Claire Hayward
Casual Academic
College of Science and Engineering
Claire Hayward is an environmental microbiologist and accredited environmental health officer. She completed her PhD in 2024 on waterborne infection control and microbial risk assessment. In 2025, she commenced a postdoctoral research position at the SAAFE CRC (Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments) and the Future Industries Institute at Adelaide University (previously the University of South Australia), where her research focuses on environmental microbiology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risk assessment, and modelling. Claire was previously an Associate Lecturer at Flinders University and currently holds adjunct status. She is passionate about research collaboration with industry and government stakeholders to inform policy and regulation. For example, she has engaged with the State Health Department and Environmental Health, Healthcare Engineering, and Plumbing peak professional bodies to support the translation of her research findings.
PhD in Environmental Health with Flinders University (2021-Present)
Thesis title: Controlling Antimicrobial Resistant Healthcare Associated Infections.
- Grade: A/A
- Awarded Vice Chancellors Award for Doctoral Thesis Excellence
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice, Flinders University, South Australia (2020-2021)
Bachelor of Science (Honours), Flinders University, South Australia, Australia. (First Class) (2020)
Thesis title: Drinking Water Biofilms as a Source of Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens
Bachelor of Science (Forensic and Analytical Science), Flinders University, South Australia, Australia.
- Vice Chancellors Award for Doctoral Thesis Excellence
- Future Industries Institute Directors Early Career Researcher Award (2025)
- European Federation of Microbiologists International Congress attendance grant, July 2023: “Lead is a Pain in the Brass” ($500 AUD)
- College of Science and Engineering Elaine Martin Travel Grant, July 2023: “Lead is a Pain in the Brass” ($2000 AUD)
- College of Science and Engineering Higher Degree by Research Conference Support Scheme, July 2023: “Lead is a Pain in the Brass” ($2200 AUD)
- Flinders University Ecology, Evolution and Environment Higher Degree Research ‘best student talk’ (Academic Choice), December 2022: “Brass or stainless steel? Water pipes and human health”
- Australian Society for Microbiology Nancy Millis Australian Society for Microbiology Student Award, July 2022: “Are all materials created equally? Antimicrobial activity of brass verse stainless steel against opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens”
- Recipient of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (2020-2023)
- University Medal recipient for outstanding academic achievement, November 2020
My current role involves conducting environmental microbiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research within the SAAFE CRC and the Future Industries Institute, with a focus on AMR risk assessment, modelling, and industry-engaged research. I work closely with industry and government stakeholders to support research translation and collaborative project outcomes. Through my adjunct status at Flinders University, I also contribute to Higher Degree by Research (HDR) supervision, topic tutoring, and guest lecturing. In addition, I provide tutoring support within the Yungkurrinthi Student Engagement Tutorial Program.
University Lead of the South Australian branch of the Australian Water Associations Young Water Professionals committee.
- Environment
- Microbiology
- Molecular biology
- Public health
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Drinking Water Quality
- Environmental Microbiology
- Environmental Risk Assessment
- Healthcare Associated Infections
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Follow Flinders
