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David Blair is a Professor at James Cook University, specializing in parasitic flatworms, molecular systematics, and evolutionary biology. His research focuses on understanding the genetic diversity, phylogeography, and host-parasite interactions of species such as Schistosoma, Paragonimus, and Opisthorchis. He has contributed extensively to studies on the molecular evolution of parasitic organisms and their implications for human and wildlife health. Key research areas include: molecular taxonomy of trematodes, phylogenetic analysis of parasitic flatworms, and genomic studies of host-parasite coevolution. Collaborations span global institutions, addressing public health challenges like paragonimiasis and fasciolosis. His work integrates field studies, lab-based molecular techniques, and computational biology to unravel evolutionary dynamics and ecological adaptations. Recent studies focus on the genetic diversity of Daphnia species, dugong population genetics, and drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. His publications in journals like *Parasitology*, *Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution*, and *Scientific Reports* highlight interdisciplinary approaches to parasitology and conservation biology.

• Parasitology
• Molecular Biology
• Phylogenetics
• +5 more

Dr. Lyn Cook is an Associate Professor specializing in evolutionary biology and systematics at the University of Queensland. Her research examines plant-insect interactions, biogeographic patterns, and taxonomic relationships using molecular phylogenetics. Research focuses on: Australian flora and insect coevolution Historical biogeography of Southern Hemisphere taxa Taxonomic revisions using genomic data Cryptic species discovery Conservation prioritization Recent work addresses taxonomic controversies in Eucalyptus classification and resolves biogeographic origins of Australian arachnids using phylogenetic methods. Fieldwork spans Australian biomes from rainforests to arid zones.

• Plant-Insect Coevolution
• Biogeography
• Molecular Phylogenetics
• +2 more

Dr Thomas White is a Senior Lecturer and ARC Discovery Early Career Fellow at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. He leads the Sensory and Evolutionary Ecology (SEE) Lab, focusing on understanding how organisms gather and exchange information to solve ecological challenges. His research spans adaptive evolution, communication systems, and the ecological consequences of sensory interactions, with particular emphasis on insects and invertebrates. Current research themes include predator-prey deception (e.g., spider lures), pollinator behavior, and the ethics of invertebrate welfare. He coordinates courses such as LIFE4000 and BIOL2033, integrating field experiments, modeling, and meta-analysis. Notable awards include the ARC DECRA Fellowship and grants from the Hermon Slade Foundation. His lab actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, including software tools for color analysis (e.g., pavo package in R). Students advised include Georgie Brennan, Kristin Hubakk, and Rui Shi, exploring topics like pollination systems and spider communication. Key Projects: Nocturnal pollination resilience, invertebrate sociality, and defensive displays Grants: ARC DECRA (2020), Australia & Pacific Science Foundation (2024) Labs/Teams: Sensory and Evolutionary Ecology (SEE) Lab at University of Sydney

• Evolutionary Ecology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Entomology
• +3 more

Professor Dieter Hochuli leads the Integrative Ecology research group in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on biodiversity conservation in urban environments, with particular emphasis on arthropod ecology, habitat management, and the ecological dynamics of human-dominated landscapes. His work bridges community ecology and landscape-scale conservation strategies. Research interests center on urban biodiversity conservation, insect-plant interactions, ecosystem function in modified environments, and the ecological impacts of invasive species. Current projects examine how urban planning decisions affect biodiversity, the role of green infrastructure in supporting ecosystem services, and human-wildlife interactions in urban fringes. Analysis of recent publications reveals consistent themes: urban pollinator ecology, wildlife disease ecology at the urban interface, experimental approaches to urban green space management, and biodiversity responses to urbanization. His work integrates ecological theory with practical conservation applications. Professor Hochuli leads field-based ecology projects across Sydney's urban environments and collaborates with local councils on biodiversity mapping initiatives. He currently supervises graduate students researching urban arthropod communities, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem restoration.

• Urban Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Insect-Plant Interactions
• +3 more

Alan Andersen is a Professor at Charles Darwin University (CDU), holding positions in the Office of Research and Innovation and the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods. Previously, he served as Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO’s Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre in Darwin, leading interdisciplinary teams to address environmental challenges in tropical savannas. His research focuses on ant ecology, bioindicator systems, fire management, and tropical ecosystem dynamics. Research Interests: Global ant community ecology and biogeography Use of ants as bioindicators for ecological change Tropical savanna ecology and management Fire regimes and their ecological impacts Invertebrate biodiversity conservation Recent articles emphasize ant diversity in monsoonal Australia, fire effects on communities, and cross-taxa ecological responses. His work bridges basic and applied research, with practical outcomes for land management and policy. Awards include the 2000 Asian Innovation Award and the 2007 Charles Darwin Medal. He chairs the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, and leads initiatives like the Territory Science Forum to promote innovation in the NT. Key Projects: TERN ant biodiversity surveys Ecosystem restoration genomics Beetaloo Basin environmental surveys Indigenous energy sustainability projects His contributions span over 250 publications, an h-index of 76, and extensive grants, reflecting leadership in tropical ecological science.

• Ant ecology
• Invertebrate bio-indicators
• Fire ecology and management
• +3 more

Dr. Maru Castellanos Reynosa is a Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology & Communicable Disease Control at James Cook University (JCU), Australia. She holds a BSc in Chemical Biology (Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala), a Master’s in Medical Microbiology (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), and a PhD in Epidemiology (University of Georgia). Her expertise spans infectious disease epidemiology, particularly tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV, with a focus on low-resource settings in Africa and Latin America. Research interests include: epidemiological study design, infectious disease transmission dynamics, and public health interventions. Her work emphasizes molecular epidemiology, co-infections, and climate impacts on pathogen spread. Key contributions include studies on TB social networks, HIV-TB co-infection outcomes, and malaria in pregnancy. Key Achievements: Recipient of the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Program (2016) and Fulbright LASPAU Fellowship (2013) Teaching Excellence Award at JCU (2023) and Dissertation Completion Award (UGA, 2018) Over 35 peer-reviewed publications and 2 active research projects, including a capacity-building initiative for tropical disease control Professional Affiliations: Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, and Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD).

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Tuberculosis
• +5 more

Ferdous Sohel is a Professor of Information Technology at Murdoch University and inaugural lead of the Agricultural Technologies program. His research spans AI, computer vision, and digital agriculture, with applications in medical imaging and environmental monitoring. He received the Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal and Vice Chancellor's Early Career Research Award. Research Impact: Developed innovative AI models for aquaculture oxygen prediction, 3D object tracking, quantum neural networks, and prohibited item detection. His work advances precision agriculture through hyperspectral classification frameworks and irrigation decision systems. Professional Service: Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Multimedia and senior IEEE member. Current projects include adversarial robustness for LiDAR systems and lightweight dormitory security networks.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Vision
• Digital Agriculture
• +3 more

Michelle Leishman is a Professor and Director of the Smart Green Cities Research Centre and Australian Harmony Centre for Ecosystem Futures at Macquarie University's School of Natural Sciences. Her work bridges urban ecology, plant conservation, and climate change adaptation through projects like Which Plant Where (with Hort Innovation), urban greening initiatives (with Sydney Water), and ecosystem restoration (with Botanic Gardens of Sydney). Her research focuses on urban greenspace and plant-environment interactions , particularly invasive species impacts , vegetation responses to climate change , and ecosystem restoration . She has published extensively on topics like urban tree resilience , riparian vegetation recovery , and plant-pathogen dynamics . Her recent work includes biostimulant applications for drought tolerance and myrtle rust susceptibility in Australian flora. Michelle is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering . She received the 2022 NSW Premier's Prize for Biological Sciences and the 2017 BHERT Award for Outstanding Collaboration , reflecting her leadership in applied ecological research.

• Urban Ecology
• Plant Conservation
• Invasive Species
• +3 more

David Nipperess is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University, where he contributes to research and academic initiatives in biodiversity and ecology. His work spans conservation biology, phylogenetics, and urban ecology, with a strong focus on practical applications for environmental management and policy. His research interests center on biodiversity assessment, phylogenetic and functional diversity, and the impacts of climate change and urbanization on ecological systems. He investigates topics such as species inventory completeness, conservation prioritization, and the ecological integrity of natural and constructed habitats, particularly in urban and riparian environments. The trends in his recent publications reflect a deep engagement with global and regional conservation challenges, integrating decision science, ecosystem services, and biodiversity monitoring. His work frequently addresses the interplay between human activity and ecological resilience, especially in urban forests and wetlands. David Nipperess has been recognized through extensive media coverage, with his research picked up by over 190 news outlets and referenced in policy sources and Wikipedia. His work has also been widely shared on social media and academic platforms like Mendeley. He has been involved in significant research projects such as the Green Cities Fund initiative on urban green space and biodiversity investigations in aquifers. His collaborations span multiple institutions and disciplines, reflecting a networked, interdisciplinary approach to environmental science. David Nipperess is affiliated with Macquarie University’s research ecosystem and contributes to high-impact scientific discourse through publications in journals like Nature Climate Change and Nature Communications . His research outputs include peer-reviewed articles, commissioned reports, and policy-relevant assessments, particularly for the New South Wales government.

• Biodiversity
• Phylogenetics
• Climate Change
• +12 more

Dr William Salter is a Lecturer in Crop Physiology at the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences, based at the Narrabri Plant Breeding Institute. His research focuses on enhancing crop productivity and resilience through innovations in plant physiology, phenotyping technologies, and open-source agricultural tools. He leads a research group developing low-cost sensors and data pipelines for measuring plant traits like light use efficiency, canopy architecture, and weed detection. Education: BSc (Edinburgh) and PhD (Sydney) Research interests include optimizing photosynthesis for food security, improving water/nutrient efficiency in crops, and adapting farming systems to climate change. His work prioritizes accessible, open-source solutions to democratize scientific tools. Recent grants include studies on wheat heat tolerance and drought resilience. He advises students like Edward David on crop stress physiology projects. Collaborations involve the Sydney Institute of Agriculture and international partners. Labs/Teams: Narrabri Plant Breeding Institute research group, International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture team.

• Crop Physiology
• Agricultural Technology
• Plant Stress Tolerance
• +4 more

Lesley Ballantyne is a researcher at Charles Sturt University, specializing in Coleoptera (beetles) with a focus on the Lampyridae (firefly) family. With an h-index of 16 and over 669 citations, her work spans taxonomy, cladistics, bioluminescence, and evolutionary biology. Key Contributions : Discovery of multiple firefly species, mitochondrial genome phylogenetic studies, larval morphology analysis, and nomenclatural revisions. Her recent research explores bioluminescent adaptations, tropical biodiversity gradients, and genomic insights into firefly speciation. Collaborations extend to China, Thailand, and Malaysia, with datasets hosted on Zenodo. Scientific Awards : No specific awards mentioned in the provided text.

• Entomology
• Coleoptera
• Firefly Research
• +5 more

Alethea Blackler is a Professor at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), specializing in design research with a focus on intuitive interaction, aging populations, and user-centered design. She is affiliated with the Creative Industries Faculty and has contributed to the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation. Her work spans academic leadership, editing books like *Intuitive Interaction: Research and Application*, and collaborating on projects addressing challenges in healthcare, environmental technology, and education. Her research interests emphasize the design of products and systems that are intuitive for diverse user groups, including older adults and those with dementia. Key areas include tangible embodied interaction (TEIs), co-design methodologies, and the application of design in healthcare and disaster preparedness. She has led multidisciplinary teams on grants such as the *Development of non-invasive methods for hive health assessment* funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia. Dr. Blackler’s publications explore topics like smart device usability, disaster preparedness through immersive environments, and the emotional connection between users and products. She has also contributed to pedagogical strategies in design education, emphasizing the importance of historical context and critical thinking for students. Her work has been presented at global conferences (e.g., IASDR, OzCHI) and published in journals like *Applied Ergonomics* and *International Journal of Design Sciences and Technology*. She continues to advance design research through collaborative projects and mentoring emerging scholars in the field.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Design Research
• Aging and Technology
• +4 more

Dr Fernanda Cardoso is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland. She holds dual Brazilian-Australian citizenship and specializes in venom peptide-based biodiscovery and therapeutics development for neurological disorders such as chronic pain, motor neuron disease (MND), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Her interdisciplinary expertise spans neuropharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery. Education: Bachelor's, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) MSc in Molecular Pharmacology, UFMG PhD in Biochemistry and Immunology, UFMG Research Interests: Mechanisms and therapies for chronic pain/visceral pain/IBS Neurodegeneration pathophysiology and drug development Venom pharmacology of spiders, cone snails, and snakes Structure-function relationships of venom peptides Voltage-gated ion channel modulation Grants & Projects: Current: Peptide Inhibitors Targeting Sodium Channels (2023-2026) Past: Multifunctional analgesic inhibitors (2020-2023), IBS pain therapies (2018-2019) Supervision: Recently advised 14 students on projects including ALS therapies, venom peptide characterization, and ion channel modulation. Current openings focus on venom bioactives and neurological disorder treatments. Achievements: Pioneered venom-based ion channel modulator discovery, identified neuroprotective venom peptides, and developed a schistosomiasis vaccine candidate. Her work bridges basic research with clinical applications for global health challenges.

• Venom peptide-based biodiscovery
• Therapeutics development for neurological disorders
• Ion channel modulators
• +6 more

Dan Warren is a Senior Research Fellow at the Gulbali Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, where he conducts interdisciplinary research in population biology, ecology, evolution, and conservation. His work centers on developing and refining species distribution models and environmental niche models to understand biodiversity and support conservation under global change. PhD in Population Biology, University of California, Davis Dan Warren's research interests lie in the development and application of quantitative tools for ecology and evolution. He focuses on species distribution models (SDMs), environmental niche models (ENMs), and their use in understanding biodiversity patterns, evolutionary processes, and conservation planning. His methodological innovations, such as those in the ENMTools R package, are widely adopted. His work spans animal behavior, climate change impacts, and conservation management, with strong relevance to UN Sustainable Development Goals on climate action and life on land. His recent publications reflect a consistent focus on improving the accuracy, interpretation, and application of species distribution models. Trends include addressing bias in model outputs, enhancing methodological standards, and developing robust tools for conservation under climate uncertainty. He frequently publishes in top ecological journals such as Ecography and Methods in Ecology and Evolution , and his work integrates software development with theoretical ecology. Dan Warren has served in key scientific roles, including as Associate Editor for Ecography and Systematic Biology , and as a reviewer for the IPBES global assessment. These contributions highlight his leadership in advancing scientific rigor and policy relevance in biodiversity science. He is actively involved in mentoring and collaborative research, contributing to datasets and methodological frameworks used by the broader ecological community. His work supports both academic inquiry and practical conservation, emphasizing robust, data-driven decision-making.

• Population Biology
• Ecology
• Evolution
• +9 more

Dr Kenya Fernandes is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow at the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences. Her work bridges microbial ecology, drug discovery, and pollinator health. She investigates fungal pathogenesis mechanisms, antifungal therapies, and the antimicrobial properties of Australian honeys from bees and ants. Key affiliations include the Sydney Environment Institute, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, and the Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation. Her research emphasizes the ecological role of microbial communities in pollinator health, with a focus on stingless bees and their sugarbag honey. Recent studies explore how hive stress impacts honey activity and bee gut microbiomes. She also develops novel antifungal strategies using lactoferrin and amphotericin B combinations. Teaching responsibilities include lecturing in microbiology courses (MICR3021, MICR2031) and developing online content for infection biology. Currently supervises 2 PhD students and has guided 7 honours researchers in microbiology-related fields. Notable achievements include the 2025 Superstar of STEM title, multiple best presentation awards at international mycology conferences, and media recognition for discoveries on ant honey antimicrobial properties. Her work has been featured in outlets like The Guardian and Science magazine.

• Antimicrobial Research
• Fungal Pathogenesis
• Insect-Microbe Interactions
• +3 more