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Congratulations to Frances Perry, PhD candidate with Environment Institute member Professor Phill Cassey, on being awarded as the 2025 Jill Landsberg Trust Fund Winner!

Frances’ PhD explores how marine invasive species could reach Antarctica by hitching a ride on vessel biofouling. As one of the last regions on Earth still free from established marine non-native species, Antarctica is highly vulnerable. Through her research, Frances aims to identify the most effective biosecurity measures to prevent these species from being introduced via ships.

The Ecological Society of Australia established the Jill Landsberg Trust Fund toÌýfundÌýan ongoing postgraduate scholarship in the field of Applied Ecology. Her significant contributions to ecology included theÌýconservation of biodiversity in landscapes while also contributing to the conservation of threatened species, through her long service on the Australian Government’s Endangered Species Scientific Advisory Committee.Ìý

'I recently spent nine weeks onboard the RSV Nuyina in East Antarctica, collecting eDNA samples to monitor for biofouling species present on the vessel, with the Jill Landsberg Trust funding assisting with the sequencing of these samples,' she said.

The award comprises of aÌýgrant of $6,000 to support the field-based research of a postgraduate student working in applied ecology. The scope of research is open to terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecology.

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