Dr Dayna Zimmerman is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Pregnancy Exposures Group, co-led by Professor Caitlin Wyrwoll and Dr Erin Kelty. Her current research aims to understand how prenatal exposure to extreme heat shapes maternal and fetal health. She uses novel pre-clinical models and molecular approaches to understand the underlying mechanisms behind placental dysfunction and the long-term developmental impacts of prenatal exposures. Prior to moving to the University of Western Australia, Dayna completed her PhD in 2026 at the University of Queensland. Her PhD work focused on understanding how metformin and insulin treatment in complicated pregnancies influence placental development and fetal organ systems.