Michael Stat

Michael Stat is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle's School of Environmental and Life Sciences. He holds a PhD and BSc (Honours) in Marine Biology from the University of Sydney. Before joining UON, he worked as a Lecturer at Macquarie University (2018) and held Research Fellow positions at Curtin University (2015–2018), the University of Western Australia, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (2005–2014).

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (Marine Biology), University of Sydney
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Sydney

Research interests span the evolutionary and ecological dimensions of marine symbiosis, with a focus on corals and their symbionts. He pioneers the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess biodiversity in coral reefs and estuaries, addressing challenges like metal contamination, temperature fluctuations, and invasive species. His work also explores microbiome impacts on organismal health and the application of eDNA for conservation and ecosystem management.

Grants and advising: Stat has secured over $2 million in research funding, leading projects on eDNA protocols, coral resilience, and estuary health. He collaborates with institutions like the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science and NSW government agencies. While no formal advisees are listed, his research teams include postdoctoral fellows and international collaborators.

Labs and teams: His research involves partnerships with global teams, including studies at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and collaborations with Australian colleagues on eDNA-based surveys of coastal ecosystems. Projects frequently integrate genomic tools with ecological fieldwork to address climate and anthropogenic threats to marine biodiversity.