Hall of Fame

Former Postdoctoral Fellows (self funded)

  1. Dr. Paul Doughty (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000-2001).  Paul is now the Curator of Terrestrial Vertebrates at the Western Australian Museum. 

  2. Dr. Sharon Downes (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, 2001-2003). Sharon is now the Senior Research Scientist and Team Leader of the Resistance Evolution Team in the CSIRO Entomology Division. 

  3. Assoc. Prof. Phil Byrne (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, 2002-2004). Phil now an Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong with his own lab.

  4. Dr. Joanna Sumner (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, 2005-2009). Jo is now the Manager of Genetic Resources at Museum Victora.

  5. Dr. Conrad Hoskin (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, 2007-2009).  Conrad is now an Associate Professor at James Cook University. While in our lab Conrad won the EUREKA PRIZE in Early Career Species Discovery! 

  6. Dr. Sean Doody (Research Fellow, Caring for Country Grant, 2008 - 2009). Sean is now an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida, USA. 

  7. Dr. Megan Higgie (ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, 2009-2011).  Megan is now a Lecturer at James Cook University. 

  8. Assoc. Prof. Lisa Schwanz (ARC DECRA Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2013). Lisa is now an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales.  

  9. Dr. Kiki Dethmers (North Australia Marine Research Alliance (NARMA) Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012-2015). Kiki is now a researcher in the Netherlands.

  10. Dr. Stuart Nielsen (Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellow, 2016-2017). Stu is now an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University, USA..

  11. Dr. Thomas Merkling - (Fyssen Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014-2015, Endeavour Fellow, 2016). Thomas worked on the function and evolution of the different colour forms of the frillneck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), as well as more general behavioural ecology questions in birds.

  12. Dr. Paul Oliver (ARC DECRA Postdoctoral Fellow, 2015-2017).  Paul is now a Senior Lecturer at Griffith University..  

  13. Dr. Maxine Piggott (ARC DECRA Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014-2017). Maxine is now a Professor at Charles Darwin University.  

  14. Dr. Ben Scheele - ARC DECRA Fellow (2021-2024). Ben is now a Senior Lecturer in the Fenner School for Environmental Science, ANU.

Former Postdoctoral Research Associates (funded by my grants)

  1. Dr. Ian Scott (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 1999-2003).  Ian now works at a major agricultural research institution in New Zealand.

  2. Dr. Danielle Edwards (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2007-2008). Dan is now a Curator at the Northern Territory Museum in Darwin.

  3. Dr. Conrad Hoskin (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2010-2011).  Conrad is now an Associate Professor at James Cook University. 

  4. Dr. Kate Umbers (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2011).  Kate is now a Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Sydney where her lab slogan is “Want to join the Umbers Lab? Katy did!!”.  

  5. Dr. Emma Sherratt (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2016-2017). Emma is now a Future Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide.

  6. Dr. Erin Walsh (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2016-2017). Erin is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the ANU Research School of Population Health. She is also an amazing artist and scientific illustrator.  

  7. Dr. Marta Vidal-Garcia (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2016-2018). Marta is now a postdoc at the University of Calgary in Canada.

  8. Dr. Ian Brennan (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2019-2022). Ian is now a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Natural History Museum, London.

  9. Dr. Damien Esquerre - (Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2019 - 2023). Damien is now a Lecturer and DECRA Fellow at the University of Wollongong.

Former PhD Students (And check out our Keogh Lab PhD Lineage for a history lesson!)

  1. Prof. Bob Wong (PhD student on APA, 2000 - 2003).  Sexual selection and speciation in the Pacific blue-eye fish Pseudomugil signifer. Bob is now a Professor at Monash University. 

  2. Dr. Jessica Stapley (PhD student on APA, 2000 - 2003).  Behavioural trade-offs, traits and tendencies in two Australian skinks. Jess is now a Marie Curie Fellow  at Sheffield University in the UK but based in STRI in Panama.  

  3. Dr. Louise Osborne (PhD student on IPRS, 2001 - 2004). Male contest behaviour and information content of signals used by the Australian Tawny Dragon, Ctenophorus decresii. Louise is now a Senior Policy Officer at the Department of Sustainability and Environment. 

  4. Prof. David Chapple (PhD student on APA, 2001 - 2004). Evolutionary ecology and molecular phylogenetics of the Egernia whitii (Lacertilia: Scincidae) species group. David is now a Professor at Monash University. 

  5. Dr. Danielle Edwards (PhD student on APA at Univ. of Western Australia, co-supervised with Dale Roberts, 2002-2007). Comparative phylogeography and speciation in southwestern Australian frogs. Dan is now a Curator at the Northern Territory Museum in Darwin.

  6. Dr. Matthew Morgan (PhD student on ANU PhD scholarship, 2003 - 2007). The theory and practice of molecular data analysis and application to current problems in Australian frog biology. Matt is now a Research Scientist at CSIRO. 

  7. Dr. Vimoksalehi Lukoschek (PhD student on APA at James Cook University, 2001 - 2007). Molecular ecology, evolution and conservation of hydrophiine sea snakes. Vimoksalehi is now training as a medical doctor. 

  8. Dr. Mitzy Pepper (PhD student on APA, 2007 - 2011). Evolution of Australian arid-zone geckos.  Mitzy is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate in my lab.

  9. Dr. Renee Catullo (PhD student on APA, 2008-2012). Biogeography, phylogenetics and cryptic species in the Myobatrachid frog genus Uperoleia. Renee is now Lecturer at the University of Western Australia.   

  10. Dr. Dan Noble.  (PhD student on MQ Scholarship at Macquarie University, co-supervised by Martin Whiting, 2010-2013.). Evolutionary behavioural ecology of an Australian lizard with alternative reproductive tactics.  Dan won the Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation for his PhD thesis!  Dan is now an Associate Professor at The Australian National University.  

  11. Dr. Sandra Binning - PhD student on URS and ANU Scholarships, co-supervised by Pat Backwell, 2010-2013. The effects of biotic and abiotic factors on fish swimming performance. Sandy is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal, Canada. 

  12. Dr. Dan Hoops  - PhD student on IPRS and ANU Scholarships, co-supervised by Martin Whiting, 2011-2015. Structure and evolution of dragon brains. Dan is a Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill University in Canada.  

  13. Dr. Marta Vidal-Garcia - PhD student on RSB and ANU PhD scholarships, 2012-2016. Morphological evolution in Australian frogs.  Marta is now a postdoc at the University of Calgary in Canada.

  14. Dr. Ian Brennan - PhD student on IPRS and ANU Scholarships, 2015-2019. Macroevolution of goannas and roos. Ian is now a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Natural History Museum, London.

  15. Dr. Damien Esquerre - PhD student on Chilean Scholarship, 2015-2019. Evolution of pythons and liolaemid lizards. Damien is now a Lecturer and DECRA Fellow at the University of Wollongong.

  16. Dr. Carlos Joaquin Pavon Vazquez - PhD student on IPRS and ANU Scholarships, 2017-2021. An integrative approach to the evolution of Varanidae. Carlos is now a postdoc at the University of Kentucky.

  17. Sarin “Putter” Tiatragul - PhD student on IPRS and ANU Scholarships, 2019 - 2023. Macroevolution of Australian Blindsnakes. Putter is now a postdoc in our lab.

Former MSc Students

  1. Anke Maria Höfer (MSc student on IPRS, 2001 - 2004). Mating system of the common garden skink, Lampropholis guichinoti. Anke Maria is now the coordinator of FrogWatch in Canberra.

  2. Suzanne Morrison (MPhil, 2005 - 2009). Conservation biology of the Fijian crested iguana. Suzi recently sailed around the world on a 34 foot boat, check out the blog. 

  3. Dr. Marta Vidal-Garcia (MSc student, 2011). Evolution of body size and shape in Australian myobatrachid frogs.  Marta is now a postdoc at the University of Calgary in Canada.

  4. Dr. Damien Esquerre (MPhil, 2014-2015). Evolution of head shape in pythons and boas.  Damien is now a Lecturer and DECRA Fellow at the University of Wollongong.

  5. Gabi Openshaw (MPhil student, 2013-2016). Evolution of head shape in goannas. Gabi is now an animal rights activist.

  6. Siwanon “Bank” Paphatmethin (MSc student on Thai Royal Gov Scholarship, 2020). Evolution of Symphyta moths. Bank is now a PhD student in our lab.

Former Honours Students

  1. Suzanne Morrison (1999-2000 cohort). Territoriality and paternity in Eulamprus skinks. Suzi did a Masters with me and recently sailed around the world on a 34 foot boat, check out the blog. 

  2. Kathryn Read (2000 cohort).  Phylogenetics of Australian frogs. Kathryn now works in research administration. 

  3. Dr. Megan Head (2000-2001 cohort).  Chemical communication in skinks. Megan is now an Associate Professor at the Australian National University. 

  4. Dr. Eleanor Wilson (2000-2001 cohort).  Mating systems in Eulamprus skinks. Eleanor is now a medical doctor. 

  5. Junko Kondo (2002-2003 cohort). Conservation ecology of a gecko. Junko is now busy looking after her kids in Canada. 

  6. Dr. Kate Hodges (2003-2004 cohort). Phylogeography of vertebrates in Tallaganda State Forest. Kate did a PhD at the University of Adelaide and is now an aquatic ecologist at the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

  7. Dr. Mitzy Pepper (2005 cohort). Phylogeography and paleoclimatology of a Pilbara gecko. Mitzy did her PhD in my lab and is now a postdoc in my lab.  

  8. David Moore (2006 cohort). Evolution of the sodium pump as a possible bio-control measure for cane toads. David was an RA in my lab for three years and he is now an environmental consultant in Canberra. 

  9. Dr. Geoff Kay (2008 cohort). Comparative phylogeography and climate change of the herpetofauna of southwestern Australia. Geoff did his PhD at ANU and is now running his own solar company. 

  10. Jordan Crabbe (2008 cohort). Comparative morphometrics and phylogenetics of three-toed skinks in southwestern Australia. Jordan now works as a zoo keeper.  

  11. Kate Loynes (2008 cohort). Phylogenetics and phylogeography of Australian robins. Kate is now a RA at the University of Western Australia. 

  12. Samantha Vertucci (2009 cohort).  Speciation in the turtle frog. Sam is now a wildlife consultant.  

  13. Dr. Peri Bolton ( 2011 cohort).  Phylogeny of Australian burrowing snakes. Peri did her PhD at Macquarie University and is now a postdoc in the USA. 

  14. Gabi Openshaw (2012 cohort). Evolution of head shape in goannas. Gabi did a masters in our lab and is now an animal rights activist.

  15. Sarah Stock (2017/18 cohort). Quantifying the correlates of risk in Australian amphibians. Sarah recently finished her PhD at Newcastle University.

  16. Jade Fletcher (2023 cohort). Phylogenetics and population genetics of Australian Hemiergis skinks. Jade is now working in Tasmania.

Former Research Assistants

  1. Christine Hayes (Research Officer and lab manager, 1999- 2006).  Chris was an RA and lab manager in my lab for many years and she won the Vice Chancellor’s Award for General Staff Excellence while she worked for me. Chris is now retired.   

  2. David Moore (Research Assistant, 2007 - 2011). David was an RA in my lab for three years and he is now an environmental consultant.

 Former Visiting Fellows

  1. Dr. Brigitte Gottsberger (visiting PhD student from University of Vienna, 2001).  Brigitte is now a Technical Assistant and Lecturer at the University of Vienna.  

  2. Prof. Jonathan Webb (Visiting Fellow, 2001-2002). Jonno is now a Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney.  

  3. Dr. Nicola Mitchell (Visiting Fellow, 2002 – 2003). Nicki is now an Associate Professor the University of Western Australia.

  4. Dr. Simon Blomberg (Visiting Fellow, 2002 – 2005). Simon is now an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland. 

  5. Dr. Beckie Symula (Visiting Fellow, 2003 -  2006). Beckie is now an Instructional Associate Professor at the University of Mississippi.  

  6. Dr. Steven Holland - (Vice Chancellor’s Artist in Residence - 2015). Steven spent a year in our lab working on an amazing piece of art - a Crown for the President of the Australian Society of Herpetogists.  Check out the video.