Kaye Humphreys - Microbiologist

Kaye Humphreys retired from her position as the Laboratory Manager and Microbiologist for Taronga Zoo in 2010.

Kaye Humphreys graduated as an Associate of the Australian Institute of Medical Technologists in 1974.  Kaye worked in human pathology laboratories for many years specialising in Microbiology.  She is a member of the Australian Society for Microbiology.  Kaye also has an interest in Haematology and from 1976 to 1982 Kaye was the senior microbiologist at Mona Vale Hospital and in 1982 Kaye left the hospital to manage her own business and care for her family.

In 1992 Kaye took a position at Taronga Zoo as a technical officer and later became the Laboratory manager for the Zoo.  In this position, Kaye was responsible for managing the laboratory itself, as well as also being in charge of all the lab work.  From parasitology and microbiology to haematology and biochemistry.

In March 2002, Kaye accompanied Dr Rupert Woods to Albatross Island to take part in a research project investigating mortalities of Shy Albatross.  The main challenge for this adventure was to have a functional laboratory in a location without electricity or running water.  Kaye’s dedication to her job saw her filling her sleeping bag with microbiology culture plates before jumping in to it to incubate them with her body heat while she slept! Not an easy task but accomplished against all odds.