Snakes, Stingers, & Amazing Adaptations (ISL Supported)

Large, long-lived mammals should have high rates of cancer. However, they have evolved effective anti-cancer mechanisms to combat this risk. We are currently exploring what these mechanisms are.

Ever wondered why the males and females of some bird species have widely different colours? Or why some snakes look more dangerous than others? Fear not! Learn all about my research on Sexual Dichromatism in Birds and Aposematism (or warning colours) in Snakes! Do life history traits and/or ecological traits influence Dichromatism in Birds? Are colourful Snakes more likely to have fast acting painful bites? All these questions (and more!) will be answered as I talk all about my exciting research!

Algae are a fascinating group of diverse organisms, some of which have been part of human culture since ancient times. Today, algae play a key role in enabling sustainable biotechnologies for the health of people and our planet.

In some parts of the world, stepping outside is a dangerous prospect due to venomous snakes, spiders or scorpions. Over 3,250 die from scorpions annually for example. Not every bite/sting is fatal but can leave you with life altering conditions or infections that can be fatal. My work seeks to understand the association and risks of infections by bacteria within scorpions during stings. What bacteria lives in scorpions and how I can use that information to aid in search of new antibiotics.