Andrew Austin

Andrew Austin

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Andy Austin is a key member of the Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity (ACEBB) at The University of Adelaide. His major research interests focus on the biology, systematics and molecular phylogenetics of parasitic wasps, the evolution of host-parasitoid interactions, and the biodiversity and phylogeography of groundwater arthropods. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Invertebrate Systematics, and is on the editorial boards of Systematic Entomology and Insect Systematics & Evolution. He is a previous past president of the Australian Entomological Society, Society of Australian Systematic Biologists, and the International Society of Hymenopterists, and was a member of the Australian Biological Study Advisory Board (2002-07).

MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS INCLUDE:
  1. the biology, systematics and molecular phylogenetics of parasitic wasps
  2. the evolution of host-parasitoid interactions
  3. the biodiversity and phylogeography of groundwater arthropods.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND PROJECTS
  • Dr Kym Abrams, Project: Systematics and phylogeography of subterranean animal.
  • Dr Michelle Guzik, Project: Phylogeography of subterranean animals from calcrete aquifers in central Western Australia. 
  • Dr Kate Muirhead, Project: Phylogeography and host specificity of stemborer parasitoids; essential components for the pre-emptive biocontrol of sugarcane pests in Australia. 
  • Dr Mike Rix, Project: Phylogenetics and biogepraphy of idiopid trapdoor spiders.
  • Dr Gary Taylor, Project: Systematics and coevolution of insect herbivores on casuarinas: testing phylogenetic congruence for selection of plant biocontrol agents.
  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2018 - ongoing Director Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity
    2008 - 2013 Deputy Director Australian Centre for Biology & Biodiversity
    2002 - ongoing Professor The University of Adelaide
    2000 - 2008 Director Australian Centre for Biology & Biodiversity
    1996 - 2002 Associate Professor The University of Adelaide
    1992 - 1996 Senior Lecturer The University of Adelaide
    1985 - 1992 Lecturer The University of Adelaide
    1982 - 1982 Higher Scientific Officer Commonwealth Institute of Entomology
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1982 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    1977 University of Sydney Australia BSc (Hons)
CURRENT AND RECENTLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
  • S.J. Cooper, W.F. Humphreys & A.D. Austin, Project Title “Is regressive evolution associated with loss of gene function in subterranean animals? Australian Research Council, Discovery Grant (2012-14)
  • A.D. Austin, M.G. Rix (APDI), M.S. Harvey, & S.J. Cooper, Project Title “Evolution and biogeography of Australian idiopid trapdoor spiders: implications for conservation biology and environmental assessment” Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant (2012-14)
  • J.M. Facelli, A.D. Austin, S.J. Cooper, M.I. Stevens & R.Faast (APDI), Project Title “Effects of fire on the reproductive ecology of terrestrial orchids and on their pollinators in fragmented landscapes of southern Australia” Australia.” Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant (2012-14)
  • A.D. Austin, S.J.B. Cooper, W.F. Humphreys, M.S. Harvey & M.I. Stevens, Project Title “Biodiversity and population genetics of groundwater calcrete ecosystems of central Western Australia.” Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant (2010-13)
  • G.S.  Taylor, J.T. Jennings & A.D. Austin, Project Title: Systematics and host associations of Australian psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Australian Biological Resources Study (2010-13)
  • A.D. Austin, P.G. Allsopp & N. Sallam, Project Title: The phylogeography and host specificity of stemborer parasitoids: essential components for the pre-emptive biocontrol of sugarcane pests in Australia. Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant (2009-12)
  • A.D. Austin, J.T. Jennings, M.F. Prucell & N.A. Schellhorn, Project Title: Systematics and coevolution of insect herbivores on casuarinas: testing phylogenetic congruence for selection of plant biocontrol agents. Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant (2007-10)
  • N.P. Murphy, A.D. Austin & M.A. Adams, Project Title: Evolution of the unique fauna of the Great Artesian Basin mound springs: the impact of aridification and climate change. Australian Research Council, Discovery Grant (2007-10) 
  • N.F. Johnson & A.D. Austin, Project Title: PBI: Diversity and the parasitoid life history strategy of the superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera). National Science Foundation, Planetary Biodiversity Inventory Program (2006-12)
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING
  • Evolution & Diversity of Insects III (semester 1); Issues in Evolutionary Biology III (course convenor, semester 2); Evolutionary Biology II (course convenor, semester 2)
  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 Co-Supervisor Plant-Arthropod interactions in Cenozoic South Eastern Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Megan Thomas
    2019 Principal Supervisor Systematics of the Chalcid wasp genus Psyllaephagus (Hymenoptora: Encyrtidae) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Alana Rose McClelland
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Adaptation and Ecological Significance of the Dioecious Plant Pimelea microcephala subsp. microcephala in the Arid Zone. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jenna Draper
    2019 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Soil, Growth, Arthropods, and Competition: Native parasitic vine Cassytha pubescens and its indirect ecological effects on native and invasive host species Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bernardo Jose O'Connor D'Arlach Espinoza
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor The ecology, conservation, and management of Australia’s ephemeral freshwater granite rock-holes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Brock Adam Hedges
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Regressive Evolution of Vision and Speciation in the Subterranean Diving Beetles from Western Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Barbara Langille
    2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Biodiversity, taxonomy and systematics of Australian microgastrine parasitoid wasps Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Erinn Peta Fagan-Jeffries
    2014 - 2019 Principal Supervisor The systematics and biogeographic history of Australian arid zone oniscidean isopods (Philosciidae) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Danielle Nicole Stringer
    2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Investigating the internal and external ecology of six subterranean diving beetle species from the Yilgarn Region of Central Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Josephine Charlotte Anne Hyde
    2013 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Insects, Orchids and Fire: The Effects of Fire Pollinators in Eucalypt Woodlands of South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Anita Evelyn Marquart
    2012 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Contributions to the Systematics and Biogeography of the Mygalomorph Spider Families Migidae and Idiopidae in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Sophie Ellen Harrison
    2011 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Antarctic biodiversity surveys using high-throughput-sequencing: understanding landscape and communities of the Prince Charles Mountains Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Paul Czechowski
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Molecular Systematics and Biogeographic History of Oniscidean Isopod Troglofauna in Groundwater Calcretes of Central Western Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohammad Javidkar
    2010 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Systematics and phylogeny of Cheloninae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with an emphasis on Australian species Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rebecca Kittel
    2009 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Diversity and Distribution of Limno-Terrestrial Microfauna from Antarctica Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alejandro Tomas Velasco Castrillon
    2008 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Phylogenetics and Biogeography of Australian Subterranean Parabathynellidae Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Kym Abrams
    2008 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Australian Monomorium: systematics and species delimitation with a focus on the M. rothsteini complex. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Kathryn Sparks
    2006 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Modes of Speciation in Subterranean Diving Beetles from a Single Calcrete Aquifer in Central Western Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Tessa Bradford
    2005 - 2010 Co-Supervisor The Reproductive Ecology of Two Terrestrial Orchids, Caladenia rigida and Caladenia tentaculata Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Renate Faast
    2004 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Ecology of the Fergusonina Fly and Fergusobia Nematode Gall Association in South Australia Master of Science Master Part Time Mrs Elise Head
    2004 - 2016 Principal Supervisor The Systematics of Australian Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), including the Evolution of Therophilus and its Color Mimicry Pattern Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nicholas Stevens
    2003 - 2010 Principal Supervisor Phylogenetics of the Cotesia flavipes Species Complex: Towards the Effective Control of Stemborer Pests in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Katherine Muirhead
    2002 - 2008 Principal Supervisor The Ecology of Key Arthropods for the Management of Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Coonawarra Vineyards, South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Catherine Paull
    2002 - 2006 Principal Supervisor The Seasonality, Diversity and Ecology of Cavernicolous Guano Dependent Arthropod Ecosystems in Southern Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Timothy Moulds
    2001 - 2006 Principal Supervisor The Biodiversity Impacts of Shrub Loss in a Semi-arid Environment: Responses of Arthropods, with Particular Reference to Ants Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Sylvia Clarke
    1999 - 2004 Principal Supervisor The Population Ecology of an Invasive Social Insect, Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Marta Kasper
    1999 - 2006 Principal Supervisor Impacts of environmental weed invasion on arthropod biodiversity and associated
    community structure and processes
    Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Claire Stephens
    1997 - 2003 Co-Supervisor THE BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE QUANDONG MOTH, Paraepermenia santaliella LEPIDOPTERA: EPERMENIIDAE Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Kaye Ferguson

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