Research

The University of Melbourne is closely affiliated with scientific research within the School of Botany.

The Plant Biodiversity Research Group is a major research area in the School of Botany. It consists of three members of academic staff, postdoctorate staff, technical officer, herbarium curator, postgraduate students, volunteer and associate staff. Prof. Pauline Ladiges has developed an extensive research project on systematics and biogeography of Australian plants, especially Eucalyptus, using both traditional plant features and molecular methods of DNA analysis. Dr Gerry Kraft (Reader in Botany) is a leading authority on systematics of red algae. Many of his research papers are definitive works on the taxonomy of southern Australian temperate red algae. He and his students have compiled and outstanding collection of specimens of enormous research importance to the wider scientific community; this forms one of the specialist components of The Herbarium. Dr Andrew Drinnan (Associate Professor), integrates morphological information from living and fossil plants in systematic and evolutionary studies. Postgraduate students and honours student undertake research projects in all of these field of systematic and evolutionary botany.

Research Associates are affiliated with this group, and carry out a substantial component of their work in conjunction with the Herbarium. Dr Sophie Ducker (Associate, School of Botany) contributed substantially to the algal collection during her tenure and is now actively researching the early history of botanical exploration in Australia. Dr Ian Thompson  (Associate, School of Botany) is currently working on Asteraceae but has expertise in Brassicaceae and Fabaceae. David Meagher  (Associate, School of Botany) is volunteering to collate and update the bryophyte collection while publishing a book titled 'Field Guide to Wilson's Promontory'.  He is also undertaking a M.Sc. on liverworts.