Research Interests
Molecular Evolution Microbiology Entomology Ecology Conservation and BiodiversityMiss Elisabeth Williamson
ARC Grant-Funded Research Associate
School of Biological Sciences
College of Sciences
Elisabeth Williamson is a grant-funded researcher in the Invertebrate Systematics and Biodiversity lab. Having researched various model insect systems, her expertise lies in ecology, molecular evolution, symbiosis and conservation.
Her current postdoctoral research focuses on the evolution of sensory systems in the dark in subterranean beetles. For her PhD, Elisabeth studied the microbiomes of Australian native bees. During her Honours she contributed to the development of a method for estimating honey bee density using population genetics.
I am an evolutionary ecologist who studies how ecological constraints reshape inherited biological systems (genes, microbiomes, and reproductive networks) in insects.
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fellowship | DR Stranks Travelling Fellowship | The University of Adelaide | Australia | 5000 |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| French | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 - 2020 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Applied Biology (Honours) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Williamson, E., Hill, K., Eisenhofer, R., & Hogendoorn, K. (2026). Experimental evidence for the absence of a functional gut microbiome in the solitary bee Megachile tosticauda. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 373, 11 pages. |
| 2025 | Williamson, E., Prendergast, K., Leijs, R., & Hogendoorn, K. (2025). The life cycle, nesting behaviour and diet of resin bee Megachile tosticauda (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Austral Entomology, 64(1), 10 pages. Scopus3 WoS3 |
| 2025 | Williamson, E. M., Hammer, T. J., Hogendoorn, K., & Eisenhofer, R. (2025). Blanking on blanks: few insect microbiota studies control for contaminants.. mBio, 16(4), e0265824. Scopus6 WoS7 Europe PMC6 |
| 2025 | Williamson, E., Hill, K., Hogendoorn, K., & Eisenhofer, R. (2025). The bacterial community associated with the solitary resin bee Megachile tosticauda throughout its life cycle.. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 101(4), 10 pages. Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2022 | Williamson, E., Groom, S., Utaipanon, P., Oldroyd, B. P., Chapman, N., & Hogendoorn, K. (2022). The reliability of honey bee density estimates from trapped drones. Apidologie, 53(6), 12 pages. Scopus4 WoS4 |
| 2019 | Williamson, E., Groom, S., & Hogendoorn, K. (2019). A new method to sample DNA from feral honey bee hives in trees. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 143(1), 92-96. Scopus3 WoS3 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Williamson, E., Hammer, T., Hogendoorn, K., & Eisenhofer, R. (2024). Blanking on Blanks: Few Insect Microbiota Studies Control for Contaminants - A Systematic Review. DOI |
November 2023: Best Presentation at the Postgraduate Student Symposium - School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
February 2023: DR Stranks Travelling Fellowship - The University of Adelaide
September 2022: Awarded the Small Grants Research Scheme - The Royal Society of South Australia
March 2022: Awarded the William Macleay Microbiology Research Fund - The Linnean Society
June 2021: Charles John Everard Scholarship - The University of Adelaide
August 2020: First class Honours - The University of Adelaide
July 2018: Jennifer Gardner Prize for Waite Arboretum Research
December 2017: The University of Adelaide Summer Scholarship
5 years of experience mentoring 1-3rd year undergraduate students for Microbiology & Invertebrate Biology II (Demonstrator 2019-2023, Facilitator 2024), Plant Health III (Demonstrator 2023-2024), and Agricultural Biochemistry II (Tutor - 2022-2023).
I was also a Project Officer for the Agricultural Learning and Teaching Academic Standards (AgLTAS) project in 2024, working on a national initiative to update teaching and learning outcomes (TLOs) across 10 Australian universities, including members of the Group of Eight (Go8).
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