Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA
Applying marine genomics to transform ocean conservation
A partnership between
The Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA combines a joint Ocean Genomes Laboratory, an OceanOmics Laboratory, and a Computational Biology Program.
The OceanOmics program is advancing marine genomics and bioinformatics to combat threats to ocean health, through biodiversity monitoring programs.
OceanOmics staff will work alongside research and teaching staff primarily from the UWA School of Molecular Sciences, along with UWA Oceans Institute staff in the nearby IOMRC building.
MARINE EXPEDITIONS
Using eDNA, we can more accurately monitor life in the global ocean. With an initial focus on the continental Australian Commonwealth marine estate, the Pangaea Ocean Explorer has already embarked on nine voyages, enabling sample collection and onboard genomic analyses for population-scale monitoring of the health of Australia’s ocean wildlife.
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION
The OceanOmics program supports the goal of conserving 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030 by fostering novel methods for monitoring and combating threats to marine wildlife and ecosystems; quantifying the health status of current marine protected areas (MPAs); and assisting governments and management agencies in identifying new biodiversity hotspots and ecosystems in need of protection.
REFERENCE GENOMES
To characterise marine biodiversity based on eDNA, a library of references is needed. Snippets of DNA found in seawater can then be checked against this library to identify all the species present in the samples. Currently fewer than two per cent of the 20,000 known species of marine fish have had their genome sequenced. In collaboration with our global partners, the Ocean Genomes Laboratory is generating a publically accessible reference genomic resources for thousands of marine species, empowering conservation science.
Oceanomic CENTRE TEAM MEMBERS
Steve Burnell
OCEANOMICS DIRECTOR
Dr Steve Burnell leads Minderoo Foundation’s broader OceanOmics program. He has a PhD in marine ecology and extensive direct experience in long-term marine conservation programs and marine protected areas.
Steve has a particular passion for applying new technologies and financial models toward addressing the most pressing biodiversity and climate challenges facing our oceans.
Priscila Goncalves
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Dr Priscila Goncalves is a molecular ecologist with over 10 years of experience applying omics tools to characterise marine community structures and to understand the interplay between organisms and their environment.
Priscila leads the infrastructural and operational development of the OceanOmics program, including its onshore and offshore resources, capabilities & activities, while contributing to technical advancements in the marine eDNA space.
Richard Edwards
Laboratory Lead
Dr Rich Edwards is a geneticist, bioinformatician and evolutionary genomicist. He has worked with multiple research groups and consortia on genome sequencing and assembly projects across the Tree of Life.
Rich is an academic in the Oceans Institute, and Laboratory Lead for the Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA. He manages the technical team and works closely with Ocean Genomes to generate a comprehensive reference genome library of Australian marine vertebrates. Rich leads a research program developing novel approaches to maximise the quality and utility of genome assemblies.
Ibrahim Faseeh
Research Laboratory ManagerIbrahim has a strong background in quality assurance, operational management, and regulatory compliance within life science research.
His primary focus is to ensure the smooth operations of the Minderoo OceanOmics Centre laboratories by establishing a commitment to health and safety, resource management, and sustainability.
Emma de Jong
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Dr Emma de Jong is a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in bioinformatics, data science and systems biology.
Joining the Oceans Institute as a Research Fellow within the OceanOmics Centre, her research focuses on generating high-quality reference genomes for marine vertebrates and associated bioinformatic pipelines.
Lara Parata
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Dr Lara Parata is a marine scientist turned molecular ecologist. Her current research focuses on using high-throughput sequencing to better understand how stressors such as climate change impact the genomes of marine vertebrates.
As part of this research she will also be contributing to the generation of a reference genome library to support ocean-wide biodiversity monitoring and conservation biology.
Shannon Corrigan
MARINE VERTEBRATES RESEARCH OFFICER
Dr Shannon Corrigan is an empirical biologist that uses modern genomics approaches to pursue broad research interests that include the evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation of marine vertebrates, particularly chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fishes: sharks, rays, chimaeras).
Eric Raes
BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH OFFICER
Dr Eric Raes is a marine ecologist whose work integrates genomic workflows with large scale oceanographic and isotope data to trace changes in energy flow across the marine food web.
His current interests are focused on how eDNA and genomics observations can become standard tools for marine protected area and sustainable fisheries management.
Matt Fraser
BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH OFFICER
Dr Matthew Fraser is a marine ecologist with a focus on using novel approaches to help better understand and manage marine ecosystems. He has worked in collaborative teams that include environmental managers, Traditional Owners and industry stakeholders to inform more effective management of marine habitats and communities across WA.
Matthew’s current interests involve developing eDNA as an ecological monitoring tool and using omics techniques to help build resilience in our oceans.
Adrianne Doran
Scientific OfficerAdrianne Doran is a molecular biologist with a background in clinical genomics.
Joining the OceanOmics Centre, she will focus on driving high throughput whole genome sequencing using long-read and short-read sequencing technologies to construct high-quality reference genomes of marine vertebrates.
Marcelle Ayad
Research Assistant
Marcelle Ayad has a background in trophic and behavioural ecology focusing on landscape-scale effects of predator-prey interactions.
Her current interests are in developing and optimising field and laboratory techniques of environmental DNA to enhance marine monitoring and conservation.
Laura Missen
SCIENTIFIC OFFICERLaura Missen is a marine biologist and molecular ecologist with a background in phylogenetics and environmental DNA.
At the OceanOmics Centre, Laura will focus on driving the development and automation of laboratory techniques for eDNA metabarcoding of marine vertebrates.
Anna Depiazzi
TECHNICAL ASSISTANTAnna Depiazzi is a recent university graduate who majored in both conservation and wildlife biology, and animal health.
Anna has a great passion for preserving biodiversity and in studying the evolutionary history of species, particularly endemics. She is excited about the use of eDNA and the continuously improving gene technologies in these fields.
Sebastian Rauschert
BIOINFORMATICS RESEARCH OFFICER
Dr Sebastian Rauschert is a computational biologist and data scientist, with 8 years of extensive experience and expertise in analysing data across the omics spectrum, spanning metabolomic, epigenetic and genomic data.
His key expertise is in processing and analysing omics data sets and developing predictive models and software to extract meaningful insights from large and complex data sets.
Adam Bennett
Research AssistantAdam Bennett is a computer scientist and bioinformatician. He is working on the development of analytical software, tools and pipelines to analyse eDNA data for better measuring and understanding life in our ocean.
Lauren Huet
Bioinformatics Research OfficerLauren Huet is a marine biologist and bioinformatician with a background in species identification and phylogenomics. Lauren will be contributing to the generation of a high-quality reference genome library for marine vertebrates.
Her current interests are focused on exploring novel techniques for species identification and abundance estimates from eDNA samples.
Tyler Peirce
Bioinformatics Research OfficerTyler Peirce is a marine biologist and bioinformatician with a background in genetics and transcriptomics. Tyler joins the Ocean Institute as a Bioinformatic Research Officer contributing to the development of a high-quality reference genome library of marine vertebrates.
Georgia Nester
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Georgia Nester is a deep-sea postdoctoral researcher at the Minderoo Foundation. Her work uses eDNA to characterize biodiversity and monitor species in complex marine habitats. In her current role, she is interested in expanding the footprint of eDNA in the deep-sea and exploring novel methodologies and technological applications.
Philipp Bayer
AI RESEARCH OFFICER
Dr Philipp Bayer is a computational biologist focusing on machine-learning applied to answering complex genomics questions.
His current research focuses on novel analysis methods in eDNA research and scaling bioinformatics analyses within OceanOmics.
Anya Kardailsky
Research Analyst
Anya Kardailsky is a molecular geneticist with a background in studying eDNA in a variety of aquatic environments.
She is focusing on applying CRISPR-Cas technologies to improve marine eDNA monitoring accuracy and explore new methods of eDNA monitoring.
Liam Anstiss
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN
Liam Anstiss is a molecular scientist with a background in high throughput molecular diagnostics and environmental microbiology (biomining).
Joining the OceanOmics Centre, he will focus on optimisation of whole genome extraction workflows and sequencing to create reference genomes of marine vertebrates.
Sang Huynh
Research Technician
Dr. Sang Huynh is a molecular biologist with over 10 years of experience. He joins Minderoo OceanOmics Centre to contribute to the advancement of eDNA for exploring the biodiversity in the ocean.
Dr. Huynh obtained PhD degree in 2023 and MAgSc degree in 2018 from the University of Western Australia, WA, Australia, and BBioTech degree from Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam in 2011.
Jessica Pearce
PhD Candidate
Jess is a PhD student specialising in molecular ecology. Her thesis focuses on utilising omics tools for the conservation and management of shark species, specifically the tiger shark, including the creation of a reference genome, population genomics, and development of novel methods to track individuals with eDNA.
Jamie Botting
MSc Candidate
Jamie Botting is a Master of Bioinformatics Student with a background in molecular biology and forensics. Her project is focused on analysing the copy number of genes in high-quality reference genomes to assess and curate multi-gene families.
Explore with us
Looking to join our team? Over the coming years, there will be opportunities and scholarships for PhD students as well as positions for professional and academic staff.
The OceanOmics Centre is multidisciplinary and welcomes new research collaborations. Join the Oceans Institute community to stay up to date with opportunities like this and more.
Reach out to us at [email protected]