Eleonora Egidi

Dr. Eleonora Egidi is a Research Fellow in Microbial Ecology and Environmental Sustainability at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), Western Sydney University, and an ARC DECRA Fellow (2021–2025). Her research focuses on microbial biogeography, plant-soil-microbe interactions, and responses to environmental stressors, employing metagenomics and functional trait analyses. She leads projects exploring drought tolerance in grasses and bioremediation technologies. Dr. Egidi actively promotes equity in science, co-convening the Ecological Society of Australia’s Plant-Soil Ecology network and participating in SAGE Athena Swan initiatives.

Her research interests include microbial ecology, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem restoration. Key projects involve identifying microbial functions enhancing plant drought resilience and understanding soil microbiome dynamics in Australian ecosystems. She has secured grants totaling over AUD 15 million, including an ARC DECRA for her drought tolerance research and a CRC-CARE-funded bioremediation project.

Dr. Egidi’s awards include a 2021 Highly Commended Early Career Researcher Award and a 2019 Excellence in Professional Service Award. She collaborates extensively, with over 200 publications in journals like Nature Communications, Soil Biology & Biochemistry, and Global Change Biology.

Her work bridges fundamental and applied research, addressing global challenges in environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.