In have started my PhD under supervision of Dr Simon Ho in the newly forming research group of 'Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics'. Currently I'm working on a project concerning DNA decay in archaeological/paleontological samples, but my general field is ancient DNA.

I was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland. There I also got my Master's degree. My research covered studying genetic affinities within and among a few pre-Columbian populations from Peru. So I collected some teeth and bones from ancient tombs, isolated DNA and tried to extract population information from them. I'm fascinated by evolution - especially of human lineage and interrelation of biology and culture in our species. Apart from science I love entertainment (particularly when it involves spending time with my friends), travelling and lizards.

I have started my PhD working on genetic pathways involved in the formation of roots in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. I am under the supervision of Dr Jenney Saleeba and co-supervised by Dr Mary Bryne. I am from Sri Lanka and that's where I completed my B.Sc. in Agriculture and M.Sc. in Biotechnology (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka).

I have just started my PhD looking at limpet behaviour and ecophysiology with A/Prof Ross Coleman and A/Prof Frank Seebacher. Previously I completed my Bachelor of Science (Hons) here are the University of Sydney majoring in Biology.

I am enrolled in a full-time PhD under the supervision of A/Prof Ross Coleman. My research will test hypotheses that the existing boundaries set between marine bioregions in NSW are supported (or not) under ecological experiments. I will use assemblages of microgastropods because they can be considered as representative of ecological conditions. This study addresses one of the key aims of ecology, which is the developing of new knowledge on factors affecting marine conservation and the improvement of scientific basis of management of our coastal environment. Previously, I completed my BSc in Marine Biology (Hons) at the University of Valparaiso, Chile.

I have a Bachelor Degree in Natural Sciences obtained in Milan (Italy) in 2006 and a Masters Degree in Environmental Science obtained in Perth (WA) in 2009, both specialising in Zoology. My interests and expertise are primarily in animal behaviour, in particular predator-prey relationships in mammals and the effects of predation risk on behaviour.

I am currently working for my PhD with Clare McArthur and Peter Banks. My project is focusing on how personality shifts the foraging response of herbivores to plants and predators. My goal is to understand what role personality plays into the process of foraging of common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). I will conduct manipulative experiments on captive and free-ranging individuals using the Giving-Up-Density framework to determine how personality modifies the individual response to predation risk and how it modifies the trade-off between dealing with plant toxins and predation risk.

Matt will be in this role for two years. He can be found on level 5 Carslaw, room 506.

Peter will be in this role for semester 1 of this year, after which he will travel to New York to commence his postdoctoral research. Peter can also be found in room 506 in Carslaw.

Professor Rick Shine has been awarded the Walter Burfitt Prize, for scientific research of the "highest merit", by the Royal Society of NSW.

The Walter Burfitt Prize is awarded at intervals of three years to the worker in pure or applied science whose papers and other contributions published during the past six years are deemed of the highest scientific merit.

Professor Marie Bashir, AC CVO Governor of NSW and Patron of the Royal Society of NSW, presented the prize to Professor Shine at the Royal Society's Annual Dinner held on 18 February in the University of Sydney's St Paul's college.

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