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Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution Research Centres And Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution School of Life Sciences Scientists working across ecology, evolution, biodiversity, botany, zoology and environmental science latrobe.edu.au/school-life-sciences Contents Introduction / 3 College of Science, Health and Engineering / 4 School of Life Sciences / 5 Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution / 6 Research Centre for Future Landscapes /8 Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems / 9 Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology / 10 Animal Behaviour Group (Richard Peters) / 12 Applied Aquatic Ecology Research Group (Alison King) / 13 Biodiversity Science and Application Group (Melodie McGeoch) / 14 Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology Lab (Ewen Silvester and Aleicia Holland) / 15 Botany and Plant Ecology Research Group (John Morgan) / 16 Comparative Genomics (Jenny Graves) / 17 Ecological Genomics Group (Bill Ballard) / 18 Ecology and Conservation Group (Pete Green) / 19 Fire and Avian Ecology Group (Mike Clarke) / 20 Fish Ecology and Fisheries Group (David Crook) / 21 Insect Ecology Group (Heloise Gibb)/ 22 Insect-Plant Interactions Lab (Martin Steinbauer) / 23 Landscape Ecology Group (Andrew Bennett) / 24 La Trobe University Herbarium (Alison Kellow) / 25 Marine and Ecophysiology Group (Travis Dutka) / 26 Molecular Ecology Group (Nick Murphy) / 27 Plant Reproduction and Conservation Genetics Group (Susan Hoebee) / 28 Plants and Pollinators Group (Ryan Phillips) / 29 Reproductive Ecology and Conservation Biology Group (Kylie Robert) / 30 Riverine Landscapes Research Group (Nick Bond) / 31 Sleep Ecophysiology Group (John Lesku) / 32 Water Geochemistry and Landscape Evolution Group (John Webb) / 33 About La Trobe University / 34 About Victoria and Melbourne / 35 Cover Photo: Working in the Alpine region, Victoria (Photo Credit: John Morgan) Introduction The School of Life Sciences is one of nine schools that comprise the Science, Health and Engineering College at La Trobe University. Provost Professor Rob Pike leads the College, Professor Shaun Collin is the Dean and Head of the School of Life Sciences and Co-director of AgriBio. There are three departments within the School of Life Sciences: • Ecology, Environment and Evolution, (EEE) • Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, (APSS) • Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology (PAM) The School of Life Sciences encompasses a broad range of disciplines: • Agriculture • Environmental Geoscience • Physiology • Botany • Evolution and Genetics • Neurobiology • Soil Science • Conservation Biology • Pathophysiology • Animal Science • Zoology • Pharmacology • Plant Science • Microbiology • Anatomy • Ecology There are nine research centres within the School of Life Sciences: • Research Centre for Future Landscapes • Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems • Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology • Mallee Regional Innovation Centre (MRIC) (a joint venture with The University of Melbourne) • La Trobe Institute of Agriculture and Food (LIAF) • ARC ITRH (Industry Transformation Research Hub) for Medicinal Agriculture • ARC CoE (Centre of Excellence) Plant Energy Biology • Centre for Livestock Interactions with Pathogens (CLiP) • Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease (collaboration with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute) Professor Robert Pike Professor Shaun Collin Provost, Dean, Head of School of Life Sciences, College of Science, Health and Engineering Co-Director of AgriBio SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES - LA TROBE UNIVERSITY 3 College of Science, Health and Engineering The College of Science, Health and Engineering contains 9 schools and 16 departments working across La Trobe’s multi-campus operations, offering general and specialist undergraduate, postgraduate and research higher degree courses. Our world-leading staff are dedicated to achieving significant educational and research outcomes in their fields. Our degrees are linked to emerging trends and are designed to prepare students for work in changing environments. We deliver a wide range of general and specialist courses that challenge students to expand their life and learning experiences. We are engaged in both regional and metropolitan communities, with our courses offered across the Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Bundoora, Collins St (Melbourne), Mildura, Shepparton and Sydney campuses. Our researchers work in an environment Our students have access to world- which encourages innovative solutions and renowned research facilities including opportunities for research breakthroughs the A$100 million La Trobe Institute for across important scientific and social Molecular Science (LIMS) and the A$288 issues. They hold significant strength and million Centre for AgriBioscience. expertise in: Our world-class researchers work in y Environment collaboration with industry partners and multiple disciplines across the university to y Rehabilitation and Exercise deliver significant research outcomes across y Brain, Mind and Behaviour five thematic areas: y Food and Agriculture y Building healthy communities y Infection, Immunity and Cancer Research. y Securing food, water and the environment y Sport, exercise and rehabilitation y Transforming human societies y Understanding disease. 4 SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES - LA TROBE UNIVERSITY School of Life Sciences The School of Life Sciences is one of the largest in the University, with more than 170 continuing and fixed term staff across two campuses. Over the last three years the School has seen significant growth in both research (15% pa, $15m in 2019) and teaching revenue (10%, $57.7m in 2019). Staff in the School currently generate 10% of the University’s teaching revenue, 17% of its research income, and supervise more than 170 higher degree research students. The School is responsible for six undergraduate degree courses at the main Bundoora campus in Melbourne, and our regional campus at Albury-Wodonga. It is a leader in teaching innovation and student satisfaction within the university. The School undertakes teaching and research across a broad range of disciplines, including: Agriculture, Botany, Soil Science, Animal Science, Plant Science, Ecology, Environmental The School of Life Sciences is a major y Research Centre for Future Landscapes Geoscience, Evolution and Genetics, contributor to research strengths in both y Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems Conservation Biology, Zoology, the Biological and Agricultural Sciences, (formerly the Murray-Darling Neurobiology, Microbiology, Physiology, achieving the highest possible rating ‘5 - well Freshwater Research Centre) Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and above world standing’ from the Australian y Research Centre for Applied Anatomy. Research Council in the fields of Ecology, Alpine Ecology Zoology, Plant Biology, Physiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, y Mallee Regional Innovation Centre Crop and Pasture Production, Genetics, Soil (MRIC)(a joint venture with The Science, and Veterinary Science, and rated University of Melbourne) as ‘4 - above world standing’ in Ecological y La Trobe Institute of Agriculture Applications. and Food (LIAF) The School research environment is y ARC ITRH (Industry Transformation dynamic and growing, with several major Research Hub) for Medicinal Agriculture research centre initiatives being launched y ARC CoE (Centre of Excellence) in the past two years: Plant Energy Biology y Centre for Livestock Interactions with Pathogens (CLiP) y Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease (collaboration with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute) SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES - LA TROBE UNIVERSITY 5 Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution The Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution consists of 30 continuing and fixed-term academic staff, including one ARC Future Fellow, one ARC DECRA Fellow and six Postdoctoral and Research Fellows. The Department has a dynamic higher degree by research program that reflects the disciplinary interests of the staff. We are currently training 60 PhD students and 20 Honours (4th year Research) students from Australia and overseas. Staff and postgraduate students work in a range of environments 'from the sea to the mountains', including arid and semi-arid deserts and woodlands, alpine and subalpine landscapes, grasslands, tall wet forests and rainforests, and marine and freshwater habitats. We teach >3000 undergraduate students enrolled in 32 subjects. The Department maintains a diverse The Department's research environment portfolio of research programs is dynamic and growing, and includes Our courses include: encompassing the full range from several major Research Centres: • Bachelor Biological Sciences fundamental to highly applied, with particular • Bachelor of Wildlife and strengths in terrestrial ecology y Research Centre for Applied Conservation Biology encompassing plant and animal ecology, Alpine Ecology landscape ecology, conservation, ecological • Bachelor of Science y Research Centre for Future Landscapes genetics, invasion biology and fire ecology • Bachelor of Agriculture (collaboration with the Arthur Rylah • Bachelor of Animal & Veterinary and management (https:// Institute of DELWP) Biosciences www.latrobe.edu.au/ecology-environment- evolution). y Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems We also maintain close relationships with (formerly the Murray-Darling Freshwater external research partners in state, federal Members of the Department are also key Research Centre) and non-government agencies. contributors to La Trobe’s new Research Themes (five cross-disciplinary research Research carried out in the Department is areas
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