Dr Julian Beaman

I joined the College of Science & Engineering as a Research Associate in 2020. Prior to that, I completed my research training at the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland (2019), before completing a one-year postdoctoral position at Monash University. My research seeks to understand how ecological and evolutionary processes interact to shape phenotypic diversity (e.g., physiology, behaviour). Based on an integrative understanding of organisms, my research also aims to predict the persistence (or extinction) of populations facing contemporary environmental degradation. Currently, my research focusses on terrestrial animals (e.g., Australian marsupials, Arctic seabirds, native bees of Oceania).

At Flinders, I am part of an interdisciplinary team working on an ARC Linkage Project bringing together expertise on koala ecology, genomics, and computational modelling to develop models for simulating genetic rescue of inbred koala populations. I am enthusiastic about collaborative research and impact beyond academia. Through my research, I have helped to strengthen our existing Linkage Project partnerships with the University of Sydney, South Australia Department for Environment and Water, Koala Life, and WWF-Australia. I have also helped to grow our network of partners across government departments/agencies (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, CSIRO's National Koala Monitoring Program), consultancy firms (Endeavour Veterinary Ecology), and a number of Australian universities (the University of Queensland, Macquarie University, University of Newcastle, University of the Sunshine Coast). I am the co-lead of the SA Node of the National Koala Monitoring Program.

I have also helped to co-develop the Citizen Science Passport to Recovery program based on Kangaroo Island (in partnership with SeaLink), which engages visitors and local business to participate in 12 citizen science projects aimed at monitoring post-fire recovery of natural ecosystems on the island.