Research in the School of Biological Sciences
Within the University cooperative and co-supervision arrangements are possible with many departments and Schools including Biochemistry, Microbiology, Histology and Embryology, Physiology, Crop Sciences, other departments within Clinical Medicine and Veterinary Science, the Australian Genomic Information Centre and the NWG Macintosh Centre for Quaternary Dating.
Beyond the University, similar arrangements are possible with staff of the four other metropolitan Universities, the Australian Museum, Taronga Zoo and Aquarium and the NSW Department of Agriculture and Fisheries through either its Fisheries Research Institute or the Biological and Chemical Research Institute. Research cooperation and/or co-supervision is also possible with the CSIRO (various divisions, including Entomology, Wildlife, Plant Industry, Animal Production, Biotechnology), The National Herbarium of NSW at the Royal Botanic Gardens, The National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW and Biotechnology Australia.
Research Expertise List
For anyone involved in scientific research, advice and expertise in the following areas are available from colleagues of the School of Biological Sciences.
Click to view the Research Expertise List
of the School of Biological Sciences. Please arrange an appointment by email.
Research Interests in the School
| Researcher | Interests | Honours Projects |
|---|---|---|
| A/Prof M Beekman | Animal behaviour, behavioural ecology, evolution of sociality, social insects | Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory Honours Projects |
| Dr M Byrne | Plant development, genes and genetic interactions, regulation of gene expression | Honours Project Opportunities Plant Developmental Genetics |
| Dr M Chen | Molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria, evolution of chlorophylls, artificial photosynthesis | Honours Project Opportunities in Bioconversion and Photosynthesis |
| A/Prof R Coleman | Behavioural ecology of marine invertebrates, herbivore-plant interactions, defence against predation | |
| Professor C Dickman | Ecology, conservation and management of vertebrates, especially mammals; ecology of arid ecosystems | |
| Dr Will Figueira | Fish population ecology | Honours Project Opportunities in Fish Population Ecology |
| Dr N Firth | Mobile genetic elements & exchange; molecular biology & significance in bacterial evolution | Honours Project Opportunities in Molecular Genetics |
| Dr M Henwood | Systematics, phylogeny, biogeography and evolution of plants | |
| Dr D Hochuli | Ecology of terrestrial arthropods, insect-plant interactions, conservation biology, restoration ecology | |
| Dr S Ho | Molecular evolution, phylogenetics, molecular clocks, and ancient DNA | Honours Project Opportunities with Dr Ho |
| Dr T Latty | Ants, foraging behaviour, honeybees, optimal foraging theory, slime mould | Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory Honours Projects |
| Dr M Lihoreau | Nutrition and sociality | Honours Project Opportunities with Dr Lihoreau |
| Dr O Lilje | Soil chytrid morphology and function, in vitro soil microbial interaction, fungal biofilms | |
| Dr N Lo | Arthropod-Bacterial symbioses, phylogenetics, enzyme molecular biology | Honours Project Opportunities with Dr Lo |
| Dr B Lyon | Molecular genetics of microbial pathogenesis in animals and plants | Honours Project Opportunities in Molecular Genetics |
| Dr J Marc | Hormonal and environmental stress signalling in plants, cellular / molecular biology of signaling based on phospholipase - cytoskeleton interactions | Honours Project Opportunities in Plant Cellular Molecular Biology |
| Dr C McArthur | Plant-herbivore interactions, foraging ecology and conservation of mammals | |
| A/Prof P McGee | Ecology of fungi: conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of ecosystems | Honours Project Opportunities: Carbon sequestration in Soil |
| Professor B Oldroyd | Honey bee biology. Population/conservation/behavioural genetics, genomics of behavioural traits | Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory Honours Projects |
| Professor R Overall | The cytoskeleton, plant development | |
| Dr K Parry-Jones | Flying-fox ecology and conservation, life history and nutrition | |
| Dr J Saleeba | Molecular genetics of root branching patterns, the interaction of microbes with plant roots | Research Interests of the Genetics Laboratory |
| A/Prof F Seebacher | Evolutionary and Ecological Physiology: how do animals respond to changing environments? | |
| Dr T Schaerf | Mathematical modelling, house-hunting in honeybees | Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory Honours Projects |
| Professor R Shine | Evolutionary ecology of reptiles, conservation biology, impacts of cane toads and vegetation change | |
| Professor S Simpson | Why locusts swarm, Integrative nutrition: from insect-plant relationships to human obesity | Honours Project Opportunities in Molecular Ecology |
| Dr P Smith | Molecular analysis of phloem, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mitochondria, oxidative stress and molecular analysis of legume allergens | Honours Project Opportunities in Plant Molecular Biology |
| Dr C Taylor | Conservation biology, urban bird ecology, science inquiry and learning in biology | |
| Professor M Thompson | Environmental physiology of vertebrates, evolution of viviparity in reptiles, egg physiology | |
| Dr M Thomson | Cellular signalling, physiology and stress in animals, studying deep sea biology from oil rigs | Honours Project Opportunities in Behaviour Physiology Ecology |
| Dr A Ward | Social recognition and social organisation in fishes, ecotoxicology, collective decision-making | |
| Dr G Wardle | Plant ecology, population biology, life history evolution | |
| Dr C Warren | How do plants and ecosystems function? | Honours Project Opportunities in Plant and Ecosystem Function |
| Dr J Webb | Conservation biology, wildlife management, ecology, reptile biology, physiological ecology, ecosystem management | |
| Dr S Wilder | Dietary Essential Nutrition in Carnivores | Honours Project Opportunities |