Drew completed his PhD in the Woodrow Plant Physiology Lab in 2006, studying the mechanism of essential oil biosynthesis in blue mallee.  This eucalypt has relatively high foliar oil content, with some individuals exceeding 7% fresh weight.  The discovery of these exceptional oil producing individuals has, in fact, been extremely important in underpinning new clonal plantations of blue mallees for commercial essential oil production.  Drew has now changed tack somewhat, working on the use of eucalypts in rehabilitating mine sites.  He is working in collaboration with Alan Baker (Botany) and Spas Kolev (Chemistry).