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MasterofScience&HonoursResearchProjectInformation

Booklet–2017

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The primary research-training program offered by the School of BioSciences is a two-year

postgraduatedegree-theMasterofScience(Biosciences).Thisconsistsofaresearchcomponent

combinedwith a selection of coursework subjects that include professional development skills.

TheMScdegreeprovidesapathwaytotheworkforceortoaPhD.TheSchoolalsooffersaone-

yearundergraduateHonoursdegree,whichcombinesaresearchcomponentwithcoursework.

Howtofindaprojectandasupervisor:

You should review the research clusters and specialisationswithin the school anddecideonan

area of research that interests you. These groups are listed below - there are a number of

supervisors within each group who can provide supervision. Before contacting a potential

supervisor, look at the type of research they do either via the School’s web pages

http://www.biosciences.unimelb.edu.au/, or by looking at their recent publications on Google

Scholar–http://scholar.google.com.au/(simplysearchforthesupervisor’sname).

Prior to or after the information session, approach potential supervisors in research areas that

interestyouanddiscussprojectsonoffer.Whenyouemailapotentialsupervisor,pleaseincludeatranscriptof youracademic record (you canprintout your current record fromSIS).Arrangeatimetomeettheminperson.MostsupervisorswithintheSchoolofBioSciencesacceptonlyone

ortwostudentsperyear,soourintakeiscompetitiveandplacesarelimited.

Take timetodiscussavailableprojects; it is important thatyouchooseanareaof research that

interestsyou.Onceyouhaveidentifiedprojects,fillouttheMSc/Honssupervisorpreferenceform

including two or three supervisors and project preferences and include this in yourMSc/Hons

application.IftheSchoolcannotplaceyouwithyourfirstchoiceofsupervisor/project,wewilltry

toplaceyouwithyoursecondorthirdpreference.Successfulapplicantswillbenotifiedbetween

theendofDecemberandearly January2017.All applicantswill beadvisedof theoutcomesof

theirapplicationsbytheendofJanuary2017.Insomecases,particularlyifexternalpartnersare

involved,negotiationsforprojectscancontinueandadditionalofferswillbemadeuntiltheendof

February.Somesupervisorsmayalsoofferaprojectthathasamid-yearstartdate,asthisbetter

suitsthefieldworkrequirementfortheresearch.

MastersCoordinators2017: DrKathHandasyde:katherine@unimelb.edu.au

HonoursCoordinator2017: DrEricTreml:eric.treml@unimelb.edu.au

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ResearchClustersintheSchoolofBioSciences

Ecology,EvolutionandEnvironmentalSciences

Sustainableuseandmanagementofenvironmentsrequiresknowledgeoftherelationships

between living organisms and their environment, what processes are fundamental to

ecosystems,andhowtheseandother factorsaffect thepersistenceofspeciesandplant

communities.

ConservationandClimateChange

TheConservationandClimateChangeGroupappliesecologicalandevolutionaryprinciples

to the field of wildlife, conservation and applied biology across a wide range of land

animals (includingmammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, a wide range of invertebrates,

and some plant groups). Particular interests include the management of native and

invasive species; habitat use and ecology of mammals and reptiles; first-principles

modelling of individual, population, and evolutionary dynamics; application of genomic

techniques to biodiversity management; and terrestrial animals as bioindicators of

environmentaldisturbance.

EvolutionandBehaviour

TheEvolutionandBehaviourGroupexamines thebehaviourandevolutionofanimalsat

severallevels,fromgenestopopulations.Researchonbehaviourincludes:visualsignalling

in birds, reptiles and insects; acoustic signalling in birds and amphibians; and chemical

signallingininsects.Researchinevolutionarybiologyinvestigatestheevolutionaryprocess

that produced the diversity of life we see today. This includes the study of macro-

evolutionarypatternsofphenotypicdiversity,phylogenyandtaxonomy;biogeographyand

patterns of speciation; the origin, structure and maintenance of hybrid zones; sexual

selection,includingfemalechoiceandspermcompetition;theevolutionofco-operationin

birdsandinvertebrates;andinter-specificrelationships.

MarineBiology

MarinebiologistsintheSchoolofBioSciencesworkonadiversityoftopicsacrossmarine

organisms, their conservation andmanagement.We conduct our research in temperate

andtropicalmarineenvironments,fromestuariestothedeepsea.

Together,weinvestigatethe:

• Behaviour,ecology,evolutionandbiodiversityofmarineorganisms;

• Effectsofhumandisturbanceonhabitats,speciesandcommunities;

• Productivity of aquaculture and technologies to improve its environmental

performance;and

• Ecologicalaspectsofmarineprotectedareasandfisheriesmanagement.

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QuantitativeandAppliedEcology

TheQuantitative andApplied EcologyGroupwork across awide spectrumof organisms

and environments. Our research focus includes; environmental decision making,

ecosystemmanagement, conservation biology, and community and population ecology.

The group also forms part of larger research centres: The ARC Centre of Excellence for

Environmental Decisions (CEED) and the Threatened Species hub of the National

EnvironmentalScienceProgram(NESP).

Genetics,GenomicsandDevelopment

The study of gene regulation, disease and the genetics of organisms and populations is

revolutionising the research fields of development, reproduction, biotechnology and

medicine.

PopulationandQuantitativeGenetics

ThePopulationandQuantitativeGeneticsGroupinvestigatethecausesandconsequences

ofgeneticvariationinnaturalpopulations.Abroadrangeofstatisticaltechniquessuchas

Genome-Wide Association and Genomic Selection methods are used to explore the

patternandeffectofmolecularvariationatthewholegenomelevel.Biologicalmodelsof

interest include humans, plants and insects with an emphasis on biological questions

relatedtohumanhealthandagriculture.

ReproductionandDevelopment

TheReproductionandDevelopmentGroupsstudytheverybeginningsof lifeandfactors

thatinfluencethegrowthandhealthoftheembryo,foetusandoffspring.

Basic and biomedical research of mammalian systems focuses on the genetics and

molecular control of early embryo development, sexual differentiation, environmental

disruptors of development, stem cell biology, comparative genomics and reproductive

physiology.

Reproductionisthescienceofthetransmissionoflife!

CardiovascularPhysiology

The Cardiovascular Physiology Group studies how blood vessels are damaged in

cardiovasculardiseaseandinvestigatesnewtreatmentsforvasculardysfunction.Diseases

ofinterestinclude;acuteheartfailure,hypertensioninpregnancyanddiabetes.

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DevelopmentalandCellularGenetics

Thelivingcellpossessesextraordinarycapabilitiesthatallowittosenseandrespondtoits

environment,metabolisenutrientsrequiredforgrowthanddivisionandundergochanges

incellshapeandfunction.Alloftheseprocessesareunderthecontrolofthehereditary

instructionsorgenesitexpresses,fromamongthethousandsinitsgenome.

MicrobialGenetics

Microbesarebothvitalandproblematic.Withoutthemourworldcouldn’texist,butsome

causeusmonumental grief.Understandingmicrobeshelpsusmanageourenvironment,

stayhealthyandlookafterourcrops,livestockandfoodsupplies.Genetictoolshavegiven

uspowerfulmeanstounderstandtheseinvisibleorganismsthatimpactourlivesinmyriad

ways.

PlantFunctionalGenomicsTheRoessnerresearchgroupisinterestedinunderstandinghowAustraliancrops,suchas

cereals and legumes, adapt and tolerate challenging environmental conditions including

water and nutrient deficiencies, salinity, heat or cold. We apply systems biology

approaches suchasgenomics, transcriptomics, lipidomicsandmetabolomics to compare

thebiochemicalresponsesofcropplantswithcontrastingtolerancelevelstoidentifynovel

adaptationandtolerancemechanisms.

PlantScience

Life is dependent on plants! As the only living organisms able tomake their own food,

theseprimaryproducersarevitaltotheworld’secosystem.Fromfood,medicines,clothing

andtheairwebreathe,wecouldnotexistwithoutthem.ResearchgroupsinPlantScience

studyabroadrangeoftopicsincluding:

• Plantdiversity,classification,biogeographyandconservation• Plantgrowthanddevelopment

• Plantcellwallbiosynthesisandcell-cellcommunication

• Plant nutrition and genetic engineering of crops to improve human nutrition

(biofortification)

• Plantbreedingsystemsandself-incompatibility

• Plant defence against herbivory; plant secondary metabolites including cyanogenic

compoundsandtheoilsofeucalypts

• Plantinteractionswithfungalpathogens• Evolution of plant, algal and protozoan cells, e.g., evolution of endosymbionts, the

malaria parasite with its remnant plant like chloroplast (organelles that convert light

energyintosugars),andbio-mineralisationandbioadhesionofalgalcellwalls.

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TableofContents

ResearchClustersintheSchoolofBioSciencesProfiles

Pagenumbers

Ecology,EvolutionandEnvironmentalSciencesConservationandClimateChange…………………………………………...……………………………………7-9

EvolutionandBehaviour……………………..………………………………………………………………….…10-12

MarineBiology………………………………………………………….……………….………………………………13-15

QuantitativeandAppliedEcology………………………………………………..……………………………16-20

AquaticEcologyandEnvironmentalPollution……………………………..…………………..………21-24

Genetics,GenomicsandDevelopmentPopulationandQuantitativeGenetics………………………………….………...…………………………25-26

ReproductionandDevelopment……………………………………….…...…………………………………27-28

DevelopmentalandCellularGenetics…………………………………………...……………………..……30-33

MicrobialGenetics…………………………………………...………………………………………………………………34

PlantFunctionalGenomics…………………………………………...…………………………………..…………….35

PlantScience……………………………………………….………………………………………….…………..36-39

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ConservationandClimateChangeProf.AryHoffmann(ary@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.no/citations?user=Y2jPDU4AAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Climatechangeadaptationinarangeofenvironments,

managementofinvertebratepests,Wolbachia

endosymbiontsforcontrollingmosquitobornediseases

PotentialMScprojects(inconjunctionwithotherresearchers):

• Identifyingnewendosymbiontstrainsfordiseasecontrol.

• Characterizingtheroleofsummerdiapauseinadaptationtoclimateextremes.

• Investigatingthebeneficialroleofnativeearwigs

Prof.RogerCousens(rcousens@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=BrqpG_oAAAAJ

Researchinterests: Plantpopulationbiology,spatialandtemporalpopulation

modelling,plantinvasionecology,evolutionaryecologyof

invasiveplants,weeds,impactsofweeds,conservationofterrestrialcoastalecosystems

PotentialMScprojects:• Howloyalarepollinators:pollinationecologyoftwoinvasiveplants

• Populationsizeanddensityeffectsinpollination(literaturereviewproject)

• Genomicvariationwithinthenativerangesoftwoinvasivespecies

DrBenPhillips(phillipsb@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Kk1JhPwAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Evolutionaryecology;ecologicalmodelling,invasivespecies,animal

behaviour,host-parasiteinteractions,reptiles,amphibians.

PotentialMScprojects:• Evolutiononinvasionfronts(empiricaland/ormodellingwork)

• Learningandprey-handlinginnorthernquolls

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DrKathHandasyde(kathrine@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person13879

Researchinterests:TerrestrialecologywithamajorfocusonAustraliannativemammals:wildlifeecology,managementand

impactsofhabitatfragmentation,wildlifediseases

PotentialMScprojects:• Managementofkoalapopulationsandtheirhabitat

• Surveyingformammalianbiodiversity–acousticsvs

spotlighting

DrMelissaCarew(mecarew@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://pearg.com/researchers/carewm

Researchinterests: Freshwaterbiologicalmonitoring;aquaticmacroinvertebrates;ecological

impactsofaquaticpollution;DNAbarcoding;applicationofnext-

generationsequencing(NGS)forenvironmentalmonitoring;molecular

taxonomy;molecularecology.

PotentialMScprojects(inconjunctionwithProf.AryHoffmannandMelbourneWater):

• UsingDNAbarcodestoinvestigatethemacroinvertebratediversityandecologyin

catchments

• InvestigatingthemolecularecologyofmacroinvertebratespeciesintheYarraRiverusing

nextgenerationsequencingtodetectenvironmentalimpacts.

DrPaulUmina(pumina@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person141077

Researchinterests: Invertebrateecology;sustainableagriculture,integratedpest

management,insecticideresistance,invasionecology,biocontrol

PotentialMScprojects:• Insectpestsandnovelapproachesforsustainablecontrolinfoodcrops

• Insecticideresistance:mechanisms,modellingandmonitoring

• Geneticsandecologyofbeneficialinsectsinagriculturaleco-systems

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DrMatthewBinns(matthew.binns@unimelb.edu.au)

Researchinterests: Invertebrateecology;sustainableagriculture,integratedpestmanagement

PotentialMScprojects:• Newknowledgetoimprovethetimingofpestmanagementdecisionsingraincrops

Dr.KarenRowe(karowe@museum.vic.gov.au)-MuseumVictoria(Associate)Profile:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uwOyaZ8AAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests:Terrestrialecology;avianecology,ecoacoustics,monitoringofthreatened

species,climatechange,speciesdistributions,museumcollections

PotentialMScprojects:• Usingmuseumrecordstodocumenttheimpactsofglobalchangeonspeciesdistributions

• Waystoimprovemonitoringofvocalspeciesusingecoacoustics

• Impactsofanthropogenicnoiseonbirdcommunitysoundscapes

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EvolutionandBehaviour

Prof.MarkElgar(m.elgar@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aawRWmIAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Evolutionaryecology:animalbehaviour;chemical

communication;matingstrategiesundersexualconflict;

socialbehaviour;signalsandinter-specificmutualisms

PotentialMScprojects:• Roleofchemicalsignalsinsocialandmatingsystems

• Trade-offsinsensorystructures

• spermcompetitionand'anti-aphrodisiac’pheromones

• evolutionarysignificanceofinsectantennaediversity

Prof.RaoulMulder(r.mulder@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Y_gfg0MAAAAJ

Researchinterests: Behaviouralecology;animalbehaviour,socialbehaviour,

matingsystems,sexualselection,cooperation,

communication,anthropogenicimpacts

PotentialMScprojects:• Ecologyandevolutionofanimalpersonalities

• Impactsofanthropogenicnoiseandlightonsleepandcommunication

• Movementecologyofurbanwildlife

Assoc.Prof.DeviStuart-Fox(d.stuart-fox@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=IY72IMEAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Evolutionarybiology;animalcoloration,sensoryecology,animal

behaviour,speciation,lizards,macro-evolutionarypatterns

PotentialMScprojects:• Effectsofstressoncolourexpressioninlizards

• Variationinpigmentsgeneratingcolourvariationinlizards

• Geneticbasisofcolourpolymorphismanditsroleinspeciation

• Behaviouralbarrierstogeneflowand/orgeneticincompatibilitiesinincipientspecies

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DrLukeHolman(luke.holman@anu.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=9WXgCXUAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests:Evolutionaryecology;sexualselection/conflict;socialevolution;

evolutionaryconstraints;animalsignals;selfishgenes;phenotypic

plasticity;theoreticalmodels.

PotentialMScprojects:• Measuringintragenomicconflictusingquantitativegeneticsininsects

• Experimentalevolutionininsects-removingselectionononesextoseehowtheother

evolves

• SearchingforqueenpheromonesinAustraliansocialinsects

DrMichelleHall(hall.m@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=BcsSi-YAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: behaviouralecology;animalpersonality,animalcommunication,

behaviouralplasticity

PotentialMScprojects:• Personalityandcommunicationstyles

• Effectsofearlydevelopmentalconditionsonsongstructure

• Socialnetworksandextra-pairmatingstrategies

DrTherésaJones(theresa@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=OQ3w1l8AAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Behaviouralecology;invertebratematingsystems,sexualselection,

ecologicallightpollution

PotentialMScprojects:• Intragenomicconflictandreproductivesuccess

• Theimpactofartificiallightatnightonageing

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DrChristyHipsley(chipsley@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Eyi8JRoAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Macroevolution;reptiles,vertebratepaleontology,

phylogenetics,diversification,comparativeanatomy,

climatechange,extinction,biogeography,

ecomorphology

PotentialMScprojects:• Ecomorphologyofburrowingwormlizards(amphisbaenians)usingspeciesnichemodeling

• Modularevolutionofreptileskullsusinggeometricmorphometrics

• Growthdynamicsoffossilreptilesinresponsetopaleoclimaticchange

• Evolutionarypathwaysoflimblossinskinks

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MarineBiologyProf.MickKeough(mjkeough@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XTbVdscAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Marineecology;resilienceandresponsestodisturbance,recruitmentof

invertebratesandseagrasses,evolutionarybiologyofinvertebrate

larvae,environmentalimpacts

PotentialMScprojects:• Resilienceofnearshoreecologicalcommunitiestodisturbance

• Detectingecologicalimpactsofpollutioninbaysandestuaries

• Howdoinvertebratelarvaerespondtostress?

Prof.SteveSwearer(sswearer@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=JHlX8XAAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: MarineEcology,EvolutionofLifeHistories,Dispersal,EcologicalTraps,

FishEcology

PotentialMScprojects:• Larvaldispersalandrecruitmentoffishesontemperatereefs.

• Restorationofkelpforests-reversingphaseshiftstourchinbarrens.• Ecologicaltrapsinaquaticecosystems-dotheyoccurandaretheyimportant?

Prof.MadeleinevanOppen(madeleine.van@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=VTjKnHMAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Marineecologyandevolution;coralmicrobialsymbiosis,climatechange

adaptationandacclimatisation,assistedevolutioninreef-building

corals.

PotentialMScprojects:• Enhancedcoralstresstoleranceincoralsviamanipulationofprokaryoticsymbionts

• Testingthevirallysisofcoralbleachinghypothesis

• Understandingtheadaptivepotentialandresponsetoselectionofthedinoflagellate

endosymbiontsofcorals

• Geneticandnon-geneticadaptationofcoralsinresponsetoelevatedtemperatureand

oceanacidification

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Prof.GregJenkins(gjenkins@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Kbip3jQAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: marineecology;fishecology,connectivity,recruitmentvariability,fish-

habitatrelationships,earlylifehistoryoffish,environmentalimpacts,

seagrassecology,environmentalriskassessment,biophysicalmodelling

PotentialMScprojects:• Spawningdates,growthanddispersalofjuvenileblackbreaminGippslandLakesbased

otolithmicrostructure

• Planktonicfood-chainpathwaystoaquaculturemusselrecruitment,growthandcondition

inPortPhillipBay

• Planktonicfood-chainpathwaystolarvalfishfeedingandrecruitmentvariabilityinPort

PhillipBay

Assoc.Prof.TimDempster(dempster@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=8xeTkRMAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Marineecology;environmentalimpacts,animalbehaviour,host-parasite

interactions,ecologicaltraps,invasionecology,aquacultureenvironment

interactions,aquaculturetechnology

PotentialMScprojects:• Ecologicaleffectsofaquacultureinmarineecosystems

• Marineecosystemrehabilitationusingaquaculturetechniquesandtechnologies

• Understandinghost-parasiteinteractionsinaquaculturesystemstoimprovemethodsfor

parasitecontrolandprevention

Assoc.Prof.RobDay(ormerday@gmail.com)

Profile:http://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person16096-tab-research

Researchinterests: Aquaculture,marinebiology,fisheriesdynamics,marineecologyofmolluscs,shell

calcificationinmolluscs,managementoffisheries.

PotentialMScprojects:• Abaloneaquaculture,Climatechange,andOxygen.

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DrEricATreml(etreml@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:https://etreml.wordpress.com/

Researchinterests: Quantitativemarineecologyandconservation,biogeography,

populationconnectivity,networktheory,landscapeecologyand

geographicinformationscience.Weuseavarietyoftools,including

spatialdynamicmodelling,spatialstatistics,networkanalysis,HPCprogramming,geographic

informationsystem(GIS),andremotesensingproducts.

PotentialMScprojects:• Influenceofmarinepopulationconnectivityongeneticandbiogeographicpatterns.

• MetapopulationdynamicsandresilienceintherockyreefsofPortPhillipBay,Victoria.

• Quantifyinganimalmovementthroughhabitatnetworksforconservationprioritisation.

DrJohnMorrongiello(john.morrongiello@unimelb.edu.au)LabWebpage:http://morrongiellolab.com

Researchinterests:Aquaticecologyandevolution;Fishecology,climatechangeimpact&

adaptation,behaviouralecology,fisheryimpacts,riverregulation,life

histories

PotentialMScprojects:• Environmentaldriversofestuarinefishgrowthandrecruitment

• Long-termbiologicalchangeinPortPhillipBay

• Behaviouralsyndromesandfishingordispersal

• Predatorsandprey:behaviour,colour,andwhogetseateninanewfishery

DrHeroenVerbruggen(heroen.verbruggen@unimelb.edu.au)Labwebsite:http://phycoweb.net

Researchinterests: Marineevolution;evolutionarybiology,comparativegenomics,

marinealgae,biodiversityscience,macroecology,bioinformatics

PotentialMScprojects:• Evolutionofecologicalnichesthroughgeologicaltime

• BiodiversitydiscoveryofmarinealgaeinAustralia

• Genomebiologyofenergyandnutrientphysiology

• Genomebiologyforrefinementofchloroplastendosymbiosistheory

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QuantatativeandAppliedEcology

Prof.MichaelMcCarthy(mamcca@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:http://mickresearch.wordpress.com

Researchinterests: Ecology;ecologicalmodelling,environmentaldecisions,

fireecology,imperfectdetection,

PotentialMScprojects:• Modelstoimproveenvironmentalmanagementdecisions

• Factorsdrivingimperfectdetectioninecologicalmonitoring

• Modellingtoimprovefiremanagementforbiodiversity

• Testingenvironmentaldecisiontheory

Assoc.Prof.JaneElith(j.elith@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:https://janeresearch.wordpress.com/

Researchinterests: Speciesdistributionmodels-particularlyhowtheyworkandperform;

alsotherangeofapplications.

PotentialMScprojects: • Methodsforevaluatingthepredictiveperformanceofspeciesdistributionmodelling

Assoc.Prof.PeterVesk(p.vesk@unimelb.edu.au)Labwebsite:https://petervesk.wordpress.com/about/

Researchinterests: plantecology;functionaltraitecology;ecologicalmodelling;ecological

monitoring;restorationandecologicalmanagement

PotentialMScprojects:• EucalyptustraitsanddistributionsinsouthernVictoria

• Growthresponsesofalpineshrubstowarming

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DrReidTingley(reid.tingley@unimelb.edu.au)Labwebsite:https://rtingley.wordpress.com/about/

Researchinterests: Invasionbiology,herpetology,biodiversitymonitoring,biosecurity,species

distributionmodelling,conservationdecisionmaking

PotentialMScprojects:• Cost-efficiencyofenvironmentalDNAsamplinginaquaticsystems

(platypus,fish,frogs,chytrid)

• Fightingfrogextinctionsbycreatingrefugesfromdisease

• UnderstandingtheimpactandspreadofexoticamphibiansinsuburbanMelbourne

• UsingcitizensciencedatatounderstandthebiogeographyofAustralianfungi

DrJoséLahoz-Monfort(jlahoz@unimelb.edu.au)Labwebsite:http://joselahozresearch.wordpress.com

Researchinterests: Ecologicalmodelling,statisticalecology;speciesdistributionmodelling,

noveltechnologiesfordatacollectionandwildlifemonitoring,

demographyandpopulationdynamics

PotentialMScprojects:•Iseeyouinthedark:evaluatingtheefficiencyofthermalimagersfor

monitoringwildlife•Are“proximalpredictors”betteratmodellingspeciesdistributionsundernovelconditions?

DrNickGolding(nicholas.golding@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=peoal7wAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Ecologicalmodelling;statisticalecology;speciesdistributionmodelling;

machinelearning;vector-bornediseases;populationdynamics;

scientificsoftware

PotentialMScprojects:• Usingmachinelearningtopredictspeciesdistributionsonamassivescale• Mappingthepopulationdynamicsoftsetsefliestocontrolsleepingsickness• Jointlymodellingdistributionsofmultiplespeciesusingindividual-leveldata

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DrGeoffHeard(heardg@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://gwheardresearch.wordpress.com/

Researchinterests: Spatialecology,herpetology,metapopulationandmetacommunity

dynamics,biogeography,ecologicalmodelling,chytrid-frog

interactions,conservationdecision-making.

PotentialMScprojects: • Biogeographyofreptilesandamphibiansinsouth-eastern

Australia.• Metacommunitydynamicsoffrogsinurbanisinglandscapes.• Testingkookyideasforconservation:designingchytridrefugesforthreatenedfrogs.• Nicheanddemographicshiftsinfrogsafflictedbychytridiomycosis.

DrCindyHauser(chauser@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://cindyehauser.wordpress.com/

Researchinterests: Surveydesign,monitoring,adaptivemanagement,conservation

decision-making,ecologicalmodelling,noveltechnologiesfordata

collectionandwildlifemonitoring

PotentialMScprojects: • Howtointegratenewandestablishedsurveytechnologies

DrLukeKelly(ltkelly@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://ltkellyresearch.com/

Researchinterests: Fireecology,spatialecology,smallmammals,reptiles,birds,

biogeography,environmentaldecisionmaking.

PotentialMScprojects: • Spatialecologyofpygmy-possums,carnivorousmarsupialsandendangeredrodentsin

malleelandscapes.

• ThreatenedplantandanimalecologyinVictoria’sfoothillforests.

• Fireecologyandhabitatchangeinaridandtemperateecosystems.

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DrHeiniKujala(heini.kujala@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://hkujalaresearch.wordpress.com/

Researchinterests: Spatialconservationplanning,climatechangeimpactsofspeciesandtheir

protection,uncertaintyinconservationdecisionmaking,spatial

optimisation,speciesdistributionmodelling,populationviabilityin

fragmentedlandscapes

PotentialMScprojects:

• Whattodoandwhere?Optimizingmanagementactionsforwoodlandbirdsunderclimate

change

• Mindthegap–conservationplanningintheoryandpracticeinAustralia

• Usingpopulationviabilitymodelstotesttheperformanceofalternativereservenetwork

structures

• Howdochangesincostsdrivespatialconservationplans?

DrNatalieBriscoe(nbriscoe@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://njbriscoeresearch.wordpress.com/

Researchinterests: Speciesdistributionmodelling,ecophysiology,predictingclimate

changeimpactsonspecies&quantifyinguncertainty,thermalbiology,

animalbehaviour,populationdynamics

PotentialMScprojects:• Theconservationvalueofchainsawcavitiesandnestboxesforhollow-dependentspecies

• Identifyinganddesigningchytridrefugesforthreatenedfrogs

• Integratingbiophysicalandpopulationdynamicsmodelstobetterpredicttheeffectsof

environmentalchange

DrGurutzetaGuillera-Arroita(gurutzeta.guillera@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:https://gguilleraresearch.wordpress.com

Researchinterests: Ecologicalmodelling,statisticalecology;speciesdistribution

modelling;communitymodelling;wildlifemonitoring;imperfect

detection;optimalsurveydesign

PotentialMScprojects:• Identifyingoptimalapproachesforplantabundanceestimation

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BronwynHradsky(hradskyb@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://wildzoologist.wordpress.com/about/

Researchinterests: Fireecology,invasivepredators,disturbanceecology,threatened

speciesmanagement,individual-basedmodelling

PotentialMScorHonsprojects: • Redfox,feralcatandnativemammalresponsestofireandinvasive

predatormanagement

DrPiaLentini(pia.lentini@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://pelentiniresearch.wordpress.com

Researchinterests: Urbanecology,agroecology,populationdynamics,biodiversity

offsets,human-wildlifeconflict,speciesdistributionmodelling,off-

reserveconservation,batecology,systematicconservation

prioritisation,biogeography

PotentialMScprojects: • Howdourbanareasimpactonmicrobatphylogeneticdiversityandspeciesco-occurrence?

• Whatcancitizensciencetellusaboutthefeedingpreferencesofthegrey-headedflying-

fox?

21

AquaticEcologyandEnvironmentalPollution(CAPIM-CentreforAquaticPollutionIdentificationandManagement)DrAllysonO’Brien(allyson@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://allysonobrien.com

Researchinterests: Marineecology;communityecology,ecotoxicology,softsediment

invertebrates,DNAmetabarcodingandmetabolomics,ecological

modelling,environmentalimpactassessments

PotentialMScprojects:• Developingnewbiomarkersforpollutiondetectioninestuaries

• Understandingpopulation-leveleffectsofpollutantsonsoftsedimentinvertebrates

• UsingDNAmeta-barcodingtounderstandecologicalresilienceofmarinebenthic

communities

• Populationgeneticsofpolychaetes–collaborationwithMuseumVictoria

DrKathrynHassell(khassell@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=lrsHuPsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Researchinterests: Effectsofpollutionandcontaminantsinaquaticorganisms;sub-lethal

andlong-termeffectsofenvironmentalstressors;endocrinedisrupting

chemicals

PotentialMScprojects:• Effectsofchemicalexposureonnativefishreproduction(eggproductionandeggquality,

fertility,larvalsurvivalandfitness)• Effectsofchemicalexposureonfishdetoxificationenzymeactivities(tissuebiomarkers)• Pollutionbiomonitoring(assessmentofwildfishcapturedfromVictorianestuaries)

DrClaudetteKellar(ckellar@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://capim.com.au/index.php?page=dr-claudette-kellarResearchinterests: freshwaterecology;environmentalimpacts,environmental

assessment,pollutionimpacts,multiplelinesofevidence,

macroinvertebrateassemblages.

PotentialMScprojects:• Ecologicaleffectsofpollutioninfreshwaterecosystems

• Understandingpollutioneffectsonaquaticbiota

• Identifyingprimaryfactorscausingbiologicalimpairmentinfreshwaterecosystems

22

DrDavidSharley(dsharley@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://capim.com.au/index.php?page=dr-david-sharley

Researchinterests: AquaticPollution;benthicbiology,pollutiontracking,Landscapechemistry,

wetlandquality,integratedcatchmentmanagement

PotentialMScprojects:• Interactionsbetweencatchmentpollutionandenvironmentalhealthof

urbanwaterways

• Linkingtoxicityofindicatorspeciestoecosystemhealth

• Factorsinfluencingcompositionanddistributionofbiotainurbanwaterways

DrJackieMyers(jhmyers@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://capim.com.au/index.php?page=jackie-myers

Researchinterests: Marine&freshwaterecotoxicology;understandingimpactsofhuman

inducedstressors,micro-&macroalgal,seagrass&mangrove

toxicology,aquaticplantsandalgaeinenvironmentalassessment,

pesticidesinourenvironment,algaltoxins,seafoodsafetyduring

harmfulalgalblooms.

PotentialMScprojects:

• Micro-andmacro-algaeasindictorsofenvironmentalimpactsinwetlands

• Insitutechniquesforassessingtoxicitytophytoplankton

• Insightsintoseafoodsafetyduringtoxicalgalblooms

• Seagrassandmangrovestoxicology

• Developingtechniquestoassessenvironmentalimpactsusingaquaticplants

DrKallieTownsend(tok@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kallie_Townsend

Researchinterests: Impairmentinfreshwaterecosystems;Freshwaterecology,

ecotoxicology,environmentalflows,pollution,pesticides,insects,

populationsandcommunities,insectdeformities.

PotentialMScprojects:• IdentifyingthedistributionandseverityofmicroplasticpollutioninAustralia’sfreshwater

ecosystems,anddeterminingiftheseareimpactingaquaticfauna

• Understandingtheeffectsofenvironmentalflows,irrigationwaterreleasesandcoldwater

pollutiononmacroinvertebrates

23

DrValentinaColombo(colombom@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Valentina_Colombo

Researchinterests: Freshwaterecosystems,ecotoxicology,biotests(developmentand

optimisation)foraquaticpollutioncontrol,invertebrates,assessment

ofpollutionimpact

PotentialMScprojects:• Usingdormanteggsandalgaljelliestodetectpollutioninaquaticecosystems

• Developmentofbiotestswithmud-snailsforthedetectionofman-madehormone

disruptors

• ToxPods:Optimisingbiotestswithamphipods(crustaceans)tobeusedasadiagnostictool

forwaterpollution

DrKatherineJeppe(kjeppe@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://capim.com.au/index.php?page=katy-jeppe

Researchinterests: Ecotoxicology,biomarkers,metabolomics,transcriptomicsandgene

expression,environmentalmonitoring

PotentialMScprojects:• MeasuringreproductiveresponsesofthesnailPotamopyrgusantipodarumafterinsituand

invitroexposuretoanthropogeniccontaminants,includingendocrinedisrupting

chemicals.

• Biomarkersofcontaminantexposure,developmentandvalidationofbiomarkersof

exposureininvertebrates.

24

DrSaraLong(hoskins@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:www.researchgate.net/profile/Sara_Long

Researchinterests: aquaticecotoxicology,pollution,metabolomics,developingnovelearly

warningbiomarkersofpollutionexposure,mechanismsoftoxicity,

epigenetics,mixtures

PotentialMScprojects:• Unravellingthemechanismofhowpesticidesaffectaquaticinsectemergenceand

reproduction,usingnovel‘omics’techniques

• Understandingeffectsofmixturesofmetalsandfungicidesonthelifecycleofestuarine

invertebrates

• Identifyingsmallmetaboliteearlywarningbiomarkersofpollutionthatreflectmore

ecologicallyrelevantendpointsinaquaticsystems.

25

PopulationandQuantitativeGeneticsDrCharlesRobin(crobin@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:www.specifly.org

Researchinterests:Whatistheroleofadaptationintheshapingvariationwithinandbetweenspecies?We

focusoninsecticideresistanceasourmicroevolutionarymodel,andthecomparative

genomicsofenzymesfromvariousinsectsininter-speciescomparisons.Ourappliedaimis

tocontrolpestswithmethodsthatdonothaveadverseimpactsonbiodiversityeg.RNAior

specificenzymeinhibitors.

PotentialMScprojects:• Geneticallycharacterisethefunctionofgenesthatdisplaythefootprintsofselective

sweepsininsectspecies

• Contributetoa‘systemsgenetics'modelofinsecticiderelatedtraits

• Exploreparallelevolutionofdetoxificationpathwaysacrossinsects

• Advancemodelsofchimericgeneevolutionwithinandbetweenspecies.

DrMichaelInouye(minouye@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:www.inouyelab.org|www.sysgenmelb.org

Researchinterests: Genomics&ComputationalBiology;genomicarchitectureofcomplex

humandiseases;genomicpredictionofdiseasesandtraits;genomicsof

eucalypts;populationgenomics;integrativeanalysisofomicsdata;

developmentofstatisticalapproachesandcomputationalalgorithms

PotentialMScprojects:• Genomicanalysisofeucalypts

• Variousproblemsinhumangenomics

• Genomicsofproteinstructuralvariation

DrAndrewWeeks(aweeks@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=CZb8XQQAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Conservationbiology;populationgenetics;ecologicalgenetics;host-

parasiteinteractions;environmentalDNA.

PotentialMScprojects:• GeneticrescueinVictorianeasternbarredbandicoots

• Bioinformaticsofgeneticrescue;detectingsignaturesofinbreeding,

outbreedingandlocaladaptationinthemountainpygmypossum

• environmentalDNAasanovelmethodforestimatingfreshwaterbiodiversity

26

DrAlexFournier-Level(afournier@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:adaptive-evolution.org

ResearchInterest:Plantadaptationtoclimate,Plantandinsectpopulationgenetics,

resistancetoherbicide/insecticideinnaturalpopulations.

PotentialMscprojects:• Theprogrammingofseedgerminationunderclimatechange.• ModelingallelefunctionalityfromGWASdata.

• Drivingherbicideresistancegenestoextinction

27

ReproductionandDevelopmentProf.DavidK.Gardner(david.gardner@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=vNj-urYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

ResearchInterests: Reproductivebiology;humanIVF,preimplantationembryoculture,

embryonicstemcells,diagnosisofembryoviabilityanddevelopmentof

biomarkers,impactofendocrinedisruptingchemicals,epigenetics,

cryobiology

PotentialMScprojectsonembryos:• Analysisofhowoxygenregulatespreimplantationdevelopmentthroughtime-lapse

microscopy

• Impactofendocrinedisruptingchemicalsonembryodevelopmentandtheepigenome

• Regulationofembryodevelopmentandviabilitybygrowthfactorsandcytokines

• Aspartateand/orglucoseutilisationasBiomarkersofembryoviability

PotentialMScprojectsonembryonicstemcells:• Roleofantioxidantsinmaintainingthefunctionofembryonicstemcells

Prof.MarilynBRenfree(m.renfree@unimelb.edu.au)Labwebsite:http://renfreeshawlab.biosciences.uom.org.au/

Researchinterests: Reproductionanddevelopmentinhealthanddisease,using

marsupialsasbiomedicalmodelsincludes:sexdetermination,

sexualdifferentiation,epigenetics,molecularandhormonal

regulationofgonadandphallusdevelopment,endocrine

disruptors,embryonicdiapause,comparativegenomicsand

transcriptomics,innateimmunityindevelopingyoung,limband

phallusdevelopment.

PotentialMScprojects:• GenomicimprintingRegulatorymechanismsoftesticularandovariandevelopmentandthe

roleoflongnon-codingRNAs

• Marsupialsamodelsfordisordersofsexualdevelopmentincludingsexreversal,

environmentalendocrinedisruptorsandhypospadias

• Geneandhormonalcontrolofappendage(limbsandphallus)differentiation

• Embryonicdiapauseandearlyembryonicdevelopment

• Genomicimprinting

• Transcriptomicsofthemarsupialembryoandplacenta

28

Assoc.Prof.AndrewPask(a.pask@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=4ONkuEsAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Comparativegenomicsofdevelopmentanddisease;urogenital

development,marsupialgenomics,genomeevolutionandfunction,

endocrinedisruption,bioinformatics,epigenetics,developmentalbiology.

PotentialMScprojects:• Effectsofendocrinedisruptionongenomebiologyinmammals

• Developmentalbiologyandgenomicsofthefat-taileddunnart

• Theroleoflongnon-codingRNAsintheregulationofurethralclosureandurogenital

diseases

DrAlexandraHarvey(ajharvey@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=HeoTMx8AAAAJ

Researchinterests: Embryonicstemcells;extracellularenvironment,thelegacyofcultureoncell

function,metabolism,mitochondria,cellsignalling,oxygenregulation,

redox,endocrinedisruptingchemicals,neuraldifferentiation,epigenetics

PotentialMScprojects:• Definingtheimpactofcultureonpluripotentstemcellqualityandmetabolism.

• Redoxregulationofembryonicstemcellphysiology.

DrMarkGreen(mark.green@unimelb.edu.au)Labwebsite:http://greenlab.biosciences.uom.org.au/

Researchinterests: Reproductive biology; assisted reproductive technologies (ART),

environmental endocrine disruptors, developmental origins of adult

disease (DOHaD), oocyte quality, embryo development, sperm

microfluidics,mitochondrialfunction, invitro fertilisation,phenotypeofIVFchildren,healthofclonedanimals,sexratio,anti-oxidantsandreproduction.

PotentialMScprojects:• Determining the effects of endocrine disruptors and pollutants on embryo development

andmetabolism,aswellasspermquality.

• Developmentofmicrofluidictechnologiestosortmotilespermforcommercialapplication

inhumanfertilityandspermclinics.

• Quantifying telomere length in naturally conceived and cloned animals as a proxy for

reproductivehealthandageing.

29

30

DevelopmentalandCellularGeneticsProf.PhilBatterham(p.batterham@unimleb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=-0dTXHUAAAAJ

Researchinterests:Neurogenetics;nicotinicacetylcholinereceptorstructureandfunction,

receptortrafficking,insectbehavior

Systemsbiology;roleofmetabolicenzymesandtransportersinparticulartissuesintheresponse

toinsecticides

PotentialMScprojects:• Theroleofnicotinicacetylcholinereceptors(nAChRs)inmatingbehaviorandlearningand

memory

• Structure/functionstudiesonnAChRgenesusingCRISPRanddomainswapping

• Functionalstudiesonmulti-drugresistanceandmetabolicgenesusingCRISPR

• Functionalstudiesontheroleinsectkidneys(malpighiantubules)ininsecticidemetabolism

usingCRISPR

• Impactofinsecticideexposureonmetabolismandbrainfunction

• Genomicanalysisofthesheepblowfly,Luciliacuprina

Assoc.Prof.AlexAndrianopoulos(alex.a@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:http://www.genetics.unimelb.edu.au/research/andr/index.html

Researchinterests:Understandingthemoleculargeneticmechanismsthatregulatecellularmorphogenesisandvirulenceinthehumanpathogen

Talaromycesmarneffei.

Understandingthemoleculargeneticmechanismsthatregulate

developmentintheeukaryoticmodelorganismAspergillusnidulans.

PotentialMScprojects:• Genomicapproachestoidentifyingandcharacterising

genesimportantforinfection.

• Dissectingthemolecularandcellularaspectsofhost-

pathogeninteractions.

• Moleculargeneticcharacterisationoftranscriptional

factors,andtheircircuits,controllingdevelopment.

31

DrJohnGolz(jgolz@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:blogs.unimelb.edu.au/golzlab/

Researchinterests:Understandingtheregulatorycircuitsinvolvedincellularpatterningduringembryogenesisanddifferentiationoftheseedcoat;understandinghow

plantsrespondtoabiotic/bioticstress;plantbiotechnologyand

geneticengineering.

PotentialMScprojects:• DeterminingwhethertheLUGregulatorycomplexcontrols

microRNAaccumulationduringembryogenesis

• Characterisingthebindingsitesoftranscriptionfactorsinvolved

inseedcoatdifferentiationanddeterminingtheirrolein

mucilageextrusion

DrPatriciaJusuf(patricia.jusuf@monash.edu)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=RW6SvYoAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests:Usingthezebrafishmodeltounderstandgenenetworksduringvertebrate

developmentwithafocusonvisualneuroscience;andpro-regenerativesignals

thatdriveadultregeneration.

PotentialMScprojects:• Roleofgenesgoverningneuralsubtypespecificationduringdevelopment

• Characterisingregenerativeprocessesinmodelsofvisualdisorders

• Characterisingnovelgenesindevelopmentalsynexpressiongroups(co-

supervisedwithDrRamialisonattheAustralianRegenerativeMedicineInstitute)

DrMichaelMurray(murraym@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:http://murraylab.biosciences.uom.org.au/

Researchinterests:MolecularmechanismsofMesenchymal-Epithelial-Transition(MET)and

EpithelialMesenchymalTransition(EMT)inthevinegarfly,Drosophilamelanogaster;Epithelialpolarisationofhumancells;modellingcancer

metastasisinflies.

PotentialMScprojects:• EpigeneticcontrolofEMT/METinDrosophiladevelopment

• TraffickingofthenetrinreceptorFrazzledduringEMT/MET

32

DrMikeHaydon(m.haydon@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:http://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/haydonlab/

Researchinterests:Weusegeneticsandchemicalgeneticstounderstandcellsignallingnetworksinplants.Weconsiderthesepathwaysinthecontextoflight

sensingandphotosynthesistodefinetheircontributiontoplantphysiology

anddevelopment.

Ourresearchcoverssignaltransduction,cellwallbiology,circadianbiologyandplant

physiology.

PotentialMScprojects:• Geneticandchemicalgeneticinvestigationofplantsugarsignalling

• Glutamate-likereceptorsinlight-independentsugarsignalling

• Cellwallsignallinginphotomorphogenesis

• Celltype-specificresolutionoftranscriptionalsignallingsignatures

DrTrentPerry(trentp@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=fDTaKtQAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests:Insecticidebiology;insecticidemodeofaction,mechanisms

ofresistance,acuteandchronictoxicology

Neurogenetics;Nicotinicacetylcholinereceptorstructureandfunction,insectbehaviour,receptortrafficking

PotentialMScprojects:• Analysingimpactsofsub-lethalinsecticidedosesoninsectdevelopmentandbehaviour

• CharacterisingproteinscriticalfornAChRfunction

• Identifyinggenesconferringhighlevelsofmulti-drugresistanceinanaturalpopulation

• Structure/functionstudiesonthenAChRsubunitsusingdomainswappingandCRISPR

33

DrRachelBurt(rachel.burt@mcri.edu.au)(MurdochChildren’s

ResearchInstitute–Associate)

Labwebsite:www.mcri.edu.au/users/dr-rachel-burt

Researchinterests: Auditorygenetics:Ourlaboratoryisusingacombinationofgenetics,

molecular,andcellularbiologytounderstandthebasisofhearing

impairmentandtoinformthedevelopmentofbetterdiagnostic

toolsandpreventativemedicinesfordeafnessandhearingloss

PotentialMScprojects:• GeneDiscoveryforDeafness

• Identifyingdrugtargetsforpreventionofprogressivehearingloss

• Definingtheregulationofauditoryapoptosis

• Preventingtheauditoryapoptosisthatleadstoacquiredhearingimpairment

Prof.RichardSaffery(richard.saffery@mcri.edu.au)(Murdoch

Children’sResearchInstitute–Associate)

Labwebsite:https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/themes/cell-biology/cancer-disease-

epigenetics

Researchinterests: Canceranddiseaseepigenetics:Ourlaboratoryusesstate-of-the-artmultidisciplinary

approaches,encompassinggenetic,environmentalandepigeneticanalyses,tounderstand

childhooddevelopmentandcomplexdisease.Usingthisapproachweaimtomorefully

understandhowgenesandenvironmentinteractinearlylifetodeterminetheriskof

developingawholerangeofnon-communicablediseasesinchildrenandadults

PotentialMScprojects:• Epigeneticsasamediatorofgene:environmentinteractionsunderlyingearlylife

programmingofcardiovascularandmetabolicrisk

• Molecularclassificationtoolstoimproveoutcomeinchildhoodcancers

• Molecularprofilingofpaediatricsolidtumoursforimprovedprognosisandpatient

outcome

34

MicrobialGenetics

Assoc.Prof.AlexanderIdnurm(alexander.idnurm@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=rizOUBgAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Fungalbiology;host-pathogeninteractions,plantpathology,medical

mycology,mating-typedetermination,evolution,generegulation

PotentialMScprojects:• IdentificationofvirulencefactorsinLeptosphaeriamaculansor

Cryptococcusneoformans• Geneticsofballistosporeformationandreleaseinbasidiomycete

fungi

• Genemanipulationsinskin-associatedMalasseziaspecies• Characterisationofgenesessentialforfungalviability

DrCandaceElliott(ce@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=mYqQvtcAAAAJ&cstart=20

Researchinterests: Plantpathogenicfungi,fungalsecondarymetabolitesandnatural

products

PotentialMScprojects:• Determiningtherolesofsecondarymetabolitesmadebyfungithatinfectcanola

• Unravellingtherolesofkeyfungalgenesduringinfectionofcanolabycreatingand

studyingoverexpressionordeletionmutants

• Studyingtheinteractionbetweenplantdiseaseresistancegenesandfungaleffectorsusing

themodelplantNicotianabenthemiana

35

PlantFunctionalGenomics

Assoc.Prof.UteRoessner(u.roessner@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=aTmdqpYAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Abioticstressadaptationandtoleranceincerealcrops;functionalgenomics,

metabolomics,analyticalbiochemistry,rootfunctions,wateruseefficiency,

nutrientuseefficiency

PotentialMScprojects:• DefinethemolecularbasisofRoot–Soil–Microbeinteractions

• Understandingtheimportanceofcellmembranecompositionsofrootsunderadverse

environments

• Definethebiochemicalbasisofsignallingnetworksbetweenrootsandshoots

• Studyofrootphysiologyandmolecularresponsestoabioticstress(salinity,drought,cold)

inbarleyandwheat

• Metaboliteanalysisofplantssubjectedtoenvironmentalstress

• Applicationofimagingmassspectrometrymethodstodetectsmallmoleculesinplant

tissueusingMALDI-FT-ICR-IMS

• Multidisciplinaryfunctionalgenomicsapproachestostudyabioticstressincereals

DrBerinBoughton(baboug@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:http://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person11784#tab-overview

https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=iiUH6_0AAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Bio-analyticalandImagingMassSpectrometry(IMS);mass

spectrometry(MS),matrixassistedlaserdesorptionionisation

(MALDI),ultra-highmassresolutionFourierTransformioncyclotron

resonanceMS,spatialmetabolomics,metabolomics,eco-

metabolomics,host-parasiteinteractions,plantsecondary

metabolites,bio-organicchemistry.

PotentialMScprojects:• DevelopmentofnovelmatricesforImagingMassSpectrometry

• ComputationalanalysisofImagingMassSpectrometrydata

• Spatialmeasurementofplant(defence)metabolites

• Understandinghost-parasiteinteractionsinsituusingimagingmassspectrometry

36

PlantBiologyProfessorIanWoodrow(i.woodrow@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=jPnOVMoAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests:• Eucalyptbiotechnology(tissueculture,transformation,polyploidy)

• Plantnaturalproducts(terpenoids,flavonoids)

• Eucalyptplantationsfornaturalproductproduction

PotentialMScprojects:• Developmentandcharacterisationoftetraploideucalyptsforessentialoilproduction

• Mechanismsofmethylationofmedicinalflavanonesineucalyptfoliage

• Developingeucalyptplantationsformedicinalflavanoneproduction

Prof.StaffanPersson(Staffan.persson@unimelb.edu.au)DrReneSchneider(rene.schneider@unimelb.edu.au) Profile:http://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/persson-lab/

Researchinterests: Plantcellbiology;plantcellwalls,proteintrafficking,

cytoskeleton,principlesbehindhowplantsmakebiomass

importantforbiofuels

PotentialMScprojects:• Understandhowplantscangrowonsaltysoil

• Usecutting-edgemicroscopytounderstandhowmotorproteinswork

• Howdoplantsconstructtheirplumbing?

• Howcanwetailorplantstoproducemorebiomassimportantforbiofuelsand

biomaterials?

Assoc.Prof.EdNewbigin(edwardjn@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=AFF74YkAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests: Pollenbiology,plantcellwallsynthesis,plantbreedingsystems,

self-incompatibility

PotentialMScprojects:• Cellwallsynthesisinpollentubes

• Self-incompatibilityinwildradish

37

Assoc.Prof.AndrewDrinnan(a.drinnan@unimelb.edu.au) Profile:http://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person16521-tab-publications

Researchinterests: Plantevolution

PotentialMScprojects:• DeterminingthepollencontentofAustralianhoney(co-supervisor:KaleSniderman(Earth

Sciences))

• Developmentandevolutionofnon-floweringlandplants

Assoc.Prof.JoshuaHeazlewood(jheazlewood@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2aq3NPUAAAAJ

Researchinterests:Plantbiochemistry;cellwalls,massspectrometry,proteomics,

bioinformatics,membranetransport,subcellularpartitioning,metabolism,

endomembrane,Golgiapparatus

PotentialMScprojects:• AnalysisofGolgitransportersdeliveringsubstratesforplantcellwallbiosynthesis

• Applicationoforganelleisolationandcharacterizationbytandemmassspectrometry

• Bioinformaticanalysisanddatavisualizationofplantproteindata

• Characterizationofproteinglycosylationbytandemmassspectrometry

• Targetedanalysisofmetabolitesandenzymesinvolvedinplantcellwallbiosynthesis

Dr.HeatherE.McFarlane(heather.mcfarlane@unimelb.edu.au) Profile:https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=kXiC3xgAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchinterests:Plantcellbiology,cellwalls,intracellulartrafficking,

secretion,recycling,cellwallintegritysignalling,

organelleidentity,electronmicroscopy,livecell

imaging,protein-proteininteractions.

PotentialMScprojects:• Determiningevolutionarilyconservedprotein-proteininteractionsincellwallsynthesis.

• Geneticscreenusingautomatedfluorescencemicroscopyforcellwallsignallingmutants.

• Trackingcellwallsynthesisenzymesusinglivecellimagingandelectronmicroscopy.

38

DrEdwinLampugnani(Edwin.Lampugnani@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:http://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person429345

Researchinterests: Plantdevelopment,cellwallsynthesis,aminimalprotein

complexforcellulosesynthesis,livecellimaging,

protein-proteininteractions

PotentialMScprojects:• Useevolutionarybiologytounderstandwhichproteinsmakecelluloseinbasallandplants.

• Determinetheminimalcellulosesynthasecomplexinaplant.

• Usenewwaystodetecthowproteinsinteractinsideofaplantcell.

• UsefluorescentTIMERproteinstobetterunderstandproteinturnoverandlocalizationin

plants.

DrKimJohnson(kim.johnson@unimelb.edu.au)Profile:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kim_Johnson13

Researchinterests: Plantcellwalls;plantdevelopment,plantgrowth,cellwallsensing,

cell-cellcommunication,signalling,cellbiology

PotentialMScprojects:• RegulationofseedpodshatteringinArabidopsisandBrassica

• Investigatingcellwallsensingandsignallingpathways

• Understandingregulationofcellwalldepositionandremodelling

duringplantgrowth

DrMonikaDoblin(msdoblin@unimelb.edu.au)

Profile:https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=wx74AK8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works

Researchinterests:• Biosynthesisandassemblyofextracellular

polysaccharides/glycoproteinsandtheirmodificationpost-deposition

• Molecularmechanismsofpolysaccharidesynthesis

• Polysaccharidestructure/functionrelationships

• Biotechnologicalapplicationsofpolysaccharides

PotentialMScprojects:• Cellwallsynthesisincereals:improvedanimalnutritionandbiofuels

• Cloningandcharacterisationofgenesencodingpolysaccharidesynthases

• Regulationofpolysaccharidesynthesis,assemblyanddeposition

39

DrAlexJohnson(johnsa@unimelb.edu.au)

Labwebsite:https://alexjohnsonlab.com/

Researchinterests: Plantbiotechnology;plantnutrition,geneticengineering,plantcelland

molecularbiology,biofortification

PotentialMScprojects:• Fieldevaluationofgeneticallymodifiedwheatwithiron-enrichedgrain

• Characterizationofmetaltransportproteinsinplants

• InvestigatingtheeffectsofelevatedatmosphericCO2oncropnutrition