Content
Graduate gains research posting in France
A University of the Sunshine Coast PhD graduate will be more interested in fish eggs than frog’s legs during a two-year research posting in France.
Kelli Anderson, 26, began a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Universite’ du Havre in Normandy in September, investigating the relationship between environmental pollution and marine reproduction in the European sea bass.
The USC Environmental Science (Honours) graduate, formerly of Caboolture, is familiar with international destinations having previously travelled to Hong Kong and Washington for her own PhD research into fish reproductive endocrinology.
Ms Anderson said she viewed this latest opportunity in France as a chance to experience another culture while learning new skills in the field of ecotoxicology.
“It is well known that some types of pollution, called environmental oestrogens, may cause a decline in fish fertility,” she said.
“However, it is not clear how environmental oestrogens cause such changes, though it is likely that the levels of essential hormones produced by the brain and pituitary glands of fish are no longer in balance.
“Therefore, we will determine what hormones and other proteins are affected by environmental oestrogens, and thus, have a better understanding of how pollution causes reproductive dysfunction in fish.”
Ms Anderson was confident her own USC research, which involved analysing the reproductive physiology of species including salmon, tuna, mullet and oysters, would aid in this latest project.
She said the findings would be relevant to anyone wishing to examine the effects of pollution on the reproductive system of fish.
“I hope this post will help me develop further as a scientist and a leader, so that I am able to develop my own projects once I return to Australia,” she said.
“I am also looking forward to seeing the sights and have even hired a tutor to help me learn to speak French.”
— Michelle Widdicombe