معرفی
Dr Jessica Tout-Lyon is an early-career researcher and lecturer in ecology at Charles Sturt University’s School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences. She is also an academic researcher with the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre and a member of the Environmental & Social Justice Research Group. Based in Port Macquarie on Dunghutti Country, her interdisciplinary work bridges microbial ecology, environmental DNA, climate change, and Indigenous-led community engagement.
Education
- PhD in Science (Microbial Ecology), University of Technology Sydney, 2016 – “Exploring the Function and Behaviour of Natural Populations of Coral Reef Microbes”
- Bachelor of Science (Honours, First Class) in Environmental Science, University of Technology Sydney, 2011 – “Coral-bacteria associations: determining the role of chemotaxis”
- Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, University of Technology Sydney, 2010
Research Interests
Jessica’s research spans marine and freshwater ecology, environmental DNA (eDNA), microbial interactions, and climate change impacts. Her early work used in-situ experiments on the Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea to study coral-microbe relationships during bleaching events. More recently, she has translated eDNA techniques from marine to freshwater and estuarine systems, focusing on detecting endangered species like the Manning River Helmeted Turtle and assessing how extreme weather events (drought, bushfire, flood) alter aquatic biodiversity and socio-ecological resilience.
Publications & Research Themes
Her 2023–2025 publications reveal a shift from foundational coral-microbe studies to applied conservation genomics, citizen-science eDNA monitoring, and socio-ecological modeling. Key themes include:
- Development of species-specific eDNA primers for threatened Australian turtles
- Comparative effectiveness of BRUVs vs eDNA for estuarine fish surveys
- Impacts of gamma radiation on marine microalgae in the context of offshore energy development
- Public engagement through National Science Week and regional media
Awards & Grants
- Ron Kenny Premier Conference Award – Australian Marine Sciences Association (2013)
- CSU ILWS Category B Research Support Fund (2021)
- Grants for Manning River Turtle eDNA primer development (2021–2024)
- National Science Week outreach grants (2022)
- Estuarine fish community resilience grant (2022)
Community Engagement & Labs
Jessica co-designs programs with First Nations Elders and chairs local scientific committees, including the Manning River Turtle Steering Committee. She is active in the Australian Society for Fish Biology and integrates citizen science into her eDNA projects, empowering regional communities to monitor their waterways.
