Stephen Pyecroft

Dr Stephen Pyecroft

Senior Lecturer

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

My main areas of expertise and interest are in the fields of aquatic animal health and veterinary pathology. As a graduate I worked as a veterinary practitioner in semi-rural areas and then discovered my passion for aquatic animal health management and veterinary pathology. I then continued my post graduate study successfully fulfilling the requirement of a veterinary honours degree by research and course work and subsequently a PhD studying the identity and epidemiology of Systemic Granulomatosis in common goldfish.
Throughout my career I have maintained my passion for comparative pathology and the pathogenesis of disease in all production animal species but have focused some research work on the molecular diagnosis of fish pathogens, epidemiology and control of fish diseases, fish nutrition and fish management practices effects on disease control.

Whilst working as the head of the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Tasmania I was until November 2012, the Program leader of the Diagnostic Services Branch component of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease research group). This enabled me to lead and direct aspects of the diagnostic and research response to this emerging disease in an iconic Australian Dasyurid , the Tasmanian Devil, and attempt to help maintain this important apex carnivore in the wilds of Tasmania.
As a result of working in this global multidisciplinary research group I now also have a keen research interest in oncology and the genetic basis of neoplastic disease and host response in a range of species.

The multidisciplinary approach to scientific research enables acceleration towards discovering practical solutions to sometime perplexing questions, so I look to engage a wide range of collaborators in most projects I investigate. One recent consequence of this approach is a developing research group focused on the reduction of fish based proteins in fish diets and the inclusion of insect based proteins in aquaculture and ornamental fish diets.

Teaching and enthusing future veterinarians and researchers underpins all my scientific interests and the best way to ensure a legacy is to mentor the next generation.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2016 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Lecturer University of Tasmania
    2012 - ongoing Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology University of Adelaide
    2008 - 2012 Manager of Diagnostic Services Branch, , Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
    2006 - 2012 Principal Veterinary Pathologist, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
    2002 - 2006 Veterinary Pathologist Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment,
    2001 - 2004 Director Pacific Meridian Aquaculture Pty Ltd.
    2001 - 2002 Temporary Veterinary Inspector for State Veterinary Service Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
    1995 - 2002 Part-time Lecturer TAFE NSW

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    1993 - 2008 University of Queensland Australia PhD
    1990 - 1992 University of Queensland Australia BVSc Honours
    1980 - 1984 University of Queensland Australia BVSc

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    2007 Member Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Australia
    2002 Member Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinay Scientists Australia

  • Research Interests
    Animal Nutrition Aquaculture Cancer Cell Biology Cancer Diagnosis Cancer Therapy Fish Pests and Diseases Veterinary Diagnosis and Diagnostics Veterinary Pathology

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 Principal Supervisor The utilisation of insect based aquafeed substitution in Barramundi, Silver Perch and Murray Cod for optimum nutritional value and flavour Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Adele Jade Barca

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Investigation of the Microbial Flora and Immune Function of Abalone as Indicators Associated with Summer Mortality Syndrome and Development of Possible Preventatives Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yanhui Wang
    2014 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Isolation, Characterisation and Preservation of Bacteriophages for Use in Treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Finfish Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Farida Mazumder

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Deriving Schwann-like cells from Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) dental pulp stem cells University of Adelaide PhD in Veterinary Science Doctorate Full Time Chelsea Maree Graham

  • Mentoring
    Date Topic Location Name
    2019 - 2022 Membership by examination to the Aquatic Animal Health Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand college of Veterinary Scientists ANZCVS Dr Johanna Madevan
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83137823
  • Email: stephen.pyecroft@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137956
  • Campus: Roseworthy
  • Building: Leske, floor G
  • Org Unit: School of Animal and Veterinary Science
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