Jessica is a scientist, lecturer, interdisciplinary researcher & grant specialist. Jess was awarded her PhD in 2016 from the University of Technology Sydney which explored Natural Populations of Microbial Communities on Coral Reefs. Her research focused on using molecular tools to assess climate change and bacterial-driven coral bleaching events, and the role of bacterial behaviour in structuring coral & sponge relationships using novel in-situ experiments & sampling techniques on the Great Barrier Reef & Red Sea. Before commencing at CSU, Jess previously worked as a microbiologist in industry, a research officer in government, and as an independent research consultant & grant specialist in Indigenous communities. Jess is currently a sessional lecturer and subject-coordinator in the School of Environmental Sciences & research officer in the Environmental & Social Justice Research Group (Faculty of Arts & Education). As an interdisciplinary researcher, Jess’ skills and expertise have the potential to be more powerful as a collective than they are separately and she looks forward to contributing to future work where these skills and expertise align.

• Marine science: microbial ecology & molecular biology
• Environmental science and ecology
• Socio-economic research: modelling of industry sectors, regions and communities
• Community consultation & engagement
• Working alongside Indigenous communities to develop community-led engagement strategies, including program design, development and delivery