Stephen Zozaya

Dr. Stephen Zozaya is a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Australian National University, working in the Division of Ecology and Evolution. His research focuses on biodiversity discovery, especially in reptiles, with an emphasis on genomic and phenotypic divergence influencing reproductive isolation and speciation. He investigates chemical signaling (pheromones) in cryptic species and has contributed to multiple taxonomic descriptions of new reptile species in Australia.

Dr. Zozaya holds a PhD and BSc in biological sciences. His work integrates field studies, molecular genetics, and phylogenetic analysis to address evolutionary questions in reptiles. He is registered to supervise research students and has secured a major grant (2023–2026) exploring challenging taxonomy in Heteronotia and Gehyra geckos.

Key research themes include: 1) Cryptic species identification via chemical signals, 2) Speciation mechanisms in rock-associated lizards, 3) Biogeographic patterns in Australian reptiles, and 4) Conservation implications of taxonomic revisions. His projects often involve collaboration with museums and fieldwork in underexplored regions like Queensland's Gregory Range and the Gulf Plains Bioregion.

While no formal awards are listed, his contributions to taxonomy and evolutionary ecology are recognized through frequent publications in journals like Zootaxa and Molecular Ecology. His lab affiliations include ANU's Division of Ecology and Evolution, with active participation in collaborative networks studying reptilian genomics and morphology.