biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

iological 

sciences 

HONOURs 

2014 

science

CONTENTS 

03 Welcome 

05 Why do Honours? 

06 What’s involved in Honours? 

07 When does Honours begin? 

08 How do I qualify for Honours? 

09 How do I apply? 

10 How do I find a supervisor? 

12 Honours projects pages 

51 Checklist and administrative help 

Honours Information Sessions 

Tuesday 7 May 1.00pm 

DT Anderson lecture theatre, Heydon-Laurence Building 

Q & A session only 

Monday 16 September 1.00pm 


Q & A session only 

Monday 16 September 4.00pm 


Meet potential supervisors, chat with current research students and have all your Honours 

questions answered! Food and drinks provided.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 

Honours Coordinator 

Welcome 

One of the beauties of being a biologist in the 

21st century is that we still know so little about 

so much. The honours program in the School of 

Biological Sciences is your chance to become 

involved in unravelling the mysteries of life. 

Your honours year is more than simply the fourth year of an 

undergraduate degree. In undertaking a research project under 

the supervision of world-class biologists, you will have the 

opportunity to develop skills and ways of thinking that mark 

the start of your journey into a world of dynamic and exciting 

careers. 

The research-intensive program will challenge you and 

expose you to the highs (and lows) of taking ownership of 

groundbreaking research. Honours students are integrated 

into the broader research community throughout the program; 

many students ultimately present their work at international 

conferences and publish it in prestigious journals. 

This booklet outlines some of the opportunities that are 

available for prospective honours students. Many of the ideas 

listed here are simply that; ideas. We encourage you to speak 

to prospective supervisors about their research, their research 

groups and where the projects may take you. 

Associate Professor Dieter Hochuli 

Honours Coordinator for the School of Biological Sciences

4 HEAD OF SCHOOL 

WELCOME 

Give your University course the finishing touch with an Honours year. 

This year will transform you from someone who understands biology to 

someone who does biology, with invaluable skills in communication, project 

management and critical analysis. 

In a fourth year 

honours project, 

you will have 

an opportunity 

to apply your 

broad biological 

knowledge 

and skill set to 

focus deeply on 

one research 

problem under 

the supervision 

of a member of 

academic staff. 

Our research scientists are leaders in their 

fields and members of the School have won 

numerous national and international awards 

for their research including Science Minister’s 

Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, Eureka 

prizes (Scientific Research, Environmental 

Research, Promoting Understanding of 

Australian Science Research, Environmental 

Education), NSW Scientist of the Year and 

NSW Plant and Animal Scientist of the Year. 

You can join this active research environment 

by undertaking an Honours year with the 

School. 

Our Honours graduates find employment 

in a wide variety of fields. A number of our 

students go straight into positions in federal 

and state government departments and 

agencies and non-government organisations 

within environmental and conservation 

areas. They tell us that the skills they learned 

in verbal and written communication and 

critical analysis of issues along with their 

broader biological knowledge have been 

crucial to them in their work. Others enter 

environmental consultancy companies, Zoos, 

Museums, Botanic Gardens or research 

institutions such as CSIRO. 

Some use their skills to contribute to 

fundamental medical research or to continue 

into graduate medical programs. Others 

choose to continue research in a PhD here 

or overseas at a variety of prestigious 

institutions, including Oxford and Cambridge. 

Some of our graduates have chosen to use 

their skills to play significant roles in science 

communication and education. With an 

Honours degree in biology behind you, the 

choice is yours! 

Professor Robyn Overall 

Head of The School of Biological Sciences

Why do Honours? 

5 

Flesh fly by Jesse Hawley, honours student 2013, 

supervised by Shawn Wilder (pg 50) 

Today’s job market for scientific positions is 

very competitive. In fact, many entry level 

positions now require an Honours degree. 

If you have an Honours degree it indicates 

that you probably have the following 

characteristics: 

–– 

Ability to conduct a thorough review on a 

subject matter completely new to you. 

–– 

Highly motivated and a self starter. 

–– 

Able to complete tasks in a timely manner. 

–– 

An understanding of how scientific research 

is carried out. 

Ultimately, all of these characteristics 

combine to suggest that you are most likely 

a reliable worker, who may be allowed to 

work independently on complex tasks, which 

is really where most fun in working is and 

what employers are looking for. Honours is a 

challenging year, but all students look back on 

it as a very rewarding period in their life. 

Why do Honours in the School of 

Biological Sciences? 

Our Honours year differs fundamentally from 

other Biology departments in Sydney in that 

the main component is research. This means 

that an Honours year in our school is the 

perfect way to find out whether you have 

the aptitude and ability for research in the 

biological sciences. You will design and conduct 

an original research project in consultation with 

one or more of our academic staff members. 

We strongly encourage our Honours 

students to publish their work in national 

and international peer reviewed journals. And 

indeed many of them do. Having one or more 

publications will greatly increase your chances 

of obtaining an Australian Postgraduate Award 

(APA) or University Postgraduate Award 

(UPA). 

The School of Biological Sciences awards a 

number of prizes to our Honours students; 

including the John H. Elliott Memorial Prize, 

William John Dakin Memorial Prize in Zoology, 

Professor Spencer Smith-White Prize and 

the Ilma Brewer Prize. Such a prize will be an 

important addition to your CV.

6 

What’s involved in 

Honours? 

Objectives 

–– 

Train students to carry out independent 

research. 

–– 

Enable students to develop a specialist 

understanding of one area of biology. 

–– 

Integrate specialist knowledge into a broad 

appreciation of biology. 

–– 

Enable students to research biology 

using skills in research methodology and 

philosophy. 

–– 

Continue to engender and encourage 

enthusiasm and curiosity in biology. 

Biology Honours is run as a one year full-time 

course and is a very intensive 2 semester (9 

month) program that includes coursework and 

research. The School of Biological Sciences 

accepts students in both semesters. Many 

projects that have a large field component 

start in July so that field work may be 

conducted over the summer. The coursework 

component is the smallest component, 

comprising only 20% of the final mark. 

A majority of your final mark, 80%, comes from 

your thesis. Your thesis is comprised of original 

research which through the guidance of your 

supervisor you have developed, carried out, 

and written up. Your thesis will be assessed by 

three academics, usually within the School of 

Biological Sciences. 

Assessment Component Weight of total Honours 

mark 

1. Research and Development Course work 7.5% 

Proposal 

2. Experimental Design Course work 5% 

Assessment 

3. Opinion Article Research 7.5% 

4. Thesis Research 80%

When does 

Honours 

begin? 

7 

You can begin Honours in either semester, 

but you need to be aware that Honours starts 

before the regular semester start. Attendance 

is mandatory and there are compulsory 

workshops on several days for the first six 

weeks. The starting dates are: 

–– 

Semester 2 2013: 23 July 2013 (date TBC) 

–– 

Semester 1 2014: 28 January 2014 (date 

TBC) 

–– 

Semester 2 2014: 21 July 2014 (date TBC) 

Starting dates are confirmed once the dates 

for the Introduction to Animal Research 

course, conducted by the University Animal 

Ethics Committee, are released. This course 

is compulsory for students working on 

vertebrates. 

You should discuss which semester you should 

start Honours with your supervisor, as many 

projects have field work that can only be done 

during certain times of the year. 

Photo by Murray Henwood (pg 23)

8 

How do I 

qualify for 

Honours? 

The Faculty of Science requires that to enrol in an Honours unit 

of study you must have satisfied all the requirements for a pass 

degree and be considered by the Head of School to have the 

required aptitude and knowledge for Honours. In the School 

of Biological Sciences, the Head’s decision is based on advice 

given by the Honours Executive Committee. A prospective 

student should have: 

–– 

a major in one of the Life Sciences (not necessarily Biology); 

–– 

an average grade of at least a Credit in 12 or more credit 

points of Senior Life Sciences subjects; 

–– 

a minimum WAM (weighted average mark) of 65 for all 

Intermediate and Senior units of study attempted; and 

–– 

you must have a provisional acceptance of project 

supervision by at least one academic (School enrolment 

form).

9 

How do I 

apply? 

Photo courtesy Dieter Hochuli (pg 25) 

School of Biological Sciences requirements 

The application process has three components. 

–– 

First you must find a project and supervisor. After securing a 

project and supervisor you must apply to both the School of 

Biological Sciences and Faculty of Science. 

–– 

Submit the School of Biological Sciences online application 

form. 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology/studying_biology/future_ 

honours/apply.php 

–– 

Submit the Faculty of Science Honours Application. 

sydney.edu.au/science/fstudent/undergrad/course/ 

honours/apply.shtml 

Important Dates 

Semester 2, 2013 applications 

–– 

The last day for lodging your Step 1 application with the 

School is 26 June 2013 (online application form). 

–– 


Faculty is 28 June 2013 (once you have a confirmed 

supervisor). 

–– 

The School will contact you in early July 2013 to confirm your 

offer. 

Semester 1, 2014 applications 

–– 


School is 28 November 2013 (online application form). 

–– 


Faculty is 29 November 2013 (once you have a confirmed 

supervisor). 

–– 

The last day for lodging an international application for 

Honours is 28 October 2013. 

–– 

The School will contact you in mid December 2013 to 

confirm your offer. 

Closing date for Semester 2, 2014 applications 

TBA 

Closing date for University of Sydney Honours Scholarships: 

2 January 2014 

sydney.edu.au/scholarships/current/honours_scholarships. 

shtml

10 How do I find a 

supervisor? 

Talk to them! 

Firstly, read through the following pages to find supervisors whose research interests you. Then 

email or phone to set up a meeting. 

Next, come prepared with some questions about their research programs, and be prepared to 

answer questions about your interests and future plans. 

Finally, speak to more than one potential supervisor. A personality match between supervisor 

and student is almost as important as a matched interest in an area of biology! 

Page Name Broad Research Areas 

12 Peter Banks Conservation, Ecology, Animal behaviour 

13 Madeleine Beekman Animal behaviour, Genetics 

14 Jerome Buhl* Ecology, Animal behaviour 

15 Mary Byrne Plant function, Development 

16 Min Chen Plant function, Marine biology, Evolutionary genetics 

17 Fiona Clissold* Nutrition, Animal behaviour, Ecology 

18 Ross Coleman Marine biology, Ecology, Animal behaviour 

19 Chris Dickman Ecology 

20 Will Figueira Marine Biology, Conservation, Animal behaviour 

21 Neville Firth Evolutionary genetics 

22 Alison Gosby* Nutrition 

23 Murray Henwood Phylogenetics and systematics 

24 Simon Ho Phylogenetics and systematics, Evolutionary genetics 

25 Dieter Hochuli Ecology, Conservation, Animal behaviour

11 

27 Eddie Holmes Evolutionary genetics, Phylogenetics and systematic, Viruses 

28 Tanya Latty* Animal behaviour, Ecology 

29 Mathieu Lihoreau Animal behaviour, Nutrition 

30 Osu Lilje Ecology, Physiological Ecology 

31 Nate Lo Phylogenetics and systematics, Evolutionary genetics 

32 Clare McArthur Animal behaviour, Ecology, Conservation 

33 Benjamin Oldroyd Animal behaviour, Genetics 

34 Mats Olsson Evolutionary genetics, Animal behaviour, Ecology 

36 Robyn Overall Plant function, Development 

37 Fleur Ponton* Nutrition, Physiological ecology 

38 Jenny Saleeba Plant function, Development, Genetics 

39 Frank Seebacher Physiological Ecology, Animal behaviour 

41 Rick Shine Ecology, Conservation, Animal behaviour 

42 Penny Smith Plant function, Development, Molecular biology 

43 Charmaine Tam* Nutrition, Obesity 

44 Charlotte Taylor Education, Ecology 

45 Mike Thompson Ecology, Evolutionary genetics, Development 

46 Murray Thomson Physiological ecology 

47 Ashley Ward Animal behaviour 

48 Charles Warren Plant function, Ecology 

49 Peter Waterhouse Plant function, Evolutionary genetics, Development 

50 Shawn Wilder* Nutrition, Ecology 

* For these projects students will need to be co-supervised by a senior academic member of 

staff and we recommend that you speak to both the project supervisor and the academic prior 

to submitting an application.

12 BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY 

AND CONSERVATION 

Research Interests 

My research focuses on the behavioural ecology of Australian 

wildlife and aims to develop ecologically-based solutions to 

conservation problems. The main interests of my research 

group include the behaviour and ecology of invasive species, 

conservation of urban wildlife and the ecology of chemical 

communication. I work mainly with mammals, including bats, 

and most of our work is field based and involves manipulative 

experiments. 

Honours projects 

Each year novel Honours project arise out of our on-going 

research program and I prefer to match projects to the career 

goals of students so that they get the skills needed to succeed 

in the next phase of their career 

Some examples of recent Honours projects are: 

Amelia Saul (2013) - Aliens replacing natives: are introduced 

black rats an effective replacement for extinct native 

pollinators. Amelia is testing the role of black rats and native 

mammals as pollinators of Banksia flowers. She tested the 

idea that black rats, despite being alien, might be playing a 

valuable ecosystem service in areas where native pollinators 

have become locally extinct. Amelia is working around Sydney 

Harbour and Kuringai Chase National Park. 

Associate Professor 

Peter Banks 

Room 101, Science Road 

Cottage A10 

T: (02) 9351 2941 

E: peter.banks@sydney. 

edu.au 

Andrew Daly (2012) - The role of olfactory cues in predator:prey interactions. Andrew looked 

at how prey might use predator odours as a cue to risk. Specifically, he tested the overlooked 

assumption that predator odours represent a hotspot of predator activity to increase risk for 

prey and revealed a great deal of complexity in how the predator and prey communities use 

olfactory information. Andrew worked on foxes, cats, dogs and small mammals in the Mallee 

region of western Victoria and on the central coast. 

Deborah Romero (2012) - Reinvasion of black rats across the urban/bushland interface: a test 

of ideal-free distribution models. Deb applied and tested two important theories about how 

populations of alien species choose habitats and might recover after control efforts. She then 

examined how the reintroduction of a native competitor might alter the mechanics of reinvasion 

by an alien species. She worked on rodents around Sydney Harbour.

BEHAVIOUR AND GENETICS 

OF SOCIAL INSECTS 

13 


The ‘Bee lab’ is interested in behavioural ecology, behavioural 

genetics and molecular genetics of social insects. Recently we 

have also acquired a new ‘lab rat’ a gigantic slime mould that 

can make foraging decisions despite having no brain or nervous 

system. We study honey bees (particularly Thai and African 

ones), ants, Australian native stingless bees and the slime 

mould. We are particularly interested in cheating behaviour: 

when workers start laying eggs or changing caste. We also 

study collective decision making: how do social insects decide 

on a new nest site, or how best to allocate their foragers to 

food sources? We offer projects ranging from field biology to 

molecular genetics and mathematical modeling. 

For more check out our website: 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology/socialinsects/index.shtml 


1. Epigenetic inheritance in honey bees: consequence of the 

caste system or a battle of the sexes? 

2. Heat tolerance in honey bees. 

3. Biology of Australian stingless bees. 

4. Foraging behaviour and decision-making in the slime 

mould, Physarum polycephalum. 

5. Network formation by ants. 

6. Exploration versus exploitation in ants. 

Professor 

Madeleine Beekman 

Room 249, Macleay 

Building A12 

T: (02) 9351 8779 

E: madeleine.beekman@ 

sydney.edu.au 

7. Can bees regulate intake of protein and carbohydrate? (Jointly supervised by Professor 

Steve Simpson) 

8. Identification of ‘African’ genes in imported stock including semen. 

9. Intragenomic conflict and the evolution of uniparental inheritance of cytoplasmic 

organelles.

14 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 

BEHAVIOUR 


My research involves the experimental and theoretical study of 

animal collective behaviour. I combine lab and field experiments 

with computer simulations and mathematical models, to study 

phenomena such as locust bands and fish schools. 

One of my current main goals is to produce a synthetic model 

of collective behaviour in locusts. This synthetic model will 

be of applied relevance to locust control and, more generally, 

will allow me to build a new theoretical framework to study 

the movement of large animal groups in open spaces, at large 

spatial and over different temporal scales. This research will 

also compare major locust species found in Africa and Asia 

to discover the factors that lead to the markedly different 

patterns of movement seen amongst these species. 

Honours project 

1. Collective movement and aggregation in the Australian 

plague locust. The goal of this project will be to study 

marching, aggregation and the emergence of activity 

synchronization in laboratory experiments. Aggregation and 

marching will be experimentally manipulated in 1m diameter 

ring shaped arenas that can accommodate up to a thousand 

locusts. The ground temperature will be controlled in order to 

Dr Jerome Buhl 

Room 319A, Heydon- 

Laurence Building A08 

T: (02) 9351 2379 

E: jerome.buhl@sydney. 

edu.au 

stimulate marching, while aggregation will be encouraged on two competing perching/feeding 

spots. In combination with computer simulations, this setup will allow to quantify in details 

behaviour and interactions at the individual level as well as the group patterns and dynamics in 

order to explore the conditions in which synchronisation emerges depending on density and the 

nutritional composition of the group.

REGULATION OF PLANT 

DEVELOPMENT 

15 


I am interested in how cell fate is controlled and in identifying 

the genes and gene networks involved in regulating 

developmental processes in the plant life cycle. I carry 

out research in two main areas of development using the 

model species Arabidopsis and Brachypodium and Honours 

projects are available in both of these areas. Projects within 

the laboratory will allow students to build skills in a broad 

range of techniques in molecular biology and genetics; to 

gain experience in experimental design and interpretation 

of data; and will allow students to explore the wonders of 

developmental biology. 


Dr Mary Byrne 

1. Genes controlling plant fertility. In plants, the germline cells 


are established in specialized tissues of the flowers, late in 

Building A12 

the plant life cycle. The female germline forms in a specialized 

organ, the ovule. We have found that mutations in ribosomal T: (02) 9114 0978 

proteins have specific developmental phenotypes. Mutation E: mary.byrne@sydney. 

in one ribosomal protein gene leads to degeneration of the edu.au 

female germline cell and results in a dramatic reduction in plant 

fertility. We are interested in what stage of development of the 

female germline is sensitive to loss of ribosomal proteins and in 

determining the molecular mechanism of ribosome-mediated control of development. 

2. Genes controlling inflorescence development. Plants grow and develop via populations 

of stem cells within structures called meristems. Through cell division, meristems are selfmaintaining 

and produce other cells that contribute to plant organs such as leaves and flowers. 

Mersitems also dictate when and where organs are formed and in this way they control the 

pattern of growth of a plant. Organ position is in part controlled by the distribution of the 

plant hormone auxin within the mersitem. To further understand how meristems and auxin 

control the arrangement of organs in grasses we are focusing on studies of several mutants 

in Brachypodium where aberrant meristem function leads to fewer and abnormal flowers in a 

phenotype that recapitulates defects in auxin distribution. We are identifying and studying the 

genes involved.

16 PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN 

MARINE CYANOBACTERIA 


Light is both an energy source and a deliverer of environmental 

information. There are two kinds of photopigment-binding 

protein complexes in photosynthetic organisms: one to absorb 

and convert sunlight as the energy source, and another 

to sense sunlight as an environmental information carrier. 

Different photosynthetic pigments allow the organism to use 

a wider spectral region of sunlight. My research centres on 

understanding the red-shifted chlorophylls, their function in 

photosynthesis and the regulatory mechanisms. The major 

questions are: How do these cyanobacteria produce red-shifted 

chlorophylls? What kind of photoregulatory mechanisms do 

these cyanobacteria use to sense light conditions? 


1. The pigmentation in photosynthetic organisms. This project 

will investigate the structural details of light-harvesting protein 

complexes in H. hongdechloris, a newly isolated chlorophyll 

f-containing cyanobacterium. There are two distinct lightharvesting 

systems, chlorophyll-bound protein complexes and 

phycobilin-bound protein in H. hongdechloris. The intriguing 

question is how the energy transfer occurs between pigmentbinding 

protein complexes and whether is there an “uphill” 


Min Chen 

Room 219B, Heydon- 


T: (02) 9036 5006 

E: min.chen@sydney. 

edu.au 

energy transferring mechanisms. The project would best suit candidates with knowledge of 

plant physiology, general conception of photosynthesis and plant bioenergy. The experiments will 

involve techniques such as spectrophotometry and pigment analysis and protein biochemistry. 

2. Red-light perception and its regulatory roles. The process of sensing and responding to 

light, broadly termed “photoregulation”, affects a diversity of metabolic processes. The most 

important photoreceptor is phytochrome, a red-light-sensing photoreceptor. There are two 

photo-interconvertible phytochrome isoforms: a red light-absorbing form and a far-red lightabsorbing 

form. This project will explore the regulatory functions of phytochrome and the 

meaning of far-red light (invisible light) for oxygenic photosynthesis by searching the classes of 

red-light receptors and their regulatory roles related to red-shifted chlorophylls (Chl d and Chl f). 

The project would best suit candidates with knowledge of plant physiology, general conception 

of photosynthesis and biochemistry of photopigments. The experiments will involve techniques 

of spectrophotometer and photoconvertion analysis in vivo and in vitro. Standard molecular 

biological technology (PCR, cloning, etc) will be applied to the understanding of the structural 

basis of signal transduction in red-light perception.

NUTRIENT BALANCING AND 

LOCUST PHYSIOLOGY 

17 


My research involves integrating physiology, morphology 

and behaviour to investigate nutritional outcomes and to 

integrate this knowledge into an organism-based model that 

is nutritionally, organismally and ecologically explicit. Seeking 

adequate nutrition underpins the behaviour of all animals, and 

for herbivores, this translates into decisions regarding which 

and how much of a host plant to eat given all other constraints. 

These behavioural decisions in turn have community level 

implications; i.e. on the animal, host plant and predator 

dynamics. 

All animals must balance their constantly changing demand 

for nutrients against the supply of these nutrients in foods; 

a balance that can be influenced by numerous biotic and 

abiotic factors. I have used locusts as a model to elucidate 

how nutritional requirements change with ontogeny, the 

degree to which behavioural and physiological plasticity allows 

animals to match the supply of nutrients with demand, and the 

consequences for performance when supply does not match 

demand. 

Dr Fiona Clissold 

Room 320, Heydon- 


T: (02) 9351 3259 

E: fiona.clissold@sydney. 

edu.au 


1. Morphology Linking locust mandible morphology with 

feeding and nutritional niches. 

2. Physiology Investigating the underlying endocrine and neurohormone mechanisms controlling 

the release of digestive enzymes and gut emptying, and the implication of this on nutrient 

acquisition. (Projects here will be done in collaboration with Professor Arthur Conigrave from the 

School of Molecular Biosciences). 

3. Movement ecology The effect of nutritional state on locomotion. Modelling foraging 

behaviour requires an understanding of how nutritional state affects patterns of movement. 

Foraging behaviour given the distributions of resources will be modelled in silco and tested using 

locusts. 

4. Thermal and nutritional ecology Locusts use thermoregulatory behaviour as a dynamic 

means of altering nutritional outcomes in the face of variable nutrient supply. This may 

also affect the toxicity of secondary compounds in insects. The aim of this research is to 

parameterize a model that links the nutritional state of an organism with its behaviour, and in 

turn its interactions with other organisms and thus individual fitness, population growth rates 

and community dynamics.

18 

COASTAL AND MARINE 

ECOSYSTEMS 


The research done in the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems 

group (Ross Coleman, Will Figueira and Maria Byrne) involves 

using experimental and modelling approaches to understand 

the basis of animal distributions and interactions in coastal 

systems and how these interact with oceanic phenomena. We 

are particularly interested in how human impacts… noise, light, 

contaminants, fishing, urbanisation and conservation modify 

ecological processes in the sea. Please refer to Dr Figueira’s 

section for more detail on the projects he would like to lead. 

My research is directed at understanding the causal basis 

of why animals adopt certain spatial arrangements and how 

organisms may behave or modify their physiology as to 

reduce the chances of being eaten. In saying that though, we 

fundamentally believe in enabling student research, so if you 

have an observation you think needs testing… talk to us. 


Students should contact me to discuss particular projects. 


Ross Coleman 

Room 101, Edgeworth- 

David Building A11 

T: (02) 9351 2590 

E: ross.coleman@sydney. 

edu.au

TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY 

19 


The major focus of the Terrestrial Ecology Lab is to explore 

the factors that influence the distribution and abundance of 

terrestrial vertebrates. This research is inherently fascinating 

because it allows us to uncover and explain the causes of many 

intriguing patterns of vertebrate distributions in the Australian 

fauna. It is also of practical importance because so many 

species have declined or become extinct with the advent of 

European settlement, and there is a clear imperative to prevent 

further losses. 

Research takes place in a wide range of Australian 

environments, including forest, woodland, heathland, urban, 

alpine and arid desert habitats. However, our primary focus in 

recent years has been to elucidate, by observation and field 

experiment, the factors that regulate vertebrate diversity in 

arid Australia. Research on the exceptionally rich communities 

of small mammals, birds and lizards of this region provides 

an opportunity to contribute to theoretical debate about 

the importance of biotic and physical processes in shaping 

population and species dynamics, and especially to achieve 

practical conservation and management goals. 

Professor Chris 

Dickman 



T: (02) 9351 2318 

E: chris.dickman@ 

sydney.edu.au 


Nearly twenty Honours students have contributed to our understanding of desert systems so 

far, and we always seek more enthusiastic students to take

20 

SUBTIDAL MARINE 

ECOLOGY 


The focus of research within my lab is the population ecology 

of marine fishes. However, students and post-docs engage 

in research on a wide variety of projects in subtidal marine 

ecology including fisheries management, deep sea research 

and biodiversity assessment. We use a variety of in-situ data 

collection techniques including automated underwater vehicles, 

baited remote underwater video and towed video. There is 

a strong quantitative component to the work in the lab with 

projects using a variety of modelling tools including biophysical 

transport modelling, matrix population modelling, trophic 

biomass modelling and habitat surrogacy modelling. 


Honours opportunities are not limited to the list provided below. 

If you have an idea that falls within the research areas of the 

lab, please arrange to come and speak with me. 

1. Applied Research for adaptive management of marine 

ecosystems: a case study at the Solitary Islands Marine 

Reserve This project evaluates the importance of habitat 

complexity on patterns of diversity and abundance in the 

Solitary Islands Marine Park, New South Wales. This project 

uses state-of-the-art technology to obtain 3D models of 

underwater habitats. (Co-supervised with Maria Byrne and Renata Ferrari) 

Dr Will Figueira 



T: (02) 9351 2039 

E: will.figueira@sydney. 

edu.au 

2. Understanding the processes of seasonal persistence of tropical marine fishes which 

recruit to temperate latitudes Every summer tropical reef fishes settle to habitats all along the 

coast of NSW but typically fail to survive the winter. However this may change in the face of 

climate change. This project will combine field and lab work to look at the survival and health of 

cohorts of settling tropical reef fish in Sydney. 

3. Understanding linkages between environment and growth in settlement stage fishes 

Most benthic fishes have a larval stage in the open water and then a benthic habitat stage. 

In this project you will spend time learning about the pre and post-settlement biology of our 

coastal fishes. Fish will be collected from various habitats and used for controlled studies at the 

Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences. 

4. Monitoring patterns of human use in the coastal zone with a Gigapan robotic camera. 

The establishment of spatial management of coastal waters serves to reduce use conflict. This 

project will document patterns of coastal use using a Gigapan robotic camera and software 

system combined with Geographic Information System modelling of density of use. Cosupervised 

with Tim Lynch (CSIRO).

MOLECULAR GENETICS 

21 


Multiresistant strains of the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus 

aureus (Golden Staph) are a frequent cause of hospitalacquired 

infections worldwide, and are an increasing cause of 

serious infections in the wider community. One reason for the 

success of S. aureus as a hospital pathogen is the resistance 

of some strains to up to twenty different antimicrobial 

compounds, e.g., antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants. 

In my lab we use genetical, molecular biology, biochemical, 

biophysical, cell biology, genomics, functional genomics 

and bioinformatic methods to gain an understanding of the 

genetic basis, mechanisms, and evolution of resistance in 

staphylococci. 


1. Functional Analysis of Fst-like toxin-antitoxin systems 

from S. aureus. We recently identified numerous toxin-antitoxin 

(TA) systems on plasmids and chromosomes of staphylococci. 

Usually these TA systems encode a small protein toxin and 

an antisense RNA molecule that serves as an antitoxin by 

preventing translation of the toxin protein. The TA systems 

are likely to promote the inheritance of resistance plasmids, 

even in the absence of selection by antibiotics. However, the 


Neville Firth 


Building A12 

T: (02) 9351 3369 

E: neville.firth@sydney. 

edu.au 

role of chromosomally-encoded TA systems is more mysterious. The aim of this project is to 

demonstrate the functionality of specific staphylococcal TA systems and to use mutagenesis to 

begin to elucidate their mechanism of action at the molecular level.

22 

TESTING PROTEIN 

LEVERAGE IN HUMANS 


A significant contributor to the rising rates of human 

obesity is an increase in energy intake. The protein leverage 

hypothesis proposes that a dominant appetite for protein in 

conjunction with a decline in the ratio of protein to fat and 

carbohydrate in the diet drives excess energy intake and 

could therefore promote the development of obesity. In a 

randomised controlled experimental study we have recently 

shown that lean humans eat significantly more carbohydrate 

and fat in order to maintain protein intake when percent 

protein of the diet is reduced from 15 to 10%. The results 

suggest that any change in the nutritional environment that 

dilutes dietary protein with carbohydrate and fat will promote 

overconsumption and encourage weight gain. 

Unfortunately there are many factors in the current nutritional 

environment encouraging us to eat foods that are high 

in sugars and fats, including reduced cost and increased 

availability of these foods and underpinning all this is our 

ancestral environment in which fat and simple sugars were 

highly prized; leaving us with a predilection for these foods. We 

are currently focusing on the interaction of these factors with 

protein leverage in overconsumption energy intake in humans. 

Dr Alison Gosby 



T: (02) 9036 6262 

E: alison.gosby@sydney. 

edu.au 


1. Investigation into the protein appetite signal. 

This project would involve analysis of samples collected from previous trials and completion of 

a shorter trial to test a few candidate protein signals. And, would provide experience in project 

design, participant recruitment, project management and various biochemical techniques that 

would be used for sample analysis.

PLANT SYSTEMATICS 

23 


All organisms have a name. It is the job of Systematists to 

recognise, describe and name organisms. The discipline of 

systematics, therefore, provides the foundation upon which all 

biology is built. 

In the Plant Systematics Laboratory, our research is concerned 

with the recognition and documentation of patterns of 

variation in time and space within all elements of the Australian 

flora. To achieve these goals we use a variety of data-sources 

ranging from fossils, geographic distributions, plant morphology 

and anatomy to nucleotide sequences. Once the patterns of 

variation have been established, we explore the processes that 

have led to, or currently maintain, these patterns. Explanations 

might include investigating the evolution of pollination 

syndromes, determining and dating the responses of plant 

groups to the to historical and contemporary earth history of 

the Australian plate, or formulating appropriate conservation 

strategies for rare or vulnerable native plants. 


Generally, an Honours project with the Plant Systematics 

Laboratory involves a mix of laboratory work and fieldwork. 

Supervision for Honours students is provided primarily from 


Murray Henwood 



T: (02) 9351 3262 

E: murray.henwood@ 

sydney.edu.au 

within the Plant Systematics Laboratory, but co-supervision with other members of the School 

of Biological Sciences or staff of the National Herbarium of New South Wales is encouraged.

24 

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, 

EVOLUTION AND 

PHYLOGENETICS 


As a computational evolutionary biologist, my research interests 

include molecular clocks, evolutionary rates, phylogenetic 

methods, calibration techniques, and ancient DNA. My research 

involves the analysis of genetic data to answer evolutionary 

questions. Although most of my work has involved mammals 

and other vertebrates, I am also interested in evolutionary 

analyses of plants and viruses. I collaborate widely with 

international researchers, including several ancient DNA 

laboratories. 


The two projects below provide an example of the 

opportunities available under my supervision. Together with 

Associate Professor Nathan Lo, I run the Molecular Ecology, 

Evolution, and Phylogenetics Lab in the School of Biological 

Sciences. Our facilities include a molecular laboratory and highperformance 

computers. 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology/meep/ 

1. Rates of molecular evolution in insects. The ‘molecular 

clock’ hypothesis states that the rate of molecular evolution 

is constant among organisms. Although it is now widely 

known that evolutionary rates show significant variation, 


Simon Ho 



T: (02) 9351 8681 

E: simon.ho@sydney. 

edu.au 

the patterns of variation have not been characterised in detail in insects. Some particularly 

interesting questions include: (i) How much rate variation exists among orders of insects? (ii) 

Do mitochondrial and nuclear genomes show similar patterns of rates? (iii) To what extent does 

natural selection affect the patterns of rate variation in coding genes compared with noncoding 

DNA? This project will involve collecting DNA sequence data from online databases and 

published studies. Evolutionary rates will be estimated using current phylogenetic methods. 

This project will provide the opportunity to develop bioinformatic skills and will gain a broad 

appreciation of statistical and computational techniques in evolutionary biology. 

2. Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary timescale of carnivores. The mammalian order 

Carnivora comprises more than 280 species, grouped into two suborders (cat-like and dog-like 

carnivorans). This project will examine the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary timescale 

of carnivorans, with a focus on the methods used for analysis. In particular, carnivorans present 

a useful case study for examining the impacts of ‘missing data’ in phylogenetic analysis. The 

research will involve collecting DNA sequences from online repositories, phylogenetic analysis, 

and other computational techniques.

ECOLOGY OF 

TERRESTRIAL 

ARTHROPODS 

25 


I study the ecology of the most diverse group of animals on the 

planet, insects and spiders, with a major focus on insect-plant 

interactions, community ecology and conservation biology. 

Much of my work examines the ecology and restoration of 

degraded and stressed ecosystems, particularly in urban 

environments. This lets us identify changes in ecological 

function in these systems and gives us insights into ecosystem 

health. 

I’m interested in scaling responses from individuals to 

landscapes in a range of systems, identifying the mechanisms 

driving change at coarse spatial scales. This means we 

approach our questions using bottom-up and top-down 

approaches, integrating experimental and survey based 

approaches at ecologically relevant scales. 


In defining projects I typically discuss a range of projects 

that integrate my ongoing research with individual student’s 

interests. That means that the specifics of projects are 

developed in discussions with prospective students. For an idea 

of the types of things students have done in recent years have 

a look at the past students page on our website. 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology/hochuli/past-projects.shtml 

Starting questions for future projects include: 


Dieter Hochuli 



T: (02) 9351 3992 

E: dieter.hochuli@sydney. 

edu.au 

1. Are urban ecosystems hostile environments for herbivorous insects? 

2. What traits identify urban adapters? 

3. Does restoration of degraded landscapes foster the return of ecological function? 

4. How is top-down control of insect herbivores by avian herbivores mediated by plant 

traits? 

5. Do dominant ants structure the composition of ant communities in degraded ecosystems? 

6. How does ant dispersal affect seed fate in remnant vegetation? 

7. Are arboreal spiders host specific?

VIRAL EVOLUTION 

27 


I am an evolutionary biologist who has worked with pathogens, 

particularly RNA viruses, for over 20 years. During this time 

my research has focused on a number of key areas, namely; 

(i) determining the fundamental mechanisms of pathogen 

evolution, (ii) studying the case-specific evolution of major 

viral infections of humans and animals, with a particular 

focus on HIV, influenza and dengue, and (iii) revealing the 

evolutionary genetics of viral emergence. In my laboratory 

we perform in-depth studies of microbial evolution and 

emergence to determine the evolutionary factors that allow 

these infectious agents to emerge and spread in populations. 

My main research tool has been the evolutionary analysis of 

pathogen gene sequence data. My current research program 

therefore sits at the interface of four disciplines – evolutionary 

biology, genomics, bioinformatics and infectious disease – and 

is designed to reveal the factors that are responsible for the 

successful cross-species transmission and emergence of 

pathogens. 


I have an active interest in a broad range of research areas 

relating to the evolution of infectious disease. Potential projects 

include: 

Professor Eddie 

Holmes 


Building A12 

T: (02) 9351 5591 

E: edward.holmes@ 

sydney.edu.au 

1. Determining the factors that allow some viruses to jump species boundaries and emerge in 

new hosts more readily than others. 

2. Revealing the range of evolutionary and epidemiological (i.e. ‘phylodynamic’) patterns 

exhibited by viruses and what this means for their ‘emergibility’. 

3. Understanding how the remarkable range of habitats and animal species in Australia 

shape patterns of disease transmission. 

4. Explaining the evolution of pathogen virulence, with a special focus on two viruses used 

to control European rabbit populations in Australia – myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic 

disease virus.

28 GROUP BEHAVIOUR AND 

SWARM INTELLIGENCE 


I am interested in a variety of questions related to group 

behaviour and swarm intelligence. I am particularly interested in 

understanding how organisms with relatively simple cognitive 

systems (ants, bees and slime moulds) are able to solve complex 

tasks. For example, slime moulds (which lack brains) can solve 

mazes, anticipate periodic events, make ‘clever’ decisions about 

which foods to consume, and even use a form of memory to 

navigate around their environment. Despite the fact that ant 

brains are tiny, colonies of ants can solve shortest path problems 

and respond rapidly to changes in food quality. I am also interested 

in the costs and benefits of group living. 


Honours projects will usually focus on some aspect of behaviour in 

ants, slime moulds, honey bees or Australian native bees (although 

I am open to working with other species). 

1. Ants 

Ant colonies build complex, efficient networks between nests. 

We have shown that the shape of these networks is highly 

efficient, but we don’t know how individual ants use the network, 

or how networks respond to changes in traffic. Student projects 

in this area would study the response of networks to various 

Dr Tanya Latty 


Building A12 

T: (02) 9036 5162 

E: tanya.latty@sydney. 

edu.au 

perturbations (severed trails, increase in traffic, etc), as well as examining how the individual behavior 

of ants leads to collective solutions. 

2. Slime moulds 

Projects on slime moulds can either focus on behaviour (what kinds of problems can slime moulds 

solve? How do these brainless organisms go about problem solving?) or on slime mould ecology. For 

example, we know very little about the role slime moulds play in soil ecosystems. 

3. Bees 

I am looking for students to work on a project that will examine the ecology of native bees in 

community gardens.

EVOLUTION OF 

SOCIALITY 

29 


Sociality is a widespread phenomenon in nature that can 

take many forms, from temporary aggregations of dozens of 

individuals to colonies of thousands of individuals working 

together as a ‘superorganism’. The goal of my research is to 

understand why and how such social diversity has evolved 

by studying the mechanisms of social behaviour in species 

exhibiting various levels of social complexities. To address 

this goal, I use a combination of behavioural experiments on 

a range of sub-social and social insect species and computer 

simulations of evolutionary models. My previous work includes 

empirical and theoretical examinations of the social biology of 

cockroaches, bumblebees and fruit flies. 

The aim of my current projects, in collaboration with Professor 

Steve Simpson, is to explore the role of nutrition in the 

mechanism and the evolution of sociality. We will develop 

laboratory experiments (probably on fruit flies - Drosophila) 

using various spatial arrangements of artificial diets and 

automated video tracking systems to investigate the nutritional 

underpinnings of a range of simple social phenomena such as: 

aggregation, group synchronisation and collective decisions. 

We will also develop agent-based models to explore these 

phenomena in silico. The ultimate goal is to generate a general 

Dr Mathieu Lihoreau 



T: (02) 9351 3259 

E: mathieu.lihoreau@ 

sydney.edu.au 

conceptual framework to examine how nutritional constraints contribute to the evolution of 

social behaviour and structures of in animal groups of increasing complexities. 


Several specific questions could be asked during an Honours project: 

1. How does the spatio-temporal availability of nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fat) in the 

environment affect collective behaviour? 

2. How does this vary in mixed groups where individuals have different nutritional needs 

(males vs females, hungry vs well fed individuals)? 

3. Do the same principles apply to walking and flying animals? 

4. Do the same principles apply to herbivores, carnivores and omnivores? 

5. What features of the nutritional environment may lead to the evolution of different social 

organisations? Over what timescale?

30 MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 


My research interest focuses on microbial ecology and how 

the eukaryotic microorganisms respond to changes in the 

environment. My research involves microscopy, computer-aided 

tomography (or microCT), in vitro modelling, environmental 

sampling, molecular analysis, and conceptual and statistical 

modelling. I collaborate with researchers from the Faculty of 

Agriculture and the Environment (FAE), the Australian Museum 

(AM), Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis 

(ACMM), Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) and the University 

of New South Wales (UNSW) on a number of projects. The 

projects include the study of, blue-green algal blooms (with 

FAE and MI); parasitic diversity on amphibians and freshwater 

fish (with AM and UNSW); and, fungal diversity and responses 

to environmental conditions (with ACMM, FAE, AM and 

UNSW). 

Dr Osu Lilje 

Room 515, Carslaw 

Building F07 

T: (02) 9351 5785 

E: osu.lilje@sydney.edu.au 


1. Microbial dynamics in freshwater. Our fundamental 

understanding of the community composition of microbes in 

freshwater lakes pre-bloom, bloom and post-bloom is very poor. 

This project aims to identify the key relationships between 

microbes from different trophic levels, e.g. producers (bluegreen 

algae), primary consumers and secondary consumers or predators. The project will involve 

field work, microscopy, molecular analysis and modelling. 

2. 3D modelling of soil fungus responses to nutrient distribution. Soil fungi play an important 

part in maintaining soil health in terms of maintaining the diversity of the microbial environment, 

nutrient concentration and carbon sequestration. This project aims to further elaborate how 

fungi respond to nutrient and environmental factors using an in-vitro model. The project will 

involve in-vitro culture work, electron microscopy and microCT.

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, 

EVOLUTION AND 

PHYLOGENETICS 

31 


Key factors behind the success of insects and other arthropods 

are the complex interactions they have with microbes, and - in 

the case of social insects - with each other. I use a combination 

of molecular, genetic, and bioinformatic tools to investigate 

these interactions, across various temporal scales. I have a 

general interest in the evolution of arthropods, and study a 

variety of beasties, including three of humanity’s favourites: 

termites, cockroaches, and ticks. 


1. Are Australian ticks spreading Lyme disease? Ticks are 

obligate bloodsucking arthropods second only to mosquitoes 

as worldwide vectors of human diseases. The presence in 

Australia of Lyme borreliosis - the most common tick-borne 

disease in the world - is controversial. In this project you will 

use molecular techniques to examine Australian ticks for the 

presence of Borrelia and other potential pathogens. 

2. Evolution of the heaviest cockroach on earth. How did 

Australia’s unique fauna evolve? Macropanesthia rhinoceros is 

an endemic Australian cockroach, and also the world’s heaviest. 

It digs burrows in the soil up to one metre deep, and gives birth 

to live young, both very unique traits among cockroaches. The 


Nate Lo 



T: (02) 9036 7649 

E: nathan.lo@sydney. 

edu.au 

aim of this project is to study how and when this species evolved, by sequencing its DNA and 

performing phylogenetic comparisons with related cockroaches. The student will gain experience 

with molecular ecological techniques, and computational techniques used in evolutionary biology. 

3. Potential fitness cost associated with insecticide resistance in aphids. Fitness costs have 

been associated with antibiotic resistance in bacterial as well as insecticide resistance in pests of 

agriculture. Aphids are a major pest of agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide, and some 

species have developed resistance to commonly used insecticides. This project, in collaboration 

with NSW Department of Primary Industries, will involve setting up and maintenance of colonies 

of an aphid species resistant to the insecticide pirimicarb. Colonies will be tracked over time for 

their resistance status via insecticide bioassay and/or qPCR.

32 

ANIMAL-PLANT 

INTERACTIONS 


My research explores the ecological interactions of herbivores 

with plants and predators: how herbivores, particularly 

marsupial herbivores, solve the problem of eating without 

being eaten, how plants defend when they can’t escape and 

how the fear of predators (i.e. predation risk) modifies these 

interactions. By studying plant-herbivore interactions and 

behavioural ecology in this context, we can understand how 

and why herbivores make the foraging choices they do, and 

what the ecological (and evolutionary) implications are for both 

plants and predators – as well as for themselves. 


1. Determine foraging responses of mammalian herbivores 

(swamp wallabies, brushtail possums) or omnivores (bush 

rats) to plant toxins and predation risk (in collaboration with 

Associate Professor Peter Banks) 

2. Define ecologically-relevant personality traits of 

mammalian herbivores or omnivores and determine how 

they shape foraging decisions (in collaboration with Associate 

Professor Peter Banks) 


Clare McArthur 



T: (02) 9351 2062 

E: clare.mcarthur@ 

sydney.edu.au 

3. Quantify how abiotic factors (wind, nutrients, shade and 

dust) alter plant chemistry and structure and hence alter interactions with mammalian and 

insect herbivores (in collaboration with Associate Professor Dieter Hochuli) 

These projects can involve considerable field work in regional National Parks, some lab work 

including the chemical analysis of plants, and analyses of animal behaviours obtained from 

camera videos. A driver’s licence is generally essential.

BEHAVIOUR AND GENETICS 

OF SOCIAL INSECTS 

33 


The ‘Bee lab’ is interested in behavioural ecology, behavioural 

genetics and molecular genetics of social insects. Recently we 

have also acquired a new ‘lab rat’ a gigantic slime mould that 

can make foraging decisions despite having no brain or nervous 

system. We study honey bees (particularly Thai and African 

ones), ants, Australian native stingless bees and the slime 

mould. We are particularly interested in cheating behaviour: 

when workers start laying eggs or changing caste. We also 

study collective decision making: how do social insects decide 

on a new nest site, or how best to allocate their foragers to 

food sources? We offer projects ranging from field biology to 

molecular genetics and mathematical modeling. 

For more check out our website 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology/socialinsects/index.shtml 


1. Epigenetic inheritance in honey bees: consequence of the 

caste system or a battle of the sexes? 

2. Heat tolerance in honey bees. 

3. Biology of Australian stingless bees. 

Professor Ben 

Oldroyd 

Room 239B, Macleay 

Building A12 

T: (02) 9351 7501 

E: benjamin.oldroyd@ 

sydney.edu.au 

4. Foraging behaviour and decision-making in the slime mould, Physarum polycephalum. 

5. Network formation by ants. 

6. Exploration versus exploitation in ants. 

7. Can bees regulate intake of protein and carbohydrate? (Jointly supervised by Professor 

Steve Simpson) 

8. Identification of ‘African’ genes in imported stock including semen. 

9. Intragenomic conflict and the evolution of uniparental inheritance of cytoplasmic 

organelles.

34 

REPTILE EVOLUTION AND 

BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY 


We research broad, evolutionary biology, most often using 

reptiles and amphibians as models. 


Honours projects can be tailored to the student’s interest in the 

following areas: 

1. Multiple paternity in a changing climate. A changing climate 

is expected to have profound effects on many aspects of 

ectotherm biology. We assess year-to-year variation in sexual 

selection on body size and post-copulatory sperm competition 

and cryptic female choice. Elevated temperature is expected 

to increase mating rate and number of sires per clutch with 

positive effects on offspring fitness. We investigate if years 

when the ‘quality’ of a female’s partners is more variable (in 

standard errors of a male sexual ornament) show less multiple 

paternity. This would agree with prior laboratory trials in which 

females exercised stronger cryptic female choice when male 

quality varied more. 

An increased number of sires contributing to within-clutch 

paternity may decrease the risk of having malformed offspring. 

Ultimately, such variation may contribute to highly dynamic and 

Professor Mats 

Olsson 



T: (02) 9351 2697 

E: mats.olsson@sydney. 

edu.au 

shifting selection mosaics in the wild, with potential implications for the evolutionary ecology of 

mating systems and population responses to rapidly changing environmental conditions. 

2. Evolution of Reactive Oxygen Species dynamics. In the ageing individual, the production of 

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accelerates with cell senescence. Depending on the heritability 

of the underlying processes that determine net ROS levels, this may influence ageing per se 

and its evolutionary direction and rate of change. In order to understand the inheritance and 

evolution of net ROS levels in free-ranging lizards, we use flow cytometry together with ROSsensitive 

fluorogenic probes to measure ROS in lizard blood cells. 

We measure basal levels of (i) unspecific ROS (superoxide, singlet oxygen, H 2 

O 2 

and 

peroxynitrite), and (ii) superoxide specifically. The cumulative level of unspecific ROS is higher in 

adults than juveniles and superoxide level showed high heritability and variability among families. 

We suggest, and design future studies, around the fact that the evolution of ROS dynamics 

may be ROS species-specific and perhaps depend on the relative degree of uni- or biparental 

inheritance of ROS main regulatory pathways. 

Right: Crab spider by Claire MacAlpine (Honours student 2013) 

supervised by Dieter Hochuli (pg 25) and Shawn Wilder (pg 50)

36 PLANT CELL BIOLOGY 


My research in plant cell biology focuses on the plant 

cytoskeleton and plasmodesmata, the channels responsible 

for intercellular communication. Plasmodesmata transport 

water, minerals, metabolites, transcription factors and RNAs 

throughout plants. We are trying to understand the details of 

transport through plasmodesmata, what molecular interactions 

are involved, how is it regulated, what pathway it takes 

and how viral “movement proteins” modify it. We use highresolution 

microscopy, immuno-cytochemistry, expression of 

fluorescently tagged proteins and micro-injection. 

The plant cytoskeleton is involved in targeting and transport 

of components within cells, cell division and directing cell wall 

deposition to generate plant cell shape. We are studying the 

role of the cytoskeleton in intercellular transport and in the 

generation of plant cell shape, such as in the jig-saw shaped 

“pavement” cells found in the epidermis of some leaves. 


I develop a project topic in collaboration with potential Honours 

student so that it can be tailored to their particular strengths 

and interests. Please feel free to contact me for a chat. 

Professor Robyn 

Overall 

Room 510, Carslaw 

Building F07 

T: (02) 9351 2848 

E: robyn.overall@sydney. 

edu.au 

1. Building a functional model of plasmodesma macro-molecular architecture. This project 

aims to develop a 3D model of the structure of plasmodesmata with the molecular identity of 

the structures identified. To generate an accurate image of the structure, the project will use 

electron tomography of material prepared by high-pressure freeze-substitution. 

2. Modification of plasmodesmata by viruses. Plant viruses hijack plasmodesmata to move 

throughout the plant. In collaboration with Peter Waterhouse’s lab, we have recently identified 

a marker for the precise timing of the very first entrance of the virus into uninfected cells. 

This project aims to exploit this indicator to identify if the virus modifies the structure of 

plasmodesmata as it moves through them. It will image live tissue in which the invading virus 

and this indicator are fluorescently tagged and electron microscopy to see if there are changes 

in structure at high resolution. 

3. High-resolution imaging of the cytoskeleton and cell wall in pavement cells. Microtubules, 

a component of the cytoskeleton, play an important role in the development of the complex 

jigsaw shape of pavement cells. This project will use high resolution scanning electron 

microscopy to investigate the microtubules by imaging the orientation of the most recently 

deposited cellulose microfibrils in these pavement cells and to determine the effect of disrupting 

the microtubules on the microfibril orientation and plant cell shape.

NUTRITION, INFECTION 

AND HOST-FITNESS 

37 


I am a parasitologist. Upon joining Professor Stephen Simpson’s 

laboratory in 2007, I developed a new axis of research that 

aimed to describe the network of interactions that defines 

the relationships between nutrition, infection and host fitness. 

Using a multidicsciplinary approach (from behavioural assays to 

molecular biology), I focus my research on better understanding 

the links between nutrition, gut microbiota, disease and 

immunity in insects to provide a more comprehensive and 

robust understanding of the key determinants of the outcome 

of host–pathogen interactions. 


1. Nutrition and the innate immune system. How diet affects 

the expression of innate immune genes. 

2. Nutrition and viruses. How diet affects susceptibility to viral 

infections 

3. Nutrition and the composition of the gut microbiota. Links 

and relationships between dietary macronutrients and the 

composition of the gut microbiota. 

Dr Fleur Ponton 



T: (02) 9036 6262 

E: fleur.ponton@sydney. 

edu.au

38 DEVELOPMENT OF 

ROOT ARCHITECTURE 


Genetics and molecular biology are used in order to decipher 

the way in which genes, biochemicals and environment work 

together to shape an organism. My philosophy is that scientific 

progress at the molecular level comes into its own when 

small molecular changes affect the phenotype of the whole 

organism. For this reason, my experiments combine a molecular 

investigation with work on the whole organism in two ways. 

We investigate the effect that small genetic changes have 

on the whole organism and we investigate the way in which 

phenotypic differences are encoded by the genome. 

The particular system used in the lab is the plant Arabidopsis 

thaliana. Root architecture (the ratio of branching versus linear 

growth) is influenced by both genes and environment. We 

aim to understand the contribution of both. Using knockout 

mutants, we have identified a series of genes that affect the 

way that roots develop. 


1. The role of actin in root branching in Arabidopsis thaliana. 

Analysis of mutants in the lab has shown that root branching 

patterns are altered when the expression of the gene Severe 

Depolymerisation of Actin (SDA1) is altered. In this project 

Dr Jenny Saleeba 


Building A12 

T: (02) 9351 6695 

E: jenny.saleeba@sydney. 

edu.au 

you will cross SDA1 mutants with lines containing mutations in other actin related genes. The 

analysis of gene activity and plant root phenotype will be used together to understand how the 

expression of SDA1 fits into the coordinated expression of actin pathway genes. You will answer 

the question, what steps in gene expression are required to stabilise actin and allow normal root 

branching? 

2. The role of energy partitioning in root branching in Arabidopsis thaliana. There is a 

relationship between the ready availability of the sugar-rich products of photosynthesis and a 

high rate of root branching in A. thaliana. In recent experiments we have discovered that the 

expression of the AT3G49160 gene, encoding pyruvate kinase, changes the degree to which 

roots branch. It is hypothesised that pyruvate kinase affects root branching via the peturbation 

of sugar homeostasis in the plant. In this project you will investigate the way in which the 

pyruvate kinase gene fits with the pathways of other known gene products in the development 

of roots.

EVOLUTIONARY 

AND ECOLOGICAL 

PHYSIOLOGY 

39 


My research focuses on environmental change and how 

it impacts organisms’ physiology and thereby fitness. The 

environment is never stable, and organisms must either cope 

with varying physiological performance or implement some 

form of regulation. I am particularly interested in the interaction 

between phenotypic plasticity and adaptation, and the 

relationship between underlying physiological and molecular 

mechanism and their ecological and behavioural manifestation. 


Honours projects could be possible within my general research 

area and students should contact me to discuss particular 

projects in detail. 

Professor Frank 

Seebacher 



T: (02) 9351 2779 

E: frank.seebacher@ 

sydney.edu.au

EVOLUTION AND 

ECOLOGY OF CANE 

TOADS 

41 


I study the ecology and evolution of reptiles and amphibians 

– partly because they are so damn interesting, and partly 

because we need to understand these creatures if we are to 

have any hope of conserving their populations. My studies 

span the range from tropical snakes and invasive cane toads, 

through to endangered snakes and lizards in New South Wales. 

I run a major field station – a small village near Humpty Doo, 

partway between Darwin and Kakadu in the Northern Territory. 

We have houses, flats, offices and laboratory space, and it has 

proved to be a very effective base for Honours projects. 


Projects are designed jointly with the student – we talk about 

what you’re interested in, and look for ways to construct a 

project that fits those criteria while also integrating with our 

main research programs. Potential projects include: 

1. Rapid evolution in cane toads. Our work has shown that the 

toads have evolved dramatically over their 77-year history in 

Australia. Toads at the increasingly fast-moving invasion front 

are very different from toads in Queensland (where the animals 

were first introduced, in 1935) in terms of morphology (e.g., 

Professor Rick 

Shine 



T: (02) 9351 3772 

E: rick.shine@sydney. 

edu.au 

relative leg length), behavior (dispersal rates and tactics), and physiology (immunobiology, water 

balance). Our pilot studies hint that invasion-front toads also may be very distinctive in other 

ways, including “personality” (boldness/shyness continuum) and cognition (learning ability). We 

have barely scratched the surface in terms of traits to study, and I am keen to extend that work. 

2. Novel approaches to cane toad control. We have shown that cane toad tadpoles 

communicate using specific pheromones, and that the tadpoles of native frogs do not respond 

to those chemicals. We are zeroing in on the chemicals involved, and have already managed 

to identify three types of pheromones that are produced by cane toad tadpoles. We need a lot 

more lab and field studies to fine-tune our understanding of these responses, and to evaluate 

their usefulness in toad control. More generally, this work allows us to examine the evolution 

of species-specific communication systems, and their potential for use in highly targeted 

environmentally friendly biocontrol. 

Left: Cane toad, courtesy of Samantha McCann 

(Honours student 2013) supervised by Rick Shine (above).

42 

PLANT MOLECULAR 

BIOLOGY 


My laboratory uses molecular biology and cell biology techniques 

to study a range of topics including the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, 

long distance signaling in plants and plant food allergens. 

The Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis: To produce our food, the crops 

we grow need to have enough nitrogen. This nitrogen is usually 

supplied as an expensive, chemically synthesised fertilizer. 

Legumes are plants that are able to combine with bacteria, 

termed rhizobia, to form an association (symbiosis) where 

nitrogen from the air is converted to a form that can be used 

by plants. This means they can grow without nitrogen fertilizer 

and also that they can leave nitrogen in the soil for the next crop 

grown, reducing the reliance on fertilizers. 

The rhizobia are enclosed by a membrane that the plant 

synthesises, inside a new organ on the roots of the plant called 

a nodule. We are studying the composition, development and 

function of the membrane (the symbiosome membrane) as 

it is the interface between them and probably controls how 

efficiently nitrogen is fixed. 

Dr Penny Smith 

Room 239A, Macleay 

Building A12 

T: (02) 9036 7169 

E: penny.smith@sydney. 

edu.au 


1. Which plant genes are expressed in cells infected by rhizobia? Find out how rhizobia modify 

plant gene expression. You would use laser capture micro-dissection to isolate cells infected by 

rhizobia, isolate RNA and then use RNAseq to compare the expression with that of non-infected cells. 

2. Metal transporters on the symbiosome membrane and their role in symbiotic function. 

Investigate how reducing the expression of one symbiosome membrane transporter changes the 

expression of the other transporters. Investigate this using RNAi, real-time qPCR, proteomics 

and/or metabolomics. 

3. The role of nutrient transporters in regulating efficiency of nitrogen fixation. What happens 

when you reduce the expression of particular transport proteins on the symbiosome membrane? 

Use gene silencing to reduce expression of your candidate transporter and investigate how this 

affects the nitrogen fixation. 

4. Characterisation of the symbiosome space. The symbiosome space is the region inside 

the symbiosome membrane that surrounds the bacteroid membrane. This project is a detailed 

proteomic study of the symbiosome space. You would then choose a protein for further molecular 

characterisation to determine if it is essential for the symbiosis. 

5. Other possible projects: a) Molecular characterisation of symbiosome development. 

b) Studying changes in the symbiosome membrane proteome throughout development using 

quantitative proteomics.

HUMAN NUTRITION 

AND EPIDEMIOLOGY 

43 


In Australia, 3 out of 4 adults are overweight or obese, and 

1.7 billion individuals are obese worldwide. Alarmingly, obesity 

is highly associated with the development of metabolic 

complications including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. 

In order to address the obesity epidemic, we need to 

investigate the physiological mechanisms leading to obesity 

and its metabolic complications and provide effective, low-risk 

treatments for weight loss. 

My research investigates the physiological mechanisms leading 

to obesity and its metabolic complications and spans preclinical 

mouse models, to humans to epidemiological data-sets. By 

performing interventions resulting in weight gain (overfeeding 

studies) and weight loss (diet, exercise and weight loss 

surgery), my research investigates the associated changes 

in whole-body, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle physiology 

associated with obesity and diabetes. 


1. Investigating the potential risks versus benefits of 

weight loss surgery. Weight loss (bariatric) surgery results 

in a spectacular 30-40% weight loss and resolution of type 2 

Dr Charmaine Tam 



T: (02) 9036 6262 

E: charmaine.tam@ 

sydney.edu.au 

diabetes in up to 80% of cases after one year. Despite such impressive outcomes, the potential 

risks of such procedures on parameters such as body composition and bone health are unknown. 

This project would involve learning how to run a clinical research study, interactions with 

patients, performing body composition scans, serum assays in the laboratory and data analysis. 

2. Examining the role of inflammation and matrix remodelling in fat tissue and skeletal 

muscle in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is now recognised as a 

state of chronic low-grade inflammation in the adipose tissue and potentially skeletal muscle. 

This project would involve learning a range of molecular biology techniques for analysing adipose 

tissue and skeletal muscle in mouse models of obesity and diabetes.

44 

URBAN ECOLOGY 

AND BIODIVERSITY 

EDUCATION 


My research focuses on an integration of urban ecology, 

scientific literacy and biodiversity education. My students work 

across a wide range of topics, from the ecology of urban birds 

(parrots, mynas and noisy miners) to the ecological literacy of 

kindergarten children. 

We are currently exploring the extent to which resources, such 

as food, determine the distribution and abundance of birds. 

Studies range from tracking spatial and temporal movements of 

cockatoos, investigating the role of noisy miners and common 

mynas in urban areas, and measuring flowering and seeding 

phenology of trees in streets, gardens and national parks. 

Current projects in biology education use models within the 

learning sciences and thresholds concepts to investigate how 

students, schoolchildren, and the general public understand 

difficult biological concepts. We measure learning in schools as 

children design experiments in virtual 3D environments and in 

university as students carry out research projects in biology. 

We also analyse communication in social media to quantify the 

public understanding of biological knowledge. 

Dr Charlotte 

Taylor 



T: (02) 9351 5788 

E: charlotte.taylor@ 

sydney.edu.au 


1. Urban biodiversity and resource availability. We are currently interested in aggressive 

interactions amongst bird populations in urban areas, in particular those involving Noisy miners, 

Common mynas and various parrot species. We are also investigating the impact of limitations in 

resources for bird populations, with a focus on nectar and seed sources. 

2. Learning difficult concepts and Biology literacy. We continue to use the Thresholds 

Concepts paradigm to explore the ways in which undergraduate students, school children and 

members of the general public understand or misunderstand key biological concepts. Projects 

may focus on concepts associated with understanding the complexity of processes such as 

climate change and human impact on the environment, as well as the concepts underpinning the 

processes of hypothesis testing and experimentation.

EVOLUTION OF 

VIVIPARITY 

45 


The main focus of my research has been on reproduction in 

reptiles, with a particular emphasis on the physiology and 

ecology of eggs and embryos. I have studied eggs of all the 

major groups of reptiles in the world and have recently been 

studying viviparous species. My current research is concerned 

mainly with the evolution of viviparity (live birth) using lizards 

as the model. I combine physiology, anatomy and molecular 

biology to understand the evolution of viviparity across a range 

of species that have different placental complexities. 

Other recent projects in the lab include reproduction in shovelnosed 

rays, the physiology and ecology of invasive lizards, 

sex determination in lizards, physiological ecology of flat rock 

spiders and feeding behaviour in desert lizards. 


I have many opportunities around questions associated with 

understanding the evolution of live birth, including projects that 

would enable you to master a range of techniques that could 

be used in many fields, including light and electron microscopy, 

physiology, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology. I am, 

however, willing to entertain ideas for projects in other areas 

that embrace combinations of physiology, ecology, morphology 

Professor Mike 

Thompson 



T: (02) 9351 3989 

E: mike.thompson@ 

sydney.edu.au 

and molecular biology. If you have idea for projects that you would like to discuss, please send 

me an e-mail. 

1. Trying to understand the increase in the vascular bed of the uterus (angiogenesis), and 

a possible link between uterine angiogenesis in lizards and cancer in humans. The work has 

a large molecular component and includes studies of the uterus and embryos of lizards, and 

work with human cancer cells. It could also involve confocal microscopy. It is collaborative with 

Professors Chris Murphy and Georges Grau in the School of Medical Sciences. 

2. Understanding fundamental nutrient transport molecules and morphological features 

in the uterus of a range of species, including marsupials, lizards and snakes. Different 

aspects of the work involved a combination of morphology (scanning and transmission electron 

microscopy) and molecular biology (immunofluorescent microscopy, Western blotting). It is 

collaborative with Professor Chris Murphy and Dr Bronwyn McAllan in the School of Medical 

Sciences.

46 

ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT 

AND STRESS 


I am interested in animal development and stress. In higher 

animals stress hormones play vital roles in controlling the 

physiology of reproduction. Many more animals in this changing 

world are either currently facing or will soon face an additional 

stress, that of global warming. Marine animals will also have to 

cope with the stress of ocean acidification as increased CO 2 

levels change the pH of the ocean. 

The marine isopod Cirolana harfordi is an excellent model 

organism in which to study development and stress. C. harfordi 

like many crustaceans has two sets of antennae that it uses to 

sense food in the environment and is thought to find prey using 

sensory nerves and receptors housed in elaborate extensions 

of the cuticle called setae. Just like a shark is followed or 

carries remora fish, the isopod C. harfordi carries with it an 

amazing menagerie of organism ‘hangers on’. They are either 

attached to its body (epibionts) or they cling on and are mobile 

in its body. Characterising the microscopic ecosystem that C. 

harfordi provides is an exciting opportunity for a scientist to 

plunge into uncharted territory. 

Dr Murray 

Thomson 



T: (02) 9036 6412 

E: murray.thomson@ 

sydney.edu.au 


1. Behavioural studies on C. harfordi. Cirolana harfordi is a 

good organism for a wide array of behavioural studies. For example, what causes the animals to 

pick one shelter, when given a choice of two, and aggregate there? 

2. The effects of rising temperature and acidification on stress levels and altered 

development of sensory setae. Physiological stress will be measured by biochemical indicators 

and behavioural traits. This isopod is viviparous and gives birth to live young that the female 

carries in a marsupium pouch that is made up of plates that grow from the legs. The effects on 

setae containing sensory equipment development will be studied using electron microscopy. 

3. The role of the antennae in finding food and friends The role of the two pairs of antennae 

and their components in spatial orientation and food tracking provides the basis for a stimulating 

and multi faceted project. 

4. Custom projects with other organisms can also be formulated and training is available in the 

following techniques; electron microscopy; behavioural biology; immunohistology; electrophoresis 

and western blotting; biochemistry; cell and molecular biology.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 

47 


My research is centred on the fascinating field of animal 

behaviour. I test ideas about the mechanisms and the functions 

of animal behaviour: how animals do what they do, and why. 

Broadly speaking, my main research interests could be divided 

into four categories: social and collective behaviour, learning 

and information use, recognition and communication, and the 

integration of physiology and behaviour. 

More about these topics can be found at my website on the 

School of Biology pages: sydney.edu.au/science/biology/ 

animalbehaviour/index.shtml 

As well as being of great intrinsic interest, the study of animal 

behaviour can provide vital insight into a variety of other 

disciplines, both within the biological sciences (physiology, 

conservation biology, toxicology, ecology) and beyond 

(psychology, sociology, economics). 


1. Leadership and decision-making in animal groups. Who 

gets to lead and who makes the decisions? These questions are 

fundamental to the success of the group in avoiding predators 

and finding food, yet are poorly understood. Your research will 

use groups of fish as a model to understand these questions. 


Ashley Ward 


Building A12 

T: (02) 9351 4778 

E: ashley.ward@sydney. 

edu.au 

2. Courtship and sexual strategies. How should animals behave to ensure to maximise their 

chances of passing on their genes? Do they adopt different strategies according to the 

competition they face, or how risky the environment is? Again using fish as your model species, 

your research will shed light on this fundamentally important area. 

3. You name it! If you have a particular area in animal behavior research that you would like to 

focus on, and some ideas of how to approach it, then contact me for a discussion.

48 PLANT AND ECOSYSTEM 

FUNCTIon 


My mission is to understand how plants function and interact 

with the wider world. My research is organised into two basic 

themes. The first is how plants are affected by and cope with 

their environment. The scope of this research includes the 

internal activities of plants - that is the chemical and physical 

processes associated with life (photosynthesis, respiration, gas 

exchange, nutrient uptake). The second major theme is the role 

of plants in ecosystem processes (ecosystem cycles of carbon, 

nitrogen, phosphorus and energy, and major interaction process 

such as competition). 


1. The metabolic footprint of plants. Planet Earth bears 

the metabolic footprint of plants. This is because plants use 

planet Earth as a substrate for chemical reactions and as 

a resting place for waste products. In contrast to the wellknown 

metabolic footprint of plants on the atmosphere, the 

below-ground metabolic footprint of plants is poorly known. 

We know that >10% of carbon fixed via photosynthesis may 

be exuded from roots as a diverse soup of organic molecules. 

This enormous flux of carbon belowground provides fuel for 

soil microbes and is a major player in global CO 2 

balance, yet it 


Charles Warren 

Room 225A, Heydon- 


T: (02) 9351 2678 

E: charles.warren@ 

sydney.edu.au 

is still treated as a “black box”. The aim of this project is to go beyond the “black box” view by 

characterising the molecules that exude from roots and their function. 

2. Ecosystem cycles of nitrogen. Our understanding of ecosystem cycles of nitrogen and plant 

nitrogen nutrition are changing very rapidly. For 100 years it was accepted that plants could take 

up only nitrate and ammonium, 20 years ago it was shown that plants could also take up amino 

acids, a couple of years ago it was shown plants could also take up oligopeptides. In recent 

months my lab has made the next major breakthrough. In contrast to the consensus view that 

the pool of non-peptide small organic nitrogen is dominated by protein amino acids, we found 

that soil contains at least 100 nitrogen-containing compounds from 12 compound classes. The 

exciting next steps are to discover what role these other organic compounds have in ecosystem 

nitrogen cycles and plant nutrition.

SMALL RNAs AND 

BIOFACTORIES 

49 


RNA interference (RNAi), was discovered and described by 

our group, in plants, in the late 1990s and has revolutionised 

plant and animal research. The technology gives researchers 

the ability to silence almost any gene, at will, and works by redirecting 

an intrinsic RNA-degrading mechanism that is present 

in almost all eukaryotic cells. We now know that the mechanism 

not only provides defence against viruses but also regulates 

patterns of development and epigenetics. The main players in 

this pathway are Dicers, Argonautes and a suite of small (s) 

RNAs. 

We have been studying the different sRNA pathways to 

elucidate their components and how they operate and 

are currently studying a family of proteins (called DRBs) 

that we believed would discriminate between the different 

Dicerproduced sRNAs and transfer them to the appropriate 

Argonautes. Some of these proteins are behaving as predicted, 

others are showing interesting and unexpected properties that 

hint at the possibility of other twists to the RNA-mediated 

developmental-control pathway. 

We have ongoing research examining the nature of a mobile 

silencing signal, the basis of epigenetic gene regulation 

(including transgenerational epigenetic inheritance), and how other non-coding RNAs are 

mediating genome regulation. A recent direction that we are taking, and for which we were 

awarded an ARC “Super Science” grant, is the use of Native Australian Nicotiana species 

as biofactories for the rapid and high level production of valuable proteins (e.g. vaccines, 

antibodies, and other therapeutic agents). In conjunction with this we are sequencing the entire 

genome and transcriptome of Nicotiana benthamiana to identify why it is such a special plant for 

the rapid expression of foreign proteins. 

To get a greater impression of the work we do, visit our group genome website 

sydney.edu.au/science/molecular_bioscience/sites/benthamiana/ 

Professor Peter 

Waterhouse 


Building A12 

T: (02) 9114 0745 

E: peter.waterhouse@ 

sydney.edu.au

50 CARNIVORE ECOLOGY, 

EVOLUTION AND 

BEHAVIOUR 


Carnivores can have large effects on the structure and function 

of food webs and ecological communities. Yet, the mechanisms 

through which carnivores have these effects are often poorly 

understood. My research uses an integrative approach to 

understand how the physiology of carnivores influences their 

behavioural choices and, ultimately, determines their role in 

food webs. I am especially interested in how nutrition can 

be used as a unifying framework to scale from molecules to 

food webs. Recent work in my group has shown that lipid is 

an important nutrient for carnivores, that lipid content varies 

widely among prey, and that regulation of dietary lipid by 

carnivores could be an important factor regulating food chain 

length in arthropod communities. 

More about my research interests can be found at my website: 

sites.google.com/site/shawnmwilder 


1. Why don’t spiders eat caterpillars more often? Caterpillars 

are ecologically abundant prey. Yet, they account for less than 

5 % of the prey fed upon by spiders in the field. This project 

will test several hypotheses for why spiders seem to rarely feed 

on caterpillars in nature. There is also the potential to examine 

Dr Shawn Wilder 



T: (02) 9036 6262 

E: shawn.wilder@sydney. 

edu.au 

how spider avoidance of caterpillars affects levels of herbivory on plants either in a natural 

setting or for agricultural crops. 

2. What are the nutritional requirements of carnivores for growth and reproduction? 

Much less is known about the nutritional requirements of carnivores relative to herbivores and 

omnivores. Projects are available to examine the nutritional requirements of a range of different 

carnivores and how these carnivores meet these requirements in nature. Studies can also be 

done to compare the nutritional requirements of carnivores and herbivores. 

3. How do marsupial carnivores regulate their diet? Several marsupial carnivores are 

maintained in captivity for education and captive breeding programs. Projects are available to 

examine the nutrient regulation of captive marsupial carnivores to test if they balance their diet 

among macronutrients and to compare their dietary preferences with standard diets in captivity. 

Projects can be done on several marsupial carnivores including dunnarts, quolls, or Tasmanian 

devils, in collaboration with the Medical School, Secret Creek Sanctuary, or the Taronga Zoo.

Checklist 51 

LOCAL STUDENTS 

ƞƞ 

Read about the available projects and 

arrange to meet with potential supervisors 

ƞƞ 

ƞƞ 

Submit your online HONOURS AND 

GRADUATE DIPLOMA PROJECTS 

APPLICATION FORM with your choice 

of three supervisors by the closing dates 

listed on page 9. 

Submit your online FACULTY OF SCIENCE 

HONOURS APPLICATION FORM to the 

Faculty of Science by the closing date 


INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 

ƞƞ 

Read about the available projects and 

arrange to meet with potential supervisors 

ƞƞ 

ƞƞ 

ƞƞ 

Submit your online HONOURS AND 

GRADUATE DIPLOMA PROJECTS 

APPLICATION FORM with your choice 

of three supervisors by the closing dates 


Submit an INTERNATIONAL 

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT 

APPLICATION FORM to the International 

Student Office for visa processing. 

Submit your online FACULTY OF SCIENCE 

HONOURS APPLICATION FORM to the 

Faculty of Science by the closing date 


FORMS 

Biological Sciences online application form: 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology/studying_ 

biology/future_honours/apply.php 

Faculty of Science online application form: 

sydney.edu.au/science/fstudent/undergrad/ 

course/honours/apply.shtml 

Honours Coordinator 

Associate Professor Dieter Hochuli 

School of Biological Sciences 

Room 401, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08) 

The University of Sydney 

E dieter.hochuli@sydney.edu.au 

T (02) 9351 3992 

Postgraduate and Honours 

Student Services Coordinator 

Joanna Malyon 


Room 518, Level 5, Carslaw Building (F07) 

The University of Sydney 

E honsadmin@bio.usyd.edu.au 

T (02) 9351 2369


T +61 2 9351 2369 

F +61 2 9351 2558 

E honsadmin@bio.usyd.edu.au 

sydney.edu.au/science/biology 

SCIENCE 

faculty 

of SCIENCE 

Produced by the School of Biological Sciences, the University of Sydney, 2013 

The University reserves the right to make alterations to any information 

contained within this publication without notice. 

ABN 15 211 513 464 

CRICOS 00026A

biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

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