Born into the age when there were few vaccinations and antibiotics, Dr Heather Brooks' childhood included many experiences of infectious diseases. Thus began her fascination with the microbes that make us ill. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Surrey (UK), she went on to complete a PhD in Medical Microbiology at St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School, University of London (UK).

Plans for a career in medical research were stymied by an economic downturn and, almost by accident, she turned to the diagnostic medical laboratory sector for a secure form of employment. However, the call back to research would not go away, eventually compelling her to seek out a new life in New Zealand where she has been happily researching and teaching medical microbiology as a university academic since 1977.

For the past 30 years, Dr Brooks has taught in the University of Otago Medical Laboratory Science programme.