For researchers Dr Steve and Dr Vicki Maltby science isn’t just a career, it’s the thread that has woven their love story for over 20 years.From meeting as undergraduates to building a life in Australia, their journey has been one of research breakthroughs, scuba diving adventures, and the unique challenge of navigating a relationship fuelled by a shared passion for discovery.

This Valentine’s Day, their story is a reminder that love, much like research, thrives on patience, curiosity, and a little adventure.

Like many great relationships, Steve and Vicki’s love story began unexpectedly.

Though they first crossed paths as undergraduates, it wasn’t until a house party after graduation (hosted by a mutual friend’s band) that they truly connected.

At the time, Steve was starting his PhD, while Vicki worked at a bank and moonlighted in a research lab, washing beakers and preparing media.

Science was already a common thread in their lives, but it was the magic of that night that set everything in motion.

Two decades later, they’ve been married for 13 years, have three children (including an unexpected set of twins!), and have built a life filled with both scientific pursuits and family adventures.

Balancing Love and Research

While both work in medical research, they’ve never officially collaborated in the lab.

But since Steve joined the Grants Development team at HMRI, their work has increasingly found its way into their home conversations.

“We both understand the realities of research; the struggle for funding, the highs and lows of publishing,” Vicki says.

“It’s great when one of us is having a good week and can lift the other up. But when we both get bad news at the same time, it’s rough!”

Their research has touched diverse fields.  For Dr Steve it’s understanding how the human body fights viral infections; using virtual reality to improve stroke care, while for Dr Vicki it’s been a focus on enhancing treatment for multiple sclerosis.

“We like to think we’ve improved people’s lives in different ways,” Steve said.

“But one thing is certain, we wouldn’t have made it this far without supporting each other.”

An Underwater Proposal

Though they don’t consider themselves particularly romantic, their engagement story is unforgettable.

During a scuba diving trip in Maui, Steve proposed – underwater.

At the end of their dive, he pulled out an underwater camera and showed Vicki a photo of an engagement ring. Then, he used the hand signal for Will you marry me? (yes, that’s a real thing in diving!).

“We like to think that was romantic rather than just nerdy,” Steve joked.

Scuba diving has played a pivotal role in their relationship. While completing their PhDs, they worked as scuba instructors in Canada and went diving on trips to Mexico, Greece, Hawaii, Thailand, and Australia. Dive instruction was their way of supplementing their income during their studies while sharing a passion.

“The only time we actually worked together was teaching diving,” Vicki recalls.

“Steve trained me to be his dive master so we could teach more students on weekends.”

While volunteering on a dive boat on the Great Barrier Reef, they were applying for research fellowships; positions that ultimately brought them to Newcastle.

The plan was to stay for three years. Thirteen years later, they have no intention of leaving.

But we have a scientific question for them; what draws scientists to each other?

Steve and Vicki believe it’s a mix of proximity and shared understanding.

“We spend so much time together in this world—it just makes sense,” Vicki says.

Beyond that, their shared appreciation for evidence, critical thinking, and curiosity has strengthened their relationship.

“We see the world in a similar way, and that’s helped as we’ve grown older, tackled new challenges, and figured out how to parent,” Steve adds.

Would they still be in research without each other’s support?

“Honestly, we don’t think so,” Vicki admits.

“There were times when one of us wanted to give up, but the other kept us going.

And we definitely wouldn’t still be in Australia. We came here for our careers, but we stayed for our life together.”

This Valentine’s Day, Steve and Vicki prove that love and science aren’t mutually exclusive. With the right support, shared values, and a little adventure along the way, a partnership can last through the ups and downs of both life and research.

Because sometimes, the best discoveries aren’t in the lab; they’re the ones you make together.

University of Newcastle Dr Steven Maltby is an Award-winning researcher at the University of Newcastle and a member of HMRI’s Grants Development team.
Dr Vicki Maltby is a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research Manager for the MS Research team at the John Hunter Hospital, a member of HMRI’s Immune Health Research Program, and a Conjoint Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle.