This project investigates how stress-induced splice variants of nuclear-encoded genes lead to chloroplast-targeted protein isoforms with differential biochemical, structural and/or molecular properties. The impact of these changes on chloroplast function in response to environmental stress will be investigated.

Most of the plants that browsing mammals eat contain a complex series of natural toxins. How do these influence the plants animals choose to eat?

We are studying interrelationships between salinity tolerance and the functional coordination of plant hydraulics, leaf morphology and gas exchange characteristics in mangroves.

Snow gums of the Australian Alps are undergoing a mass mortality event. Researchers and land managers are seeking to understand biotic and abiotic drivers of this dieback and identify future-ready lineages. Research efforts on this project will provide managers with informed intervention options.

S. flexneri is subtyped into serotypes based on the combinations of antigenic determinants in the O-antigen. Addition of a glucosyl, O-acetyl or phosphoethanolamine residue to the O-antigen results in serotype conversion. We are investigating the genetic basis of the emergence and diversity of S. flexneri serotypes.

Colour displays play a crucial role in sexual selection, attracting mates and deterring rivals. Research focuses on the crimson finch, examining the significance of male bright red colouration and the mechanisms behind their aggressive behaviour in this highly social species.

Sexual selection and the evolution of sex roles in fiddler crabs.

Sexual selection in changing in environments.

Each year there are approximately 190 million cases of shigellosis throughout the world causing 70,000 deaths in children. My group is identifying novel virulence factors of S. flexneri and studying their potential as vaccine targets for the development of both live and subunit vaccines against shigellosis.

Calcium carbonate skeletal elements produced by marine animals range from microscopic to massive, can be stunningly beautiful and often have immense ecological importance.

The proposed PhD research program will use the relationship between the orchid genera Chiloglottis and Arthrochilus and their obligate mycorrhizae to examine speciation in co-evolved taxa. It has been suggested the evolution of the recently diverged Chiloglottis may be attributable to its association with a particular mycorrhizal species however evolution of this sexually-deceptive orchid genus is known to be influenced by a species-specific pollinator relationship

This project aims to develop and test ecological and evolutionary models of microbiomes across sponge and coral species. The computational models will incorporate ecological and evolutionary factors that operate in sponge and coral microbiomes and will be tested by field- and lab-based experiments.

Investigating the potential for a cultural arms-races in bin-opening and bin-protection behaviour between sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), and local human residents.

Much of our understanding of how evolution has operated stems from analyses of genetic differences between species. One feature of our work has been application of very parameter rich models for modelling DNA sequence evolution. Using these models raises numerous challenges that are both statistical and computational.

The best treatment for Malaria is currently via the combination of the drugs Artemisin and Piperaquine, but emerging resistance to both of these front-line antimalarial drugs means there is an urgent need for new treatment options and a better understanding of resistance mechanisms.