Simone Birgit Bayer, Research Fellow I have a Ph.D. (Pathology, 2015, University of Otago, New Zealand) and a Master's (Nutrition Science, 2009, University of Hohenheim, Germany). Currently, I am an Academic Research Fellow at the University of Otago (Medicine) and worked at the University of Otago as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Medicine) and Research Assistant (Pathology and Biomedical Sciences) prior. My current research interests are functional gastrointestinal bowel disorders and inflammasomes. I used to study the involvement of free radicals and antioxidants in inflammation, and on the role of vitamin C in sepsis. I am a member of the New Zealand Association of Scientists, the Association of Women in Sciences, and the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology (NZSG, elected treasurer). I received a Young Investigator Award (NZSG, 2020), a Poster of Excellence (NZSG, 2018), and a Young Investigator Award, from the International Society for Free Radical Research (2014).