Our people

Dr Prue Francis is a senior lecturer in Marine Science at Deakin, specialising in seaweed ecology, sustainable cultivation, and kelp forest restoration, with a strong focus on the Great Southern Reef. A ‘Superstar of STEM’, Prue is a passionate science communicator who integrates research and ocean literacy to advance marine conservation and public engagement.

Associate Professor Craig Sherman leads the EcoGenetics Lab, and is an expert in the field of evolutionary biology and ecology of natural populations. His 20-year career spans marine and terrestrial species, answering fundamental and applied questions about ecosystem restoration, biosecurity and population genomics.

Dr Kay Critchell is a lecturer in oceanographer who leads the Biophysical and Spatial Modelling Group. At the interface of physics and biology, her research is fundamental to understanding the processes involved in the distribution of organisms and pollutants with applications from environmental management to fisheries. 

Dr Mary Young is a lecturer in coastal and marine science who works across diverse marine species and ecosystems to investigate broad-scale patterns in seascape ecology, species distributions, and population connectivity. Her research explores the environmental drivers of marine processes, providing critical insights into the impacts of climate change and informing the prioritisation of marine restoration efforts.

Professor Timothy Clark leads the Physiological Ecology and Environmental Change Laboratory. Tim’s research provides valuable insights into the resilience of aquatic species to environmental change and the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture through physiological and behavioural studies and electronic technologies.

Dr Samantha Sherman is a senior lecturer in fisheries who specialises in shark and ray ecology and population monitoring, as well as broader marine ecology and fisheries management. A leading expert in shark and ray research, she is head of the Movement, Ecology and Management of Elasmobranchs Lab.

Dr Ty Matthews is a senior lecturer at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences who studies the importance of hydrological regimes for aquatic biota across freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems. His work tends to focus on macroinvertebrates and fish and contributes to a valuable understanding of the ecological importance of aquatic refuges in response to cycles of drying and flooding.

Professor David Francis leads the Nutrition and Seafood Laboratory. His team investigates the biology and nutrition of larval, crustacean and finfish species, alongside the development of aquaculture feeds and sustainable farming techniques. They are at the forefront of making and testing feeds for the Australian aquaculture industry.