School Based Researchers

Complementary research capacity from across the University

Researchers based within Western Sydney University Schools support and enhance the Institute's ability to engage with industry, support complementary research efforts and to secure additional research expertise.

Dr Brett Bennett with trees in the background.

Associate Professor Brett Bennett (ICS)

Associate Professor Brett M. Bennett is a Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the Institute of Culture and Society (ICS) at Western Sydney University. He is also a Senior Research Association at the University of Johannesburg and a former Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow (2011-2013). His research uses historical methods to investigate how the interaction of human actions and natural processes created contemporary ecosystems, scientific ideas, and conservation policies.

Dr Jay Bose (SOSC)

Dr Jay Bose is an ARC Future Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Intensive Food Production within the School of Science

Associate Professor Kristine Crous (SoSc)

Doctor Amy Gilpin

Doctor Amy-Marie Gilpin is a School Based Researcher within the Institute.

Dr Thomas Jeffries (SOSC)

Dr. Thomas Jeffries is a microbial ecologist with a wide expertise in microbiology, microbial biogeography, computational biology and ecogenomics. His research seeks to determine the environmental factors and ecological principles which drive patterns in microbial diversity in habitats spanning the ocean, dryland soils, contaminated sites and the human microbiome.

Associate Professor Chris Turbill (SoSc)

Associate Professor Kate Umbers (SOSC)

Dr Kate Umbers' research focuses on a variety of topics, usually (but not always) related to understanding the mechanisms, functions and evolution of biological colouration. In addition to her fascination with animal colouraiton she loves investigating research questions on animal behaviour, genetics, thermoregulation and mating systems.