Dawn Lewis
Associate Lecturer in Natural Sciences
College of Science and Engineering
Dawn is a Woolwonga woman and great-granddaughter of "Shotgun" Nellie Flynn of Rum Jungle. Dawn works in Indigenous genomics with a focus on environmental DNA in both ancient and modern contexts. Dawn's work is co-designed with relevant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community groups and prioritises Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determination.
Dawn has worked across areas of ancestral repatriation and the genomics of non-human kin. She is a visiting fellow at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (Adelaide University) and an Associate Investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF).
Dawn is joint-coordinator of the Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics (SING Australia) which is a week-long workshop and mentoring program that covers technical and laboratory skills in genomics as well as theory, ethical and social implications of genomic research and the benefits and risks of genomics for Indigenous peoples. SING Australia is open to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people regardless of academic background.
2026 - Doctor of Philosophy, Adelaide University
"Utilising ancient and degraded DNA for Indigenous genomics of People and Country."
2022 - Masters of Science (Archaeological Science), Oxon
"Proteomic zooarchaeology at the Neanderthal site of Pontnewydd Cave, North Wales."
2020 - Bachelor of Science (Hons I), University of New England, Australia
"Optimisation of the historic DNA extraction from early colonial sheep teeth recovered in Australia."
2019 - Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology) and Bachelor of Science (Genetics), University of New England, Australia
Student Research Grant Scheme The Australian Archaeological Association offers a competition grant of $1,800 for research costs.
Speaking engagements
2026
Invited speaker – Environmental Omics satellite meeting Ancient environmental DNA studies in Australia
2025
Opening Keynote – Genetics Society of Australasia Conference Environmental DNA is Indigenous DNA: considerations for ancient and contemporary metagenomics in Australia
2024
Panelist – Australian Archaeological Association conference Indigenous Genomics Keynote Plenary Panel
Poster - Australian Archaeological Association - Recovering sedimentary ancient DNA in Northwestern Australia
Invited Speaker - Endocrine Society of Australia - Society for Reproductive Biology -ANZ Bone and Mineral Society joint scientific meeting 2024 Nurturing future Indigenous research leaders to deliver equity and benefit to Indigenous Australians
Invited Speaker - Biomolecular Horizons Conference Ethical considerations for the use of environmental DNA
Guest co-lecturer University of Adelaide ENV_BIOL_3545 Methods in Ecology and Evolution Ethical considerations for the use of environmental DNA
2023
Poster - International Society for Biomolecular Archaeology Exploring sedimentary ancient DNA from Indigenous Australian archaeological sites.
Lightning talk – International Congress of Genetics satellite meeting Biodiversity Genomics - A Global Perspective The limitations and potential of sedimentary ancient DNA analysis in Indigenous Australia
2022
What is Genomics? CSIRO Double Helix youth science magazine. December 2022
Presenter - National Archaeology Student Conference ‘Indigenous Genomics’
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Follow Flinders
