Linda Armbrecht

Dr Linda Armbrecht

ARC Research Associate

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology


My research revolves around improving our understanding of modern and ancient phytoplankton and their relationships with the environment - now, in the past and in the future. I maintain a broad, interdisciplinary background in marine science, biological oceanography, micropaleontology and marine and paleo-genomics. I am particularly passionate about ship work at high latitudes and exploring marine sediment records to investigate phytoplankton-environment relationships over geological timescales. The key to pursuing this research is my use of state-of-the-art molecular techniques, including the newest tools for the analysis of ancient DNA from the seafloor.

Currently, I am applying these novel ancient DNA techniques to reconstruct East and West Antarctic ecosystems. My focus is on two Antarctic regions that are highly sensitive to climate change, the East Antarctic Sabrina Coast and West Antarctic Iceberg Alley. I have been part of two Antarctic expeditions, the 2017 'Sabrina Seafloor Survey' on board the RV Investigator (IN2017_V01), and the 2019 IODP Exp. 382 'Iceberg Alley and Subantarctic Ice and Ocean Dynamics' on board the RV Joides Resolution, to collect sediment sample specifically for this research. To undertake this work, I have recently been awarded an ARC DECRA Fellowship 2021.

Further information on these expeditions can be found here:
Sabrina Seafloor Survey 2017: https://sites.google.com/site/sabrinaseafloorsurvey/home
IODP Exp. 382 2019: https://joidesresolution.org/expedition/382/
My personal Exp. 382 expedition blog can be found here: https://lindaarmbrecht.home.blog/
An overview about my research on marine sedimentary ancient DNA can be found in this short video, produced by Lee Stevens/IODP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j23I1Quv0nM

Marine phytoplankton are globally important microorganisms that live in the ocean’s surface. When these tiny organisms die, they sink to the seafloor and over time build up complex layers in the ocean sediments. By extracting ancient DNA from such sediments, past phytoplankton communities can be reconstructed, providing information on past environmental conditions and climate. This novel knowledge about past marine community adaptation to previous regional and global warming periods helps inform predictions of future marine ecosystem resilience guiding management efforts of marine ecosystems during present-day climate change.

Study opportunities on all levels (Internships, Honours, Masters, PhD) are available with regard to the reconstruction of Antarctic phytoplankton communities and their responses to variations in climate. Sediment cores used for this research were collected off East and West Antarctica, and are dated to the Last Glacial Maximum (~20-25 kyr). This research is highly interdisciplinary, spanning across marine science, biological/palae-oceanography, and palaeo-genomics, and a good understanding in at least one of these disciplines is required.   Study activities include, for example, marine field-work (topic-dependent), laboratory tasks, bioinformatics and data analysis.

International students should note that they must meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements, and must apply for an International Scholarship). These scholarships are highly competitive and based on an excellent academic record.   Please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for admission (in relation to PhD or MSc study) prior to contacting us.

If you are interested to commence a degree or conduct an internship in this research area please contact linda.armbrecht@adelaide.edu.au, outlining your motivation and relevant research experience, including your CV, and, if applicable, your current transcript. Please also visit the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) website for further information about our research centre, and my personal website Paleoplanktonics.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Research Fellow Australian Center for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2018 - 2020 ARC Research Associate University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2018 - 2018 Australian Endeavour Postdoctoral Research Fellow Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Paris
    2015 - 2017 MQMarine Research Centre Administrator Macquarie University, Sydney
    2015 - 2017 Postdoc Macquarie University, Sydney
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Nomination 2020 South Australian Youg Tall Poppy Awards Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) Australia
    2020 Research Award Edith Dornwell Medal for Early Career Research Excellence University of Adelaide Australia 1000
    2019 Invitation Speaker Internationl Conference on Paleoceanography 2019 (ICP13) University of New South Wales Australia 500
    2019 Invitation Participation in IODP Expedition 382 - Iceberg Alley and Subantarctic Ice and Ocean Dynamics Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Consortium (ANZIC) Australia 337000
    2017 Achievement Participant in RV Investigator voyage 'Sabrina Seafloor Survey, East Antarctica' IN2017_V01 Macquarie University Australia
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    English Can peer review
    French Can read
    German Can peer review
    Italian Can read
    Latin Can read
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2010 - 2014 Macquarie University, Sydney Australia PhD
    2010 - 2008 University of Bremen, Bremen Germany MSc
    2005 - 2008 University of Osnabrueck Germany BSc
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2018 Australia Awards - Endeavour Research Fellowship Australian Government Department of Education and Training
    2017 Antarctica Service Medal of the USA National Science Foundation, Arlington United States
    2016 First Aid & First Aid in Remote Locations Surf Life Saving NSW
    2016 Approved Arrangements for Accredited Persons (Classes 1-8) Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
    2016 Biosecurity Awareness Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
    2007 VDTL Bronze European Committee of Professional Diving Instructors
  • Research Interests

  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2021. Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2021 (ARC DECRA) DE210100929 • Using ancient DNA to uncover climate change impacts in Antarctica’ • AUD$462,948

  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2019 Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium (ANZIC), Post-Cruise Funding • ‘Subantarctic marine sedimentary ancient DNA: the influence of environmental variables on preservation and degradation (IODP Expedition 382)’ • AUD$19,60
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2019 Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium (ANZIC), Post-Cruise Funding • ‘Subantarctic marine sedimentary ancient DNA: the influence of environmental variables on preservation and degradation (IODP Expedition 382)’ • AUD$19,600

  • Armbrecht, L. H. Past Global Changes (PAGES) Travel Grant for Early Career Researchers to speak at the International Conference on Paleoceanography 2019 (ICP13), Sydney, September 2019 • AUD$500

  • Johan Etourneau, Carlota Escutia, Andrés Rigual-Hernández, Leanne Armand, Linda Armbrecht, Ruth Eriksen, Xavier Crosta, Rahul Mohan, Minoru Ikehara, Naohiko Ohkouchi, Guiseppe Cortese, Jung-Hyun Kim, Amy Leventer, Rob Dunbar  'An International Collaboration Effort for improving Paleoclimate Research in the Southern Ocean (ICEPRO)' • PROGRAMME I-LINK+2018, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) (Spanish Research Council)  AUD$37,000
  • Armbrecht L.H. Antarctic Science Foundation Fundraising Project • 'Reconstructing past Antarctic life and climate using ancient DNA buried in the seafloor'  • Donate to research via ASF.
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2018 Endeavour Postdoctoral Research Fellowship • ‘Diatom Genomics’ • Funded research with Prof. Chris Bowler, Institut de Biologie de l’École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Paris, France • AUD$24,500
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2017 MQMarine Research Centre Funding • Supporting for the first international ‘Assessing the potential of ancient DNA in marine sediments’ workshop • AUD$6,000
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2017 PAIS Early Career Researcher Travel Award • Travel support for ‘Past Antarctic Ice Sheet Dynamics conference’, Trieste, Italy • AUD$1,500
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2017 MQMarine Research Centre Conference Award • Supporting participation in the Bioplatforms Australia Workshop ‘Introduction to Metagenomics’ • AUD$263
  • Armand, L.K., Armbrecht, L. H., Ostrowski, M., George, S., 2016 Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium (ANZIC) Special Analytical Funding • ‘Using ancient phytoplankton communities and genes to illuminate future ocean responses’ • AUD$20,000.
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2016 MQMarine Research Centre Travel Award • Supporting participation in the 4th Microbial Ecology Course, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation UNSW • AUD$500
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2016 NSF Advanced Training Program in Antarctica for Early Career Scientists: Biological Adaptations to Environmental Change • Fully sponsored 6-weeks course including 16 days ship-time
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2015 ATA Young Scientist Award • AUD$500
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2015 CMORE the Agouron Institute, NSF & University of Hawaii Training Program • ‘Microbial Oceanography: From Genomes to Biomes’ • Fully sponsored 1-month course including 1 week ship-time
  • Armand, L.K., Armbrecht, L. H., Iwai, M. and C. Escutia, 2014 Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium (ANZIC) Special Analytical Funding • ‘Antarctic Pliocene Warming’ • AUD$20,000
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2013 Macquarie University HDR Student Conference Presentation Award • ‘Testing the agreement of two phytoplankton abundance estimates: Microscopy and CHEMTAX’ • AUD$200
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2013 Postgraduate Student Conference Travel Award • AMSA Golden Jubilee Conference • AUD$500
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2013 William Macleay Microbiology Research Fund and Joyce Vickery Scientific Research Fund • Linnean Society of NSW • AUD$1,552
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2013 & 2011 Student Travel Bursary Award • Australian Biological Resources Study • AUD$1,000 Total
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2012 Postgraduate International Conference Travel Fund • Macquarie University • AUD$3,900
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2011 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Fund • Macquarie University • AUD$4,943.
  • Armbrecht, L. H., 2010 International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (iMQRES) • Macquarie University • AUD$111,250 Total

Supervision:

  • Ms Diyana Nur Kamal-Azlan, (PhD), The University of Adelaide, 2020
  • Ms Vinuri Silva, (PhD), The University of Adelaide, 2020
  • Ms Lucinda Duxbury (MSc), The University of Adelaide, 2020
  • Ms Siobhan Evans (BSc), Principles & Practice of Research III Research Project, The University of Adelaide, 2020
  • Mr Tyler Dornan (BSc), Principles & Practice of Research III Research Project, The University of Adelaide, 2019
  • Mr Riley Hodgson (BSc), Principles & Practice of Research III Research Project, The University of Adelaide, 2018
  • Ms Kelly-Anne Lawler (MSc), co-supervisor, Macquarie University, 2017
  • Ms Peta Vine (MSc), co-supervisor, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2017.
  • Ms Vikki Goad (BSc), co-supervisor, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia, August-November 2015.
  • Ms Sheena Su (MSc), co-supervisor, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia, September-October 2013.
  • Mr Matthew Toole (MSc), Student research project, cross institutional Masters programme “Marine Science and Management” (University of Technology/Macquarie University), Sydney Institute of Marine Science, NSW, Australia, September-October 2012.
  • Ms Kirstin Cetinich (BSc): Student research project, Macquarie University and Sydney Institute of Marine Science, NSW, Australia, September-October 2012.
  • Ms Ruth Jacobs (BSc): Student research project within the German-Australian exchange program “DAAD RISE worldwide”, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, NSW, Australia, July-September 2012.
  • Mr Oliver Kersten (BSc): Student research project within the worldwide exchange program “Global Experiences”, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, NSW, Australia, June-August 2012

 

Tutoring/Demonstrating:

  • “Evolution and Biodiversity” (BIOL114), “The Thread of Life” (BIOL115), “Biology in Practise” (BIOL116), “Marine Biology and Ecosystems” (BIOL121), “Ecology” (BIOL227), Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2012-2015 (demonstrations, tutoring, marking).
  • “Zoology: Phylogeny and Morphology”, University of Osnabrück, Germany, Jul. 2008.
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Testing reliability of ancient Antarctic Krill DNA from the seafloor for historical ecosystem modelling The University of Adelaide Principles and Practise in Research III Other Part Time Siobhan Evans
    2019 - 2019 Principal Supervisor How Diatoms Influence Ancient DNA Preservation in Antarctic Sediments The University of Adelaide Principles and Practice of Research III Other Part Time Tyler Dornan
    2018 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Data exploration of ancient phytoplankton from deep seafloor sediments The University of Adelaide Principles and Practice of Research III Other Part Time Riley Hodgson

Connect With Me
External Profiles