
I am Director of the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, a member of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Panel, and a board member for the NSW Saving our Species program.
My lab webpage is here: https://bigecology.com.au/
My research goals are:
2022: Distinguished Fellow of the International Biogeography Society
2021: Royal Society of New South Wales Poggendorff Lectureship.
2021: Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science (from the Australian Academy of Science)
2020: UNSW Sydney Outstanding Research Supervisor Award (from the Arc Postgraduate Council)
2018: Australian Ecology Research Award (awarded by the Ecological Society of Australia)
2017: Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence - for contributions to student learning
2017: Shortlisted for the AFR Emerging Leader Award
2017: Became a fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales
2014: Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence - Postgraduate Research Supervision
2013: Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
2012: NSW science and engineering award for Excellence in Biological Sciences (Plant, Agriculture and Environment)
2011: Australian Museum Eureka Award for Outstanding Young Researcher
2011: Included in The (Sydney) Magazine list of the 100 most influential people in NSW
2010: Edgeworth David Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (awarded to a scientist under the age of 35 for work contributing to the advancement of Australian science)
2009: JG Russell Award (awarded to one QEII fellow each year by the Australian Academy of Science)
2008: NSW Tall Poppy Award (awarded by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science for outstanding scientific research and communication)
My students and I use a combination of field work and synthesis of data from the literature to quantify large scale patterns in ecology. We use controlled glasshouse conditions to study rapid evolution in introduced species, and we use herbarium, seed bank and museum specimens to study plants and animals from the past. We collaborate with ecologists from all around the world, and with researchers from a range of other disciplines including geography, climate science, and statistics.
I am on the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Panel
I am on the board of the NSW Saving our Species program
I am an active participant in Scientists in Schools.
I regularly give public talks (e.g. Sydney Science Festival; Nerd Nite; Linnean Society of NSW, TEDxSydney)