Rachel Stephenson received a Bachelor of Science, dual major in Biochemistry and Chemistry, followed by a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Chemistry at Massey University (New Zealand). Her honors project centered on the innovative development of hydrogels for the controlled release of bioactive peptides into the gut. She pursued a PhD at Massey University, where she focused on developing synthetic anti-cancer drugs based on cyclodextrins, a fascinating class of cyclic sugars. After earning her PhD, she served as a Research Officer at the New Zealand Veterinary Pathology Epicentre, Massey University, where she honed her skills in diagnostic research. Then, she contributed as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University (USA). Fuelled by a desire to merge her expertise in synthetic peptides with her passion for vaccine development, she transitioned to the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland (Australia). Here, her research is at the blended edge of health and medical research, leading to the development of new adjuvants and vaccines across fields of medicinal chemistry, nanotechnology, immunology, and medical and agricultural biotechnology.