Rachael Gray

Rachael Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. She specializes in health investigations of native animals, particularly pinnipeds like Australian sea lions, NZ sea lions, and fur seals, with additional focus on eastern grey kangaroos and Little penguins. Her research spans parasitology, ecotoxicology, and immunology, addressing conservation challenges through fieldwork and laboratory studies.

• Education:
  • BVSc (Hons), University of Sydney (1996)
  • MVSc, University of Sydney
  • PhD, University of Sydney (2005)
  • Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education), University of Sydney (2006)

Research Interests: Dr. Gray's work centers on health and disease dynamics in marine and terrestrial wildlife. Key areas include:

• Hookworm disease in Australian and NZ sea lions, evaluating treatment efficacy and disease impact on reproduction and survival
• Toxicant investigations (heavy metals, PFAS) and selenium's protective role in pinnipeds
• Immunocompetence studies in kangaroos, linking testosterone to parasite susceptibility
• Reference interval development for hematology and biochemistry in pinnipeds, domestic canines, and felines
• Antimicrobial resistance in endangered species
• Ecohealth assessments of Little penguins and flying foxes as bioindicators

Article Trends: Her publications from 2003–2025 demonstrate a sustained focus on marine and terrestrial wildlife health, with recent emphasis on disease mitigation (ivermectin trials), toxicant exposure (PFAS, mercury), and genetic studies (MHC diversity). Collaborative work spans institutions like Macquarie University and Massey University.

Scientific Recognition: Dr. Gray received the 2016 Faculty of Veterinary Science Highly Commended award for her contributions to pinniped health research.

Advising & Grants: She supervises multiple PhD and Master’s students on projects like hookworm treatment and PFAS exposure. Her grants include funding from the Department of Climate Change (2024) and Ecological Society of Australia (2023), focusing on conservation strategies and multidisciplinary environmental impact studies.

Labs & Collaborations: Dr. Gray leads research within the Marine Mammal and Seabird Health Collaborative and collaborates with Phillip Island Nature Parks and the South Australian Research and Development Institute.