A/Prof Barbara Drigo is a Microbial Ecologist at the University of South Australia (UniSA), as well as a member of the editorial boards for several esteemed academic journals. Her passion for applied research is evident in her commitment to advancing microbiological practices, resulting in significant global contributions. A/Prof Drigo leads the molecular microbial components of various projects with a combined funding of $17M and was recently recognized as a 2023 Women in Innovation SA finalist in the science category. Dedicated to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a global scale, she has collaborated with the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to enhance laboratory capacities in low- and middle-income countries. A/Prof Drigo holds several notable positions, including Chair of the Joint Academic Microbiology Seminar (Adelaide branch), Chair of 500 Women Scientists Australia and New Zealand, and, Senior Researcher and Ambassador for eXXpedition. Since 2023, A/Prof Drigo has collaborated with colleagues from the Future Industries Institute (FII), STEM, the College of Health Sciences, and experts from the University of Adelaide to shape a cohesive educational vision for Adelaide University. Their initiatives aim to:
1. Address critical epidemiological challenges.
2. Co-design a comprehensive research strategy for Food, Agriculture, and Wine in South Australia.
3. Develop a multidisciplinary microbial ecology course encompassing environmental science, geospatial studies, food science, and soil science.
Career Highlights: A/Prof Drigo completed her Master’s at Wageningen University & Research Centre (2002-2004) and earned her PhD from Leiden University in 2009, following doctoral studies at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. She was a visiting PhD Student at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Oxford University (2004-2008). She began her career as a project manager at Plant Research International before relocating to Australia for a fellowship at Western Sydney University, where she established molecular microbial facilities. From 2010 to 2011, she helped create the world-class molecular microbial ecology facility at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), launched in 2012. During her tenure at HIE, A/Prof Drigo led projects focused on climate change and microbial interactions, co-supervising three Master’s and three PhD students. A/Prof Drigo has held visiting research fellowships at the James Hutton Institute in the UK and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has trained scientists globally in stable isotope probing techniques and multivariate statistical analysis. In 2016, she joined UniSA’s FII as a Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, where she led research on food, soil, and water safety and security related to antimicrobial resistance, contributing to a total funding of $17 million. In 2016 and 2017, A/Prof Barbara Drigo's collaborative research on the impact of human activities on ecosystem functioning garnered attention from prominent organizations, including the White House Office of Science and Technology (during the Obama administration), the Royal Geographical Society, and the Theo Murphy Australian Frontiers of Science Symposium, as well as various media outlets. In 2017, she was a visiting research fellow at the Faculty of Biotechnology at the Catholic University of Portugal. A/Prof Drigo has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and invited reviews with leading global experts in plant-soil-microbial interactions, microbial ecology, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Many of these publications rank among the top ten most cited in their respective fields. Throughout her career, A/Prof Drigo and her PhD students and postdoctoral researchers have presented at 30 national and 39 international conferences. She has delivered several keynote speeches, chaired sessions, and participated as an invited panelist in workshops organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2020, A/Prof Drigo became the primary lecturer and tutor for the UniSA Microbial Ecology course; in 2021, she took on the role of its primary coordinator. In January 2023, she was awarded a competitive tenure position, becoming an Associate Professor at UniSA STEM in 2024.