UWA Research on the Record

Research on the Record - Episode 9 - Dr Kelsey Pool

Dr Kelsey Pool is a post- doctoral research associate with UWA’s School of Agriculture and Environment.
Under the Lefroy Fellowship, Kelsey’s focus is on animal reproduction, in particular working with industry producers to investigate clover disease, which causes infertility in sheep. It’s very much hands-on research that sees her dividing her time between farm and lab.

Research on the Record - Episode 8 - Dr Mehwish Nasim

Mehwish Nasim’s research focuses on information warfare - particularly as it is waged though social media, developing new tools to detect fake news and misinformation and limit their spread. 
Her approach combines methods from several fields, from computer science, network analysis and natural language processing, to social sciences and psychology.

Research on the Record - Episode 7 - Professor Amanda Davies

Professor Davies’ research focuses on population growth, distribution and patterns of demographic change in Australia. She works closely with government and industry to inform policy and is currently principal investigator on several major projects.
All this while undertaking other teaching duties at the university, including supervising PhD candidates she also happens to be the youngest person to be appointed as a full professor of Geography at UWA, and the first female to be appointed as the Head of the School of Social Sciences.
In the latest episode of Research on the Record Professor Davies gives some insight into her current work tracking shifting populations throughout the state to predict and solve infrastructure challenges that evolve along with them.
She reflects on the early stages of her life in academia and the obstacles she encountered that saw her change the trajectory of her career – and how she decided to take on leadership roles to change the system for future generations of researchers, also revealing what she still hopes to change about how senior roles are structured for women.

Research on the Record - Episode 6 - Grace Blackburn

PhD candidate Grace is investigating animal behaviour, cognition and communication and her current research focuses on wild Western Australian magpies.  
Her work has already produced interesting findings about vocal discrimination, how magpies “talk” to each other – and how that’s been influenced by urban development. 

Research on the Record - Episode 5 - Dr Jennifer Kelley

Dr Jennifer Kelley’s background in marine biology has led her to her current research, which looks to nature to solve the challenge of how to camouflage 3D body shapes.
Her work combines techniques from studies including animal behaviour, optics, visual psychology, and computer imaging - and has the potential to be applied across a range of industries from the defence force to advertising.

Research on the Record - Episode 4 - Professor Jaqueline Batley

Professor Jacqueline Batley’s research focuses on crop genetics and genomics to improve food security and sustainability, helping develop more disease resistant plants – a field in which the work of her and her team has yielded real advances.
In 2022 she was named one of the world’s most highly cited researchers in her field, and in 2023 awarded an Australian Laureate Fellowship.

Research on the Record - Episode 3 - Dr Michelle Olaithe

Michelle is a practising psychologist who is clinical director for almost 200 psychologists and 20 psychiatrists at Health Bright, while still actively researching sleep disorders, mood problems and brain dysfunction.
Recently Michelle worked on developing the first tool to measure exposure to long term Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, which it’s hoped will help assess the risk of related diseases and improve early detection and intervention for them.

Research on the Record - Episode 2 - Eloise Moore

Eloise Moore is currently completing her Master's degree, taking on the modest task of solving the mysteries of the universe.
She has a keen interest high-energy astrophysics, emphasis on gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) using her knowledge of computer science in her research to script and create simulations,
Eloise made headlines last year when she took command of the Zadko telescope to capture the final images of the booster rocket for a Chinese lunar mission, before it crashed into the dark side of the moon, after spending 8 years in orbit.
In her interview, she talks about her early childhood passion for space, and the moment she fell in love with the world of academic research as a teenager doing work experience at a university High Energy Astrophysics Department.
At the very beginning of her research career, she also discusses being on the home stretch of her master’s thesis, what it’s like being one of only a handful of female students in a class of hundreds, and why she doesn’t want to be known as “a woman in science”.

Research on the Record - Episode 1 - Professor Anna Nowak

Research on the Record, is a podcast series talking to women working across a broad range of disciplines at the University of Western Australia, each at different stages of their high achieving careers.
We’ll hear about some of their extraordinary Higher Degree Research projects, but also about the challenges they’ve encountered, and their experience of the changing landscape around gender equity.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Anna Nowak’s work in mesothelioma research over the past 20 years, is internationally recognised. And she is a leader in neuro-oncology research.
In her role at the University, she’s responsible for research institutes, facilities, strategy and operations, and H9igher Degree by Research students.