Tara Pukala completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide, followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Cambridge with Prof Dame Carol Robinson. Since her academic appointment in 2008 in the Discipline of Chemistry at Adelaide University, she has led a research group specialising in structural proteomics. Her team develops and applies mass spectrometry-based approaches including top-down, native and ion mobility-mass spectrometry, to characterise the structure, assembly and interactions of macromolecular complexes that often elude traditional structural biology techniques. Tara has had roles including Scientific Director of the Adelaide Proteomics Centre and is Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry (ANZSMS). She has been recognised for her contributions to the discipline as the recipient of the ANZSMS 2017 Bowie Medal and 2023 Superstar of STEM. She further contributes to organisational leadership through her current role as Dean of Research in the College of Sciences at Adelaide University.