David Midgley

Dr. David Midgley is a Team Leader in the Biogeochemistry and Microbiology Team at CSIRO Energy's Resources program, managing interdisciplinary research in Sydney and Perth. He holds a PhD in Microbial Ecology from the University of Western Sydney (2003), focusing on fungal ecology.

• Expertise in microbial ecology, bioinformatics, mycology, mycorrhizal biology, and anaerobic microbiology
• Research spans diverse environments: plant roots/leaves, coal seams, soils, aquatic systems, and subsurface habitats
• Current work integrates bioinformatics (primarily Python) with ecological studies of microbial communities

Research Interests:
Dr. Midgley's work bridges bioinformatics and microbial ecology to investigate microbial interactions in extreme environments. Key areas include:

• Biogeochemical cycling in coal seam methane systems
• Functional roles of rare taxa in subsurface microbiomes
• Genomic insights into microbial adaptation to hydrocarbon-rich environments
• Trophic dynamics and aromatic compound degradation pathways
• Microbial community response to environmental stressors (e.g., metal contamination)
• Ecological strategies of facultative anaerobes in energy-limited subsurface ecosystems

Publication Trends:
His 15 most recent publications (2019-2023) emphasize coal seam microbiology, metagenomic analysis of hydrocarbon degradation, and environmental adaptation mechanisms. Key themes include carbon cycling, biogeochemical processes, and microbial community dynamics in subsurface and contaminated environments.

Labs & Teams:
Leads the Biogeochemistry and Microbiology Team at CSIRO Energy, coordinating chemists and microbiologists across Sydney and Perth campuses for coal seam and subsurface microbial research.