Annabel Ellis

Annabel graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Hons – 1^st Class) majoring in Biology in 2017. Her honours project investigated the impact of invasive black rats (Rattus rattus) on an endangered rainforest island community near Wollongong, NSW. After completing university, she worked as a research assistant in the Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Research Group at the University of Sydney studying chemical camouflage as a way to protect vulnerable prey from alien predators. Additionally, during her studies she completed a summer research scholarship at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment studying microbiology in koalas. She has also volunteered for a number of environmental organisations including as a fieldwork volunteer collecting data on endangered lizards in the Blue Mountains, as a local bush care volunteer and as a guest experiences volunteer at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.

Although a native Sydney-sider, Annabel is keen to learn more about ecological issues impacting Victorian communities, and in particular the beautiful Otway Ranges. She hopes to enhance her fieldwork skills with some flora and fauna identification and radio-tracking skills, as well as learning more analytical skills in R and GIS.