International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Jerran Santos, Sibasish Dolai, Matthew B. O’Rourke, Fei Liu, Matthew P. Padula, Mark P. Molloy, Bruce K. Milthorpe (2020). Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Small Molecule Treated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using Chemical Probes . International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Matthew B. O’Rourke, Matthew P. Padula (2020). Reporting of Hybrid Data and the Difficulties with Cross-Discipline Research Techniques . Proteomes.

Quintin Lee, Jianming Qiu, Matthew P. Padula, Natalia Pinello, Simon H. Williams, Matthew B. O'Rourke, Marcilio Jorge Fumagalli, Joseph D. Orkin, Renhua Song, Babak Shaban, et al.(2020). Murine and related chapparvoviruses are nephro-tropic and produce novel accessory proteins in infected kidneys . PLOS Pathogens. 16. (1). p. e1008262. Public Library of Science ({PLoS})

Lee, Q., Padula, M.P., Pinello, N., Williams, S.H., O’Rourke, M.B., Fumagalli, M.J., Orkin, J.D., Song, R., Shaban, B., Brenner, O., et al.(2020). Murine and related chapparvoviruses are nephro-tropic and produce novel accessory proteins in infected kidneys . PLoS Pathogens. 16. (1).

O’Rourke, Matthew B. and Padula, Matthew P.(2020). Reporting of Hybrid Data and the Difficulties with Cross-Discipline Research Techniques . Proteomes. 8. (4).

O’rourke, M.B., Padula, M.P.(2020). Reporting of hybrid data and the difficulties with cross-discipline research techniques . Proteomes. 8. (4). p. 1-6.

Matthew B. O'Rourke, Matthew P. Padula (2019). An Inexpensive, simple calibration method for MALDI TOF/TOF systems . Journal of Mass Spectrometry.

O'Rourke MB, Town SEL, Dalla PV, Bicknell F, Koh Belic N, Violi JP, Steele JR, Padula MP(2019). What is Normalization? The Strategies Employed in Top-Down and Bottom-Up Proteome Analysis Workflows . Proteomes.

(2019). The Use of Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and Associated Technologies For The Study of Disease Pathogenesis and Advanced Diagnostics. Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

O'Rourke MB, Smith CC, De La Monte SM, Sutherland GT, Padula MP(2019). Higher Mass Accuracy MALDI-TOF/TOF Lipid Imaging of Human Brain Tissue in Alzheimer's Disease . Current protocols in molecular biology.

O'Rourke, M.B., Smith, C.C., De La Monte, S.M., Sutherland, G.T., Padula, M.P.(2019). Higher Mass Accuracy MALDI-TOF/TOF Lipid Imaging of Human Brain Tissue in Alzheimer's Disease . Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. 126. (1).

O’rourke, M.B., Town, S.E.L., Dalla, P.V., Bicknell, F., Belic, N.K., Violi, J.P., Steele, J.R., Padula, M.P.(2019). What is normalization? The strategies employed in top-down and bottom-up proteome analysis workflows . Proteomes. 7. (3). p. 1-19.

Zhang, H.E., Hamson, E.J., Koczorowska, M.M., Tholen, S., Chowdhury, S., Bailey, C.G., Lay, A.J., Twigg, S.M., Lee, Q., Roediger, B., et al.(2019). Identification of novel natural substrates of fibroblast activation protein-alpha by differential degradomics and proteomics . Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. 18. (1). p. 65-85.

O'Rourke, M.B., Padula, M.P.(2019). An Inexpensive, simple calibration method for MALDI TOF/TOF systems . Journal of Mass Spectrometry. 54. (12). p. 1003-1007.

O'Rourke, M.B., Smith, C.C., Tse, B.C.Y., Sutherland, G.T., Crossett, B., Padula, M.P.(2019). 'What did i do wrong?' An empirical evaluation of sample preparation methodologies in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging . Future Science OA. 5. (4).

Roediger B, Lee Q, Tikoo S, Cobbin JCA, Henderson JM, Jormakka M, O'Rourke MB, Padula MP, Pinello N, Henry M, et al.(2018). An Atypical Parvovirus Drives Chronic Tubulointerstitial Nephropathy and Kidney Fibrosis . Cell.

Zhang HE, Hamson EJ, Koczorowska MM, Tholen S, Chowdhury S, Bailey CG, Lay AJ, Twigg SM, Lee Q, Roediger B, et al.(2018). Identification of Novel Natural Substrates of Fibroblast Activation Protein-alpha by Differential Degradomics and Proteomics . Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP.

O'Rourke MB, Padula MP, Smith C, Youssef P, Cordwell S, Witting P, Sutherland G, Crossett B(2018). Optimal Preparation of Formalin Fixed Samples for Peptide Based Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging Workflows . Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE.

O'Rourke MB, Raymond BBA, Djordjevic SP, Padula MP(2018). The Effect of Collimating Lens Focusing on Laser Beam Shape in Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) . Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.

O’Rourke, M.B., Raymond, B.B.A., Djordjevic, S.P., Padula, M.P.(2018). The Effect of Collimating Lens Focusing on Laser Beam Shape in Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) . Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 29. (3). p. 512-515.

O’Rourke, M.B., Padula, M.P., Smith, C., Youssef, P., Cordwell, S., Witting, P., Sutherland, G., Crossett, B.(2018). Optimal preparation of formalin fixed samples for peptide based matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging workflows . Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2018. (131).

Roediger, B., Lee, Q., Tikoo, S., Cobbin, J.C.A., Henderson, J.M., Jormakka, M., O'Rourke, M.B., Padula, M.P., Pinello, N., Henry, M., et al.(2018). An Atypical Parvovirus Drives Chronic Tubulointerstitial Nephropathy and Kidney Fibrosis . Cell. 175. (2). p. 530-543.e24.

O'Rourke, M.B., Djordjevic, S.P., Padula, M.P.(2018). The quest for improved reproducibility in MALDI mass spectrometry . Mass Spectrometry Reviews. 37. (2). p. 217-228.

Padula MP, Berry IJ, O Rourke MB, Raymond BB, Santos J, Djordjevic SP(2017). A Comprehensive Guide for Performing Sample Preparation and Top-Down Protein Analysis . Proteomes.

Matthew B. O{\textquotesingle}Rourke and Matthew P. Padula(2017). A new standard of visual data representation for imaging mass spectrometry . PROTEOMICS - Clinical Applications. 11. (3-4). p. 1600098. Wiley

O'Rourke MB, Raymond BB, Padula MP(2017). The Characterization of Laser Ablation Patterns and a New Definition of Resolution in Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) . Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.

O’Rourke, M.B., Raymond, B.B.A., Padula, M.P.(2017). The Characterization of Laser Ablation Patterns and a New Definition of Resolution in Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) . Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 28. (5). p. 895-900.

Padula, M.P., Berry, I.J., O'Rourke, M.B., Raymond, B.B.A., Santos, J., Djordjevic, S.P.(2017). A comprehensive guide for performing sample preparation and top-down protein analysis . Proteomes. 5. (2).

O'Rourke, M.B., Padula, M.P.(2017). A new standard of visual data representation for imaging mass spectrometry . Proteomics - Clinical Applications. 11. (3-4).

O'Rourke MB, Padula MP, Proteomics. Clinical applications, 2016, 2016 .

(2016). The Renaissance of Microbiology: The Necessary Future for Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Based Bio Typing . Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology.

O'Rourke MB, Djordjevic SP, Padula MP, Mass spectrometry reviews, 2016, 2016 .

O'Rourke MB, Padula MP, BioTechniques, 2016, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 229-238, 2016 .

O’Rourke, M.B., Padula, M.P.(2016). Analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue via proteomic techniques and misconceptions of antigen retrieval . BioTechniques. 60. (5). p. 229-238.

O'Rourke MB, Djordjevic SP, Padula MP, Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 2015, vol. 29, no. 19, pp. 1836-1840, 2015 .

O'Rourke MB, Raymond BB, Djordjevic SP, Padula MP, Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 2015, vol. 29, no. 7, pp. 637-644, 2015 .

O'Rourke, M.B., Raymond, B.B.A., Djordjevic, S.P., Padula, M.P.(2015). A versatile cost-effective method for the analysis of fresh frozen tissue sections via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation imaging mass spectrometry . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 29. (7). p. 637-644.

O'Rourke, M.B., Djordjevic, S.P., Padula, M.P.(2015). A non-instrument-based method for the analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human spinal cord via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation imaging mass spectrometry . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 29. (19). p. 1836-1840.

‘What did I do wrong?’ An empirical evaluation of sample preparation methodologies in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging . Future Science OA.