Matthew Kosnik

Matthew Kosnik is an Associate Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University specializing in marine paleobiology and conservation paleobiology. He serves as the Director of the Graduate Diploma of Research program for the Faculty of Science and Engineering and is actively involved in multiple research projects including the MQ Marine Research Centre.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (Honors) from Austin College and a PhD from the University of Chicago, Department of Geophysical Sciences. He completed post-doctoral work at James Cook University's Centre for Coral Reef Biodiversity and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Department of Paleobiology.

Dr. Kosnik identifies as a conservation palaeobiologist, taphonomist, and malacologist. His research focuses on using sedimentary records and biological remains to provide historical context to modern marine ecosystems. He is particularly interested in understanding the preservation of biological remains in sedimentary records and the idiosyncrasies of palaeontological assemblages. His work often requires interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative approaches to complex research questions.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on fossil record analysis, temporal resolution in paleontological assemblages, and the application of these techniques to understand historical marine ecosystems, particularly coral reef systems including the Great Barrier Reef. His research combines field work with laboratory analysis of sedimentary records.

• Faculty Excellence Award (Teaching) 2021

Dr. Kosnik has primary supervised 4 PhD students and 4 MRes students, with additional contributions to approximately a dozen more research student projects. He serves as a Chief Investigator on multiple significant research projects including the ongoing MQ Marine Research Centre (since 2015) and the recently completed Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage and Environment (2019-2022). His research has been supported by various grants focusing on isotopic techniques, sedimentation rates, and marine ecosystem changes.

He is an active member of the MQ Marine Research Centre and has contributed to the Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage and Environment (CACHE). His research involves collaboration with scientists across multiple disciplines to study marine ecosystems through geological time, with particular focus on coral reefs and molluscan assemblages.