Museomics • Epigenetics • Conservation
I use molecular data to investigate how wildlife responds to current and historical environmental change. I am a Research Scientist at the Australian National Wildlife Collection (CSIRO) where I am developing new techniques to extract molecular information from unexpected places. I am leading projects designing platforms to capture airborne environmental DNA and I advise on a number of projects using approaches I have developed to extract historical gene expression information from century-old museum specimens preserved in formalin.
Recent News
- Step-by-step museum DNA recovery
Knowing how to extract DNA from formalin-preserved specimens in one thing but how do you select which ones to use? In my team’s new step-by-step protocol, we walk you through vetting specimens for destructive sampling, extracting DNA and preparing for sequencing. Check it out in our new publication in PLOS ONE, linked to our protocols.io… Read More »Step-by-step museum DNA recovery - On the cover – Museum Genomics
This gorgeous saltwater croc from CSIRO’s Australian National Wildlife Collection has had a busy few decades. It was preserved in spirit with formalin in 1973. In 2018, it became part of my team’s first ever successful whole genome sequencing from formalin-preserved museum specimens. In 2022, it graced the cover of Molecular Ecology Resources. Catch our ground-breaking… Read More »On the cover – Museum Genomics - Would you like to time travel?
Join me for the STELR Project’s Role Model Series where I talk about my job as a Conservation Geneticist and my journey into a STEM career. - Conservation in the Conversation
Read my recent contribution to the Conversation describing the hidden treasures my team at the Australian National Wildlife Collection is uncovering from museum specimens. We’re turning the formalin-fixation problem on it’s head by chiseling DNA out of specimens that have long been thought to be devoid of DNA. We can then use the historical genomic… Read More »Conservation in the Conversation - Formalin got you fixed? Our new study paves the way for genomic sequencing of formalin-preserved museum specimens.
Formalin-fixed specimens are no longer inaccessible for WGS thanks to our new specimen vetting & sequencing approach.
AirDNA abstracts closing soon!
Calling all airDNA researchers! Join us for a 2-day airDNA intensive workshop
June 3 & 4 in Canberra, AUS
Register now – http://tinyurl.com/sednas
ABSTRACTS due 12 April!
Interested in palaeo & #ancientDNA. I’m advertising a 3 yr @MarsdenFund postdoc @Zoology_Otago disentangling competing sources of morphological variation in #fossil record of geckos & skinks from #NewZealand & #NewCaledonia. Apply here (https://otago.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=2301977) #FossilFriday 1/2
@treeshrew13 @erin_e_hahn @mralexandervir We have had success with the HA and other methods up to 117 years old. For context, check out our pre-print for the next paper that is currently in review:
📢Hot off the presses, my team’s step-by-step bench protocol for selecting and processing formalin-fixed museum specimens for gDNA extraction and WGS!
#PLOSONE #museomics @HolleleyClare @mralexandervir
Join us tomorrow (12-1pm NZST) for a seminar by Dr Erin Hahn (@erin_e_hahn) of @CSIRO.
To RSVP: https://events.waikato.ac.nz/events/eri-seminar-series-conservation-time-machine-harnessing-degraded-dna-for-wildlife-protection