Osu Lilje

Dr. Osu Lilje is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney. With expertise in microscopy and cell biology, Dr. Lilje focuses on eukaryotic microbial biology, particularly examining microbial interactions, growth responses, and pathogenicity in environmental contexts. Their research contributes significantly to understanding the ecological significance of eukaryotic microbes in biosecurity, bioremediation, and bioregulation frameworks.

Dr. Lilje's research interests span multiple environmental domains:

• Microbial composition and interactions in soil and aquatic environments
• Eukaryotic microbial responses to environmental changes
• Filamentous and zoosporic fungal growth in varying soil conditions
• Predictive modeling of cyanobacteria blooms
• Distribution of microbial parasites and their impact on native freshwater fish
• Pathogenicity of isolated microbes in aquatic ecosystems

Dr. Lilje has developed innovative quantitative techniques using computer-aided tomography for three-dimensional modeling of fungal growth. Their publications reveal a strong focus on fungal ecology, particularly zoosporic true fungi and their ecological roles in both soil and aquatic habitats. Recent work increasingly incorporates educational research, examining online teaching methods and assessment strategies in STEM education.

Dr. Lilje actively supervises postdoctoral researchers, honors students, and postgraduate students (PhD and MSc) in areas related to eco-mycology. They have secured research funding including the NSW Industry and Community Engagement SEED Program BOOST 2017 for the "Microbial Health Study of Clyde Wetlands" in collaboration with Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd, and several educational grants for developing online learning tools.

Working closely with national and international collaborators, Dr. Lilje is part of the DEERG RIBET research group, conducting research from Room 304 in the Macleay Building at the University of Sydney.