Anna Padovan

Anna Padovan is a Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University's Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, within the Faculty of Science and Technology. With 30 years in molecular microbiology, she specializes in environmental pathogen detection and microbiome analysis.

Her research applies next-generation sequencing to study anthropogenic impacts on Darwin Harbour's ecosystems, focusing on vibrios in shellfish and cyanotoxins in wastewater. Recent work developed PCR-based early warning systems for microcystin production and quantified pathogen risks in tropical estuaries. Fieldwork integrates molecular tools with ecological monitoring to inform food safety and public health policies.