Paul Waters

Associate Professor Paul Waters is affiliated with the University of New South Wales in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences. His research program focuses on epigenetic regulation of transcription in vertebrates, particularly sex chromosome evolution and dosage compensation mechanisms across diverse species including marsupials, monotremes, and reptiles. Current projects investigate X chromosome inactivation in wallabies and Tasmanian devils, thermolabile sex determination in the Australian central bearded dragon, and chromatin regulation during hibernation in reptiles.

• Active PhD/MSc/Honours/3rd-year projects available in Epigenetics and Molecular Biology
• Teaching Genetics (BABS2204/2264) and other molecular genetics courses

Research Trends: Analysis of 15 recent articles reveals sustained focus on sex chromosome biology (X/Y evolution, dosage compensation), epigenetic silencing (DNA methylation, chromatin modifiers), and comparative genomics (marsupial models, platypus, reptiles). Additional work on long non-coding RNAs (e.g., Xist/RSX), meiotic chromosome dynamics, and transposable element evolution.

Scientific Awards:

• NHMRC Ideas Grant APP1182667 (2020-2023)
• ARC Discovery Project DP180100931 (2018-2020)
• ARC Discovery Project DP170101147 (2017-2020)
• Australian Research Fellowship DP0987091 (2009-2014)
• ARC Discovery Project DP0987091 (2009-2014)

Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD/MSc/Honours/undergraduate researchers in epigenetics and molecular biology. Holds multiple ARC/NHMRC grants totaling over $2.5 million, including work on drug-seeking silencing (2020), meiotic sex chromosome evolution (2015), and ancestral genome reconstruction (2008). Collaborations span University of Adelaide, Monash University, ANU, and University of Stellenbosch.

Labs & Teams: Leads a research group studying sex chromosome evolution using genomic assemblies, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, and 3D chromatin analysis. Collaborates with Indigenous conservation groups, genomic sequencing teams, and international cytogeneticists (e.g., Ruiz-Herrera, Marshall Graves, Georges). Lab focuses on reptilian hibernation genomics, transmissible cancer epigenetics, and meiotic dynamics in basal mammals.