Research Associate
College of Science and Engineering
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.
PhD in Evolutionary Physiology, The University of Queensland (2019)
Bachelor Arts and Sciences (Honours I in Ecology), University of Sydney (2011)
Nominated for Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science (2024)
Vice Chancellor's Award for Innovation in Teaching, Flinders University (2023)
Company of Biologists Travelling Fellowship (2018). Awarded to support travel to Prof Cameron Ghalambor's lab at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Best Early Career Researcher Oral Presentation, Australasian Evolution Society (2021)
Invited Seminar, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA (2020)
Invited Seminar, Monash University, Victoria (2020)
Best Student Oral Presentation, Australian and New Zealand Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry (2018)
Best Post Presentation, Australasian Evolution Society (2017)
Best Student Oral Presentation, Australian and New Zealnad Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry (2011)
My role is research focused. My currently responsibilities include coordinating field-based research on koala population ecology and individual behaviour, the collection of tissue samples for genomic analysis by collaborators at Flinders and the University of Sydney, and the development of computational models that guide the genetic rescue of inbred koala populations. I co-supervise PhD and Honours students researching koala ecology, behaviour and health.