Darren Crayn

Darren Crayn is the Director of the Australian Tropical Herbarium at James Cook University, where he also serves as a Lecturer in courses such as 'Tropical Flora of Australia' and 'Australian Land Plants: Recognition, Evolution and Diversity.' He holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales (1994-1998). His research focuses on plant systematics, biodiversity conservation, evolutionary biology, and biogeography.

Key research interests include discovering and classifying new plant species, mapping ecosystem distributions using DNA tools, and studying the deep-time origins of tropical Australian flora. He leads major projects like the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity and contributes to conservation initiatives such as the 'State of the Wet Tropics Report.'

Crayn has held roles in numerous committees, including the Australian Biological Resources Study Advisory Committee and the Australian Systematic Botany Society. His work integrates molecular, phylogenetic, and ecological approaches to address conservation challenges and evolutionary questions.

With over 48 publications and 95 awards, his research spans taxonomy, phylogenomics, and ethnobotanical studies. He collaborates widely, including with institutions like the Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Wet Tropics Management Authority.