A/Prof Rachael Dudaniec
My lab investigates how micro-evolutionary changes at the molecular level result in macro-ecological patterns, and how landscape and climatic features affect this. This involves looking at how developed landscapes and deforestation influence gene flow, how a changing climate affects adaptability of species that are expanding their ranges, or how parasites shape the behaviour and evolution of species. My lab aims to produce results that can inform conservation or applied evolutionary outcomes, by providing tools supported by field data at ecological and molecular levels. We use a combination of genomic sequencing data, landscape data and eco-evolutionary models to answer pressing questions about how humans are shaping biodiversity and species' responses to changing environments.
Teaching
I have convened and lecture in BIOL2110 'Genetics' (2nd year), and ENVS8407 'Field Methods in Environmental Science' and teach in to the following units: BIOL8750 ('Contemporary Conservation in Australia'), BIOL3420 ('Biodiversity and Conservation'), BIOL8610.).
Current position
Associate Professor (2025-current)
Australian Research Council Future Fellow (FT23: 2024-2028)
School of Natural Sciences
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
2018-2024
Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences:
School of Natural Sciences
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
2015-2017
Lecturer in Biological Sciences
School of Natural Sciences
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
Postdoctoral Research positions
2013-2015 Marie Curie Postdoctoral Researcher (funding: MC-IIF)
Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
2011 –2012 Postdoctoral Researcher (funding: ARC Linkage)
School of GPEM, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2008-2011 Postdoctoral Researcher (funding: BC Government Forest Science Program)
Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Education
2005-2008 PhD in Ecology and Evolution
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
2004 Honours in Biology (First Class)
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
2001-2003 Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation
Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
Sarah Derrien (PhD candidate: 2025-present)
Sarah is completing her PhD as a cotutelle student between Macquarie University and the University of St Andrews (Scotland) with primary supervisors Rachael Dudaniec (MQ) and Oscar Gaggiotti (St Andrews). Sarah has a Master's degree in ecology and evolutionary ecology from the University of Rennes and a diploma of "ingenieur agronome from L'institut Agro Rennes in France. Sarah's PhD project investigates the landscape genomics of Bombus terrestris across it's invasive and native ranges, with and without the impacts of Varroa mite, across Tasmania (Australia, Varroa free, invasive), New Zealand (Varroa impacted, invasive) and the United Kingdom (native, Varroa impacted). Sarah's project employs whole genome sequencing and selection detection approaches with environmental data to answer questions about how bee health ( e.g. viral prevalence) and the landscape interact to influence local adaptation in pollinators. This project is funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC Future Fellowship to R Dudaniec). Contact: [email protected]
Matthew Wallace (PhD candidate: 2024- present)
Matthew is completing his PhD with guidance from Rachael Dudaniec as his primary supervisor and adjunct supervisor Emily Remnant from the University of Sydney. Matthew previously completed his Masters in Parasitology at Queen's University Belfast assessing transmission dynamics of honeybee viruses, deformed wing virus and black queen cell virus, within honeybees and bumblebees across the flight season. This research is supported by the Australian Research Council. Matthew’s project investigates how the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and environmental conditions affect the health of honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). His research spans bee populations in the UK, New Zealand, and Tasmania, using virome and microbiome comparisons to explore the impact of Varroa and nutrition on bee health. The project addresses key questions around viral spillover, microbiome diversity, invasion history, and environmental drivers of pollinator health, with the aim of informing management strategies in regions affected by Varroa. Contact: [email protected].
Abbie Hay (PhD candidate: 2023- present)
Abbie is a PhD student with Rachael Dudaniec as primary supervisor, Sally Potter as associate supervisor, and Sonia Kleindorfer (Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austria) as adjunct supervisor. Abbie’s PhD research is funded by The Austrian Science Foundation (awarded to Dudaniec and Kleindorfer). Her project is using Whole Genome Sequencing and phenotypic data to investigate evolutionary processes occurring through invasion of the introduced parasitic fly Philornis downsi across the replicated island system of the Galápagos Islands. The results of Abbie’s research will help to inform important questions in the management of a high-risk parasite which remains an urgent extinction threat to Darwin’s Finches. Prior to this, Abbie completed her Honours research with the Molecular Ecology Lab at Flinders University (MELFU) which assessed the relative contributions of spatial and environmental factors driving evolutionary divergence of the Amazonian characin fish Triportheus albus. Contact: [email protected].
Lachlan McRae (PhD candidate: 2023-present)
Lachlan is a PhD student supervised by Caragh Threlfall, co-supervised by Rachael Dudaniec, Brad Law and and Chad Beranek. Lachlan's project is investigating the conservation genetics and ecology of the Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), and the Eastern Cave Bat (Vespadelus troughtoni),
Savana Raven Carroll (Masters of Research: 2025)
Savana is a Masters of Research student supervised by Emily Ens (MQ), co-supervised by Rachael Dudaniec, Monika Fahey and Maurizio Rozetto.Savana and is investigating the population genomics and biocultural use and significance of Long Yam (Discorea transversa), working with Indigenous communities in north-eastern Arnhem land and in New South Wales.
Abbie is a PhD student with Rachael Dudaniec as primary supervisor, Sally Potter as associate supervisor, and Sonia Kleindorfer (Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austria) as adjunct supervisor. Abbie’s PhD research is funded by The Austrian Science Foundation (awarded to Dudaniec and Kleindorfer). Her project is using Whole Genome Sequencing and phenotypic data to investigate evolutionary processes occurring through invasion of the introduced parasitic fly Philornis downsi across the replicated island system of the Galápagos Islands. The results of Abbie’s research will help to inform important questions in the management of a high-risk parasite which remains an urgent extinction threat to Darwin’s Finches. Prior to this, Abbie completed her Honours research with the Molecular Ecology Lab at Flinders University (MELFU) which assessed the relative contributions of spatial and environmental factors driving evolutionary divergence of the Amazonian characin fish Triportheus albus. Contact: [email protected].
Lachlan McRae (PhD candidate: 2023-present)
Lachlan is a PhD student supervised by Caragh Threlfall, co-supervised by Rachael Dudaniec, Brad Law and and Chad Beranek. Lachlan's project is investigating the conservation genetics and ecology of the Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), and the Eastern Cave Bat (Vespadelus troughtoni),
Savana Raven Carroll (Masters of Research: 2025)
Savana is a Masters of Research student supervised by Emily Ens (MQ), co-supervised by Rachael Dudaniec, Monika Fahey and Maurizio Rozetto.Savana and is investigating the population genomics and biocultural use and significance of Long Yam (Discorea transversa), working with Indigenous communities in north-eastern Arnhem land and in New South Wales.
Former lab members
Sabrina Haque (PhD candidate: 2022-2025)
Sabrina completed her PhD in June 2025 with Dr Rachael Dudaniec as her primary supervisor and Dr Fleur Ponton as her associate supervisor. Prior to this, Sabrina completed her MSc (Research) in Professor Rick Cavicchioli’s group at UNSW-Sydney, where she analysed metagenomes of previously under-studied lakes in the Vestfold Hills of East Antarctica. Sabrina’s PhD research focused on pollinator-pathogen associations with nutrition and environment across the extent of Tasmania, Australia. By undertaking a suite of genomic approaches to assess bee health in Australia (e.g. microbiome, virome, pollenbiome), Sabrina answered critical questions regarding bee health (i.e. in bumblebees, Bombus terrestris versus honeybees, Apis mellifera) and evolution, essential for managing biosecurity risks to pollination services. Thus, Sabrina’s PhD project contributes towards Australia’s capacity for disease surveillance, including live bee imports and invasive bees. This project was funded by an ARC Future Fellowship (to R Dudaniec, from 03/24 onwards) and by a Macquarie University Research Acceleration grant to R Dudaniec. Sabrina is now a post-doctoral researcher in the Freshwater Ecology lab (Grant Hose) at Macquarie University. Contact: [email protected]
Sabrina completed her PhD in June 2025 with Dr Rachael Dudaniec as her primary supervisor and Dr Fleur Ponton as her associate supervisor. Prior to this, Sabrina completed her MSc (Research) in Professor Rick Cavicchioli’s group at UNSW-Sydney, where she analysed metagenomes of previously under-studied lakes in the Vestfold Hills of East Antarctica. Sabrina’s PhD research focused on pollinator-pathogen associations with nutrition and environment across the extent of Tasmania, Australia. By undertaking a suite of genomic approaches to assess bee health in Australia (e.g. microbiome, virome, pollenbiome), Sabrina answered critical questions regarding bee health (i.e. in bumblebees, Bombus terrestris versus honeybees, Apis mellifera) and evolution, essential for managing biosecurity risks to pollination services. Thus, Sabrina’s PhD project contributes towards Australia’s capacity for disease surveillance, including live bee imports and invasive bees. This project was funded by an ARC Future Fellowship (to R Dudaniec, from 03/24 onwards) and by a Macquarie University Research Acceleration grant to R Dudaniec. Sabrina is now a post-doctoral researcher in the Freshwater Ecology lab (Grant Hose) at Macquarie University. Contact: [email protected]
Bridget Campbell (PhD candidate: 2021-2024)
Bridget completed her PhD in the School of Natural Sciences at MQ, with primary supervisor Dr Emilie Ens (co-supervisor Rachael Dudaniec) . Prior this this Bridget completed her Masters of Research with Dr Emilie Ens on cross-cultural conservation with Indigenous communities in Arnhem land, Her PhD work continued this important work with the project including landscape genomic analysis of culturally significant reptile species sampled by indigenous communities within Arnhem land. Prior to her graduate studies, Bridget worked in the Dudaniec Lab as a field and lab assistant for research on the pest grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum and 2) the damselfly Ischnura heterosticta in New South Wales and QLD to answer questions about how populations sizes and phenotypic variation covary with environmental conditions. Contact: [email protected]
Bridget completed her PhD in the School of Natural Sciences at MQ, with primary supervisor Dr Emilie Ens (co-supervisor Rachael Dudaniec) . Prior this this Bridget completed her Masters of Research with Dr Emilie Ens on cross-cultural conservation with Indigenous communities in Arnhem land, Her PhD work continued this important work with the project including landscape genomic analysis of culturally significant reptile species sampled by indigenous communities within Arnhem land. Prior to her graduate studies, Bridget worked in the Dudaniec Lab as a field and lab assistant for research on the pest grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum and 2) the damselfly Ischnura heterosticta in New South Wales and QLD to answer questions about how populations sizes and phenotypic variation covary with environmental conditions. Contact: [email protected]
Cecillia Hjort (PhD candidate -Joint PhD program: 2019-2024)
Cecillia (Cilla) completed a Joint PhD at Lund University in Sweden (Biology Department) and Macquarie University, supervised by Prof Henrik Smith and Rachael Dudaniec. Cilla used Whole Genome Sequencing data and RADseq data of European bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, to examine population and landscape genetic structure of bumblebees in southern Sweden with a comparison in Tasmania, Australia. In Sweden Cilla examined hybridisation between commercially released and native B. terrestris and landscape genomic relationships. In Tasmania (Australia) B. terrestris is invasive, and Cilla examined patterns of local adaptation and landscape genetic connectivity to help understand potential invasion pathways of bumblebees elsewhere within Australia. Contact: [email protected]
Cecillia (Cilla) completed a Joint PhD at Lund University in Sweden (Biology Department) and Macquarie University, supervised by Prof Henrik Smith and Rachael Dudaniec. Cilla used Whole Genome Sequencing data and RADseq data of European bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, to examine population and landscape genetic structure of bumblebees in southern Sweden with a comparison in Tasmania, Australia. In Sweden Cilla examined hybridisation between commercially released and native B. terrestris and landscape genomic relationships. In Tasmania (Australia) B. terrestris is invasive, and Cilla examined patterns of local adaptation and landscape genetic connectivity to help understand potential invasion pathways of bumblebees elsewhere within Australia. Contact: [email protected]
Dylan Geraghty (Masters of Research 2023)
Dylan conducted his Masters with Jaco Le Roux as his primary supervisor and Rachael Dudaniec as associate supervisor and Scott Carroll (University of Davis, CA) as adjunct supervisor. His project is funded by an ARC Discovery Project (awarded to Le Roux, Dudaniec and Carroll) and aimed to assess, via experimental evolution and genomics, whether the native soapberry bug (Leptocoris tagalicus) can be artificially selected to feed more efficiently on its invasive weed host, the balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum and C. halicacubum). His project takes place along the east coast of Australia (from Sydney to QLD) and in the Northern Territory. The project has implications for the use and development of native biocontrol agents to manage invasive and problematic weeds in Australia. A suite of breeding experiments, RAD-seq, morphological and nutritional variables are being applied to the system to test for genetic divergence between host plants, native versus invasive host plant fitness and selection for bug beak length - the limiting factor that enables efficient feeding on balloon vine seeds.
Dylan conducted his Masters with Jaco Le Roux as his primary supervisor and Rachael Dudaniec as associate supervisor and Scott Carroll (University of Davis, CA) as adjunct supervisor. His project is funded by an ARC Discovery Project (awarded to Le Roux, Dudaniec and Carroll) and aimed to assess, via experimental evolution and genomics, whether the native soapberry bug (Leptocoris tagalicus) can be artificially selected to feed more efficiently on its invasive weed host, the balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum and C. halicacubum). His project takes place along the east coast of Australia (from Sydney to QLD) and in the Northern Territory. The project has implications for the use and development of native biocontrol agents to manage invasive and problematic weeds in Australia. A suite of breeding experiments, RAD-seq, morphological and nutritional variables are being applied to the system to test for genetic divergence between host plants, native versus invasive host plant fitness and selection for bug beak length - the limiting factor that enables efficient feeding on balloon vine seeds.
Mateo Carol Villavedra (Masters of Research -2022)
Mateo's Masters of Research project (co-supervised by A//Prof Linda Beaumont) investigatedthe morphological and genetic responses of the Swordgrass Brown Butterfly, Tisiphone abeona, to climate variability across geographic and temporal scales. This project used T. abeona specimens captured from 1910 to the present,to assess shifts in morphological and genetic variation. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data from 94 contemporary specimens will be be used to investigate genetic structure and landscape genetic connectivity and associations with morphology.The results of this study will contribute to the growing field of understanding evolutionary responses to climate change, particularly in highly sensitive insect tax. Mateo will continue his research as a PhD candidate in 2024.
Mateo's Masters of Research project (co-supervised by A//Prof Linda Beaumont) investigatedthe morphological and genetic responses of the Swordgrass Brown Butterfly, Tisiphone abeona, to climate variability across geographic and temporal scales. This project used T. abeona specimens captured from 1910 to the present,to assess shifts in morphological and genetic variation. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data from 94 contemporary specimens will be be used to investigate genetic structure and landscape genetic connectivity and associations with morphology.The results of this study will contribute to the growing field of understanding evolutionary responses to climate change, particularly in highly sensitive insect tax. Mateo will continue his research as a PhD candidate in 2024.
Lauren Common (PhD candidate -2020-2023)
Lauren completed her PhD at Flinders University (South Australia) jointly supervised by Rachael Dudaniec and Sonia Kleindorfer (Flinders University, and Konrad Lorenz Insitute, Austria). Lauren investigated the behaviour and population genomics of the introduced avian parasite to the Galapagos Islands, Philornis downsi. Lauren examined fitness costs of Philornis parasitism in Darwin's finches, changes in host-parasite interactions, and is answering questions about the fly's biology using genomic data (relatedness, dispersal and local adaptation) collected across islands of the Galapagos. Lauren is now a post-doctoral researcher based at the University of Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Institute and continues to work on the Galapagos system and other avian taxa: Contact: [email protected]
Lauren completed her PhD at Flinders University (South Australia) jointly supervised by Rachael Dudaniec and Sonia Kleindorfer (Flinders University, and Konrad Lorenz Insitute, Austria). Lauren investigated the behaviour and population genomics of the introduced avian parasite to the Galapagos Islands, Philornis downsi. Lauren examined fitness costs of Philornis parasitism in Darwin's finches, changes in host-parasite interactions, and is answering questions about the fly's biology using genomic data (relatedness, dispersal and local adaptation) collected across islands of the Galapagos. Lauren is now a post-doctoral researcher based at the University of Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Institute and continues to work on the Galapagos system and other avian taxa: Contact: [email protected]
Nusrat Jahan Sanzida (Masters of Research 2021-2022)
Nusrat completed her thesis in March 2022. Her research investigated how macroinvertebrate communities respond to fire in Blue Mountains swamps, specifically Springtails (Collembola). With sampling of springtails before and after fire the 2020 bushfires that ravaged Australia, Nusrat used a barcoding approach to characterise springtail diversity and assess if this taxon may function as a bioindicator of swamp fire recovery. This project is a part of a NSW Saving Our Species and NSW Environmental Trust funded research program (led by Rachael Dudaniec).
Nusrat completed her thesis in March 2022. Her research investigated how macroinvertebrate communities respond to fire in Blue Mountains swamps, specifically Springtails (Collembola). With sampling of springtails before and after fire the 2020 bushfires that ravaged Australia, Nusrat used a barcoding approach to characterise springtail diversity and assess if this taxon may function as a bioindicator of swamp fire recovery. This project is a part of a NSW Saving Our Species and NSW Environmental Trust funded research program (led by Rachael Dudaniec).
Natalie Hejl (née Caulfield) (Maters of Research 2019)
Natalie completed her Masters research in 2019) on ‘Characterising swamp biodiversity and community structure with environmental DNA’, supervised by Anthony Chariton and Rachael Dudaniec. For her project she examined the impacts of the 2019-2020 bushfires on swamp recovery (with supervisors Anthony Chariton and Adam Stow) within the Sydney Basin Bioregion (Blue Mountains and Upper Nepean regions) and used eDNA metabarcoding techniques to investigate the functional biodiversity and structure found in these environments. This project was a part of a NSW Saving Our Species and NSW Environmental Trust funded research program. Contact: [email protected]
Natalie completed her Masters research in 2019) on ‘Characterising swamp biodiversity and community structure with environmental DNA’, supervised by Anthony Chariton and Rachael Dudaniec. For her project she examined the impacts of the 2019-2020 bushfires on swamp recovery (with supervisors Anthony Chariton and Adam Stow) within the Sydney Basin Bioregion (Blue Mountains and Upper Nepean regions) and used eDNA metabarcoding techniques to investigate the functional biodiversity and structure found in these environments. This project was a part of a NSW Saving Our Species and NSW Environmental Trust funded research program. Contact: [email protected]
Sonu Yadav (PhD graduate: 2017-2020)
Project title: 'Drivers of landscape genetic patterns and environmental adaptation in Australian grasshoppers'
Sonu completed her PhD in August 2019 , supervised by Rachael Dudaniec and Adam Stow. She investigated the role of genetic adaptation, landscape connectivity and environmental variables in determining species’ ranges and phenotypic traits along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients using genomic data. Here study species were the wingless grasshopper (Phaulacridium vittatum) and grasshoppers of the genus Koscioscola in the Australian Alps (Thredbo, Guthega and Jagungal). Sonu is now Principal Molecular Scientist with the Northern Territory Government in Darwin working on invasive pests and diseases of agricultural concern. Contact: [email protected]
Project title: 'Drivers of landscape genetic patterns and environmental adaptation in Australian grasshoppers'
Sonu completed her PhD in August 2019 , supervised by Rachael Dudaniec and Adam Stow. She investigated the role of genetic adaptation, landscape connectivity and environmental variables in determining species’ ranges and phenotypic traits along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients using genomic data. Here study species were the wingless grasshopper (Phaulacridium vittatum) and grasshoppers of the genus Koscioscola in the Australian Alps (Thredbo, Guthega and Jagungal). Sonu is now Principal Molecular Scientist with the Northern Territory Government in Darwin working on invasive pests and diseases of agricultural concern. Contact: [email protected]
Chuan Ji Yong (Masters of Research 2019)
CJ completed his Masters research on genomic adaptation in Ischnura elegans in mid 2019 under supervision by Rachael Dudaniec and co-supervision of international collaborators Lesley Lancaster (University of Aberdeen), Bengt Hansson, and Erik Svensson (Lund University). CJ investigated genome wide signatures of selection according to the sex chromosomes of the range expanding damselfly in Sweden, Ischnura elegans.
CJ completed his Masters research on genomic adaptation in Ischnura elegans in mid 2019 under supervision by Rachael Dudaniec and co-supervision of international collaborators Lesley Lancaster (University of Aberdeen), Bengt Hansson, and Erik Svensson (Lund University). CJ investigated genome wide signatures of selection according to the sex chromosomes of the range expanding damselfly in Sweden, Ischnura elegans.
Alex Carey (Masters of Research: 2017)
Alex completed his Masters of Research thesis in November 2018 on the landscape genetics of range expanding damselfly, Ischnura elegans, in Sweden to untangle how neutral genetic variation is structured by climate and landscape variables during range expansion, how this differs between the sexes, and how this affects morphological variation and local adaptation
Alex completed his Masters of Research thesis in November 2018 on the landscape genetics of range expanding damselfly, Ischnura elegans, in Sweden to untangle how neutral genetic variation is structured by climate and landscape variables during range expansion, how this differs between the sexes, and how this affects morphological variation and local adaptation
