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Student mentorship

As an undergraduate and post-graduate I had many wonderful opportunities to work with scientists around the country and the world while studying biology. These experiences were profoundly important for my decision to pursue a career in academics. Since then, I have endeavoured to help students explore their interest in biology through independent research. Please contact me if you are interested in the current research opportunities in my lab!

Current students:

Arisha Fern Silverlake – PhD student (co-supervised with Diane Colombelli-Negrel), Flinders University
Project title: Exploring the importance of personality for individual fitness and conservation in little penguins.
Expected completion: September, 2027

Isabel Colton – Honours student, Flinders University
Project title: A cross-species comparison of stress responses in sea snakes: implications for conservation and management
Expected completion: November, 2024

Esha Sarai – Honours student (co-supervised with Charlie Huveneers), Flinders University
Project title: Effects of human disturbance on physiological stress responses in Port Jackson sharks
Expected completion: November, 2024

Fatema Akhter – PhD candidate (supervisory panel), The Australian National University
Project title: The role of ecology in mediating sexual conflict
Expected completion: December, 2025

Mahmud Al Hasan – PhD candidate (supervisory panel), The Australian National University
Project title: Does inbreeding exacerbate the detrimental effects of stressful developmental temperatures?
Expected completion: December, 2025

Past students:

Fanny Hovring Kraft – PhD student (co-supervised with Prof. Kate Buchanan), Deakin University
Project title: Stress, song, and intergenerational effects
Completed: 2020
Next steps: Postdoctoral Associate, Stockholm University

Harry Eyck – Honours student (co-supervised with Prof. Kate Buchanan), Deakin University
Project title: Effects of developmental stress on phenotype and performance
Completed: 2018
Next steps: PhD (completed: 2022), UNSW (supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Lee Rollins); Postdoctoral Fellow, CSIRO.

Stephanie Driscoll – MILES student, University of Montana 
Stephanie Driscoll was awarded a Montana Integrated Learning Experiences for Students (MILES) fellowship (2011) to study the effects of developmental stress on motoric learning in zebra finches. She also received the Senior Award (2012) given to one graduating student in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Montana in recognition of excellent independent research. Stephanie and I continued to collaborate on research projects in the Eastern Sierras, California and most recently in at Fowler’s Gap Research Station in Broken Hill, Australia and at Deakin University.