obtained my degree at QUT in Brisbane, and worked on a highly polymorphic intertidal snail during my honours, investigating the relationship of shell morph to background. I then worked with Dr Bob Ward (CSIRO Marine Labs) for 2 1/2 years in Hobart where I looked at population genetic structure in school and gummy sharks. I came to Flinders University to study a PhD in a genetic investigation of sociality in a group living lizard with Prof. Mike Bull. I spent time in England for 3 1/2 years studying co-evolution between parasitic hoverflies and their host ants. I returned to Adelaide for a two year postdoc with Flinders Biological Sciences where I linked Flinders and the SARFMEE. I have been in my current ½ role of Lecturer at Flinders since halfway through 2008. The other ½ of my position I currently undertake research with the South Australian Museum.

My research is aimed at investigating the maintenance of genetic diversity in natural populations, especially how fine scale processes affect broader evolutionary patterns. I use molecular genetic techniques to answer ecological questions around this theme. Much of my work revolves around co-evolutionary questions within host parasite interactions. Co-evolution and influences on the generation of biodiversity (with Prof. Jeremy Thomas, Oxford, and Dr Karsten Schönrogge, CEH, and Dr Duncan Mackay) We ask: why are social parasites so rare compared to their hosts? Social parasites of ant nests may influence their hosts nest makeup and perhaps be responsible for generating biodiversity within the host and parasite. Maintaining genetic diversity in wild fisheries Restocking sea cucumbers for a sustainable fishery (Seafood CRC funded Project). Host and Parasite Co-evolution (with Prof. Mike Bull, Prob Rob Miller UNM USA) I am using lizards within the Egernia group to understand the role of immune gene loci (MHC) in social structuring and interation with parasites Impacts of climate change (with Ass. Prof. Steve Cooper, SAM) Using past climate change refugial locations to predict future responses This project aims to use a comparative phylogeographic and population genetics approach to examine species refugia which may be important reservoirs of genetic diversity to enable species to adapt to future climate change. Repetative element evolution (with Dr Emese Meglecz France, Assoc. Prof. Michael Schwarz) I am using the data from shotgun sequencing runs that I coordinate to investigate microsatellite motifs across the tree of life. We are investigating if lower effective population size allows for the accumulation of transposable elements. Molecular and analytical methodological development With the advent of second generation sequencing machines, marker development for non-model species has become significantly more achievable. Contact me ([email protected]) if you would like to put a species on our next run.