Murray Thomson

I am fascinated as to how cells and organelles communicate with each other in order to function in homeostasis and coordinate functions during growth and development. I am also interested in the use of cellular and molecular techniques in biotechnology. In the past I have discovered new cardiostimulants in sea anemones, studied the effects of nutrition on cell signaling systems in sheep skin and found novel proteins that may be regulating steroid hormone production and development in the human placenta. At present I am working on determining how protein kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) and G proteins modulate mitochondrial physiology and I am collaborating on a project to identify allergens in fungi. I am also keen to continue research aimed at increasing the depth of learning through techniques such as motivation and the use of multimedia in education. I am also interested in the effects of curriculum development in competency and capability based education.

Links: My profile

David Guest

My research has contributed to our understanding of the cellular basis of disease resistance in plants, the development of integrated programs for the control of Phytophthora diseases of cocoa, coconut, durian and other horticulturally important plants, and defining the role of fungi in human asthma.

Links: My profile

Robyn Overall

I am interested in the way that plant cells work, especially how they develop, grow, and communicate. Part of my research involves the structure and function of plasmodesmata, the channels responsible for intercellular transport of ions, metabolites, signals and viruses in plants. Like the intercellular junctions between your heart cells, plasmodesmata are critical for the physiology and health of plants, but little is known about how molecules flow through them or how they are regulated. My research also investigates the shape of plant cells and tissues, in particular how microfibrils and the cytoskeleton interact with each other and other molecular components to function in development. My lab uses advanced microscopy, cell biology, and molecular biology techniques to study these high-impact questions of plant biology.

Links: My profile

Murray Henwood

Murray is a respected plant systematist and biogeographer who is widely regarded as Australia's leading expert in flannel flowers. His research is involved in understanding the evolutionary processes that lead to the huge biological diversity present in Australian plants. As well as influencing the field of plant systematics through his research, Murray has also made an enduring impact at the University of Sydney through his dedication as an educator. Throughout his career he has provided botany students with a first-class experience, believing that fresh and diverse plant resources are keys to stimulating learning.

Links: My profile

Charlie Warren

Our research group investigates the functioning of plants and ecosystems. Studies range from biochemical through to ecosystem scales, and we work with a variety of species and ecosystems. Projects are currently investigating: Metabolomics as a tool to investigate stress tolerance mechanisms; competition for nitrogen between plants, bacteria and fungi; role of plants in driving soil respiration; photosynthesis and diffusion of CO₂ within leaves; and how plants cope with constant versus "pulsed" supplies of nutrients and water.

Links: My profile, Plant Ecophysiology and Ecosystem Processes

Clare McArthur

Broadly, I am interested in the ecology of mammals - how they live and interact with individuals of their own species, with plants and other animals within their community and with the environment itself. My specific research interest is the ecology and evolution of interactions with herbivores - including the plants they eat and the predators that try to eat them. My research group is focussed on but not confined to delving into the fascinating world of foraging behaviour and plant defence. I am interested in showing you the fantastic world of biology and our place in it. My approach to teaching is to treat biology as a vocation. I want to introduce you to the skills and information you'll need to be a biologist, as well as to general skills you could use if you go on to do something else. I want to show you how you can ask your own questions and go out and get the answers.

Left: Clare cutting up leopard scat to place at feeding stations for bushbabies in Africa - testing the effect of fear on foraging

Links: My profile, Animal-Plant Interactions Group (APIG)

Will Figueira

My general interests lie in the area of fish population ecology and my research has focused on the behaviour and demographics of individual fish populations as well as the large scale connectivity between these populations. The small scale studies are typically conducted on SCUBA or snorkel and employ tools such as tagging, mapping and standard underwater census and behavioural observation techniques. The larger scale studies typically involve larval transport simulations and metapopulation dynamics models.

Links: My profile