Associate Pr. Mark Ooi
Mark leads the TRE team and is a Scientia Associate Professor based at the Centre for Ecosystem Science in the School of BEES. He is interested in plant and fire ecology and the conservation of threatened plant species. A lot of the work he and his group produces is focused on plant demographic processes and investigating methods for applied ecological conservation. More broadly, many of the Group’s projects are primarily aimed at trying to understand the impacts of changing fire regimes and climate. Through his research, Mark has developed strong collaborative links with government and conservation agencies, and communicates his research findings to on-ground managers and the broader community.
For further information about Dr Mark Ooi please see his research page:Â
Dr. Tom Le Breton
Tom is a Research Associate at the Center for Ecosystem Science, in the School of BEES. He completed his PhD with the TRE team in 2023 on the consequences of changing fire regimes for threatened plant species and vegetation and is involved in ongoing projects on Critically Endangered species and ecosystems. Tom’s research interests include plant conservation and fire ecology, with a focus on using plant ecology to support conservation and policy development. In his current role, Tom is working on fire management of threatened ecological communities.
Dr. Chantelle Doyle
Chantelle is a Research Associate within the TRE team based at the Centre for Ecosystem Science in the School of BEES. Chantelle enjoys working across all aspects of threatened plant conservation, exploring breeding systems, reproductive sterility, germination ecology, and how to restore functioning translocated populations. Through this work Chantelle works closely with local land managers as well as community groups, industry and government.Â
As well Chantelle is interested in communication and qualitative or social sciences. She is particularly focused on conservation practitioners’ experiences and how to craft stories that resonate with both the scientific and non-scientific community.
Dr. Ryan Tangney
Ryan works across the forested areas of Western Australia while actively collaborating with the Centre for Ecosystem Science in the School of BEES. His interests intersect seed biology and fire ecology with a specific focus on post-fire recruitment and recovery of threatened species and ecosystems. Ryan takes a trait-based approach to a lot of his work, with an aim to understand mechanisms and processes that shape plant populations in response to fire and fire regimes. Ryan currently works for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation employed on the Western Australian Forest Management Plan 2024-2033
Dr. Jana Stewart
Jana is a research associate with the TRE team based at the Centre for Ecosystem Science in the School of BEES. She is passionate about soil biology and ecology, specifically soil microbial communities, and how this impacts ecosystem function and health. Her research has focused on biological inputs to soil and how this can be used to improve restoration and conservation, using a range of techniques from traditional field and glasshouse experiments to environmental DNA and drone imagery. Jana’s work with the TRE team focuses on how soil microbial
Sarah Mclnnes
Sarah is a PhD candidate who recently submitted her thesis in the TRE team based at the Centre for Ecosystem Science, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney. Her research applies molecular techniques to seed and fire ecology to explore the fundamental mechanisms plant seeds use to persist during the extreme heat of a bushfire. Specifically, she works on the gene expression of seeds after extreme heat shock and how seed fire response traits are shaped by diverse fire regimes across Australia. Outside of research, Sarah communicates her work to the broader public through science communication initiatives such as Pint of Science and National Science Week, which she has been involved in for multiple years. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Chemistry/Ecology; Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Politics).
Ruby Paroissien
Ruby’s is completing a PhD in fire ecology with the TRE team at the Centre for Ecosystem Science, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney. Her PhD investigates the impacts of altered fire regimes, specifically increasing fire severity on threatened wet sclerophyll forest. Her experience in seed research, and work at the Australian Seedbank is integral to her research. Her previous research has focused on examining the impacts of changing fire season on the phenology of Doryanthes excelsa and investigating germination of Actinotus forsythii. Ruby holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Fine Arts bringing a unique multidisciplinary perspective to her research.regimes.
Mira Jordan
Mira is a PhD student working with Mark Ooi, Will Cornwell, Chantelle Doyle, and Jason Bragg. Their thesis looks at the conservation and research of plants that exist in remote or difficult to access location. This includes looking at the spatial bias in citizen science and herbarium records, the involvement of the outdoor adventure community in remote area citizen science and the creation of genetically province ex-situ collections. This research is in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and come out of Mira’s previous work at the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience and at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens.
Amy Smith
Amy is an Honours student in the TRE team at the Centre for Ecosystem Science in the School of BEES. Her research focuses on seed germination and genetic diversity in Lepidorrhachis mooreana, a threatened palm species on Lord Howe Island. She is interested in how native and threatened plant species respond to environmental change, especially in the context of climate and habitat fragmentation. Amy's work contributes to understanding species resilience and informing conservation efforts for range-restricted flora.
Kelvin Chong
Kelvin's research has focused on understanding the ecological impacts of climate-driven changes in wildfire behaviour, particularly how increasing fire temperatures influence soil heating and its effects on seed germination. This work aims to explore the thresholds and mechanisms through which fire cues trigger or inhibit germination. Currently, they are conducting a laboratory experiment that investigates the germination niches of Pimelea venosa, a critically endangered species endemic to Australia. This experiment will soon provide details into the conditions that facilitate optimal recruitment, which will be beneficial for future conservation and restoration strategies.
Natalie AllenÂ
Natalie is an honours student and student research assistant in the TRE team. She is passionate about the ecology and conservation of threatened native plants, with particular interest in seed and pollination ecology, and their relationship with plant population dynamics and restoration. Her honours project is focused on investigating the ecology of a critically endangered shrub species, Bossiaea fragrans. This includes examining its seed ecology, life history strategies linked to fire, breeding systems, and looking at the potential relationship between maternal climate and seed production and quality to ultimately support the informed management and conservation of the species.
