Scott’s research interests are focused on the molecular basis for chemical communication in various experimental organisms, with applications in the fields of ecology, aquaculture and health. Scott was awarded his PhD from Deakin University in Molecular Biology, then undertook postdoctoral research at The University of Texas Medical Branch and The University of Queensland. From 2012, Scott established the UniSC Molecular Communication group, who utilise various multi-omics approaches towards elucidation of:
- Neuropeptides that regulate changes in an animal’s physiology, including development, reproduction and regeneration;
- Protein toxins used for defence and prey capture;
- Protein pheromones used for conspecific communication, including attraction and aversion;
- Water-borne protein kairomones used for parasite host detection;
- Enzymes involved in small molecular natural product biosynthesis.
The research often integrates genomics, transcriptomics, proteomic and metabolomics through the latest next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry approaches. Organisms under investigation include marine sponges, jellyfish, myxozoans, flatworms, molluscs (e.g. abalone, oyster, land snail, freshwater snail, giant triton snail), crustaceans, starfish, sea cucumber, marine macroalgae and plants.
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Research grants
| Project Name | Funding Body |
| System-level characterisation of the siphonophore, Indo-Pacific man o' war | Australian Research Council – Discovery Project |
| Harnessing seaweed genes to mitigate methane emissions from livestock | Australian Research Council – Discovery Project |
| Decoding the molecular components of aquatic parasite-host interactions | Australian Research Council – Discovery Project |
| Investigating hypometabolism to reveal critical factors that aid life extension | Australian Research Council – Discovery Project |
| Origin of genomically-encoded communication in animals: deciphering the role of peptide signalling in the sea sponge Amphimedon queenslandica | Australian Research Council – Discovery Project |
| Decoding the rules of fate, attraction and cell migration in perciform fish | Australian Research Council – Future Fellowship |
| Australian Biodiscovery Network – enhancing national biodiscovery and chemistry resources | Australian Research Council – Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities |
| An integrated, multi-node bio-layer interferometry facility | Australian Research Council – Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities |
| Deep protein sequencing, structure and quantification facility | Australian Research Council – Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities |
| Small angle X-ray scattering facility for Queensland | Australian Research Council – Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities |
| Regional nuclear magnetic resonance infrastructure network for South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales | Australian Research Council – Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities |
| Overcoming membrane protein research roadblocks: A Queensland facility for membrane protein production and crystallisation | Australian Research Council – Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities |
| Enhancement of high-value sea cucumber production through novel molecular technologies | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants |
| Feasibility of a breeding program for the giant triton sea snail (Charonia tritonis) | Australian Institute of Marine Sciences - Reef2050 |
| The bioactivity and functionality of the molecular and microbial components of snail mucus | Grains Research Development Corporation |
| Harnessing molluscan neurohormones to develop new molluscicides |
Grains Research Development Corporation |
| Pearl oyster stress |
Fisheries Research Development Corporation |
| Stomach turning - the extra-oral feeding behaviour of starfish | Luverhulme Trust |
| Crown-of-thorns seastar pheromones |
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, POC |
| The crown-of-thorns secretome: towards a control technology |
Caring for Country Reef Rescue |
| The search for Crown-of-Thorns starfish pheromones: modifying conspecific behaviour to control outbreaks | Great Barrier Reef Foundation |
Research areas
- Molecular neuroethology
- Protein pheromones
- Neuropeptides
- Functional genomics
- Invertebrate biology
- Invasive species
Teaching areas
- Molecular Biology
- Molecular Biotechnology
- Biodiversity and Ecology
- Invertebrate Ecology
- Aquaculture Biotechnology
Scott's specialist areas of knowledge include, molecular biology, biotechnology, aquaculture, pheromones, and peptide signalling.