Tom Edwards began his career with a science degree from Monash University in Victoria, majoring in genetics and immunology. He furthered his studies at the University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, obtaining an Honours degree for his investigations into neural crest differentiation. He then returned to Monash University to begin a PhD, using pharmaco-behavioural studies to investigate the role of nitric oxide and related molecules in memory processing. His work was well received and has been continued by his students.

In 2003 he was employed as a lecturer at Monash University’s School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, teaching both psychobiology and research design and statistics. During this time he obtained a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and developed a new curriculum for teaching research design and statistics to advanced students within the Department of Physiology. With its practical focus for budding researchers, the unit has flourished and has since been adopted by other degree programs within the university. Tom received an Excellence in Teaching award from the School Executive in 2005.