Breadcrumbs

Early career researcher awarded Rutherford Fellowship to investigate blooming Didymo

12 November 2020

Dr Alexis Marshall
Dr Alexis Marshall

Does the dreaded Didymo bloom because of climate change, new environments or a genetic variant?

The University of Waikato’s Dr Alexis Marshall will investigate these questions thanks to a 2020 Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship from Royal Society Te Apārangi.

Didymo, more commonly known as Rock Snot, produces nuisance growths in freshwater rivers and streams around the globe.

“Historically, Didymo was an inconspicuous background organism found in nutrient-poor Northern Hemisphere rivers. Today, Didymo is considered a globally invasive species, capable of blooming at an unprecedented scale under conditions that would restrict the growth of other species,” says Dr Marshall.

Using a genomic approach, Dr Marshall will identify and characterise the genetic architecture of blooming and non-blooming Didymo collected across its global distribution.

Dr Alexis Marshall

Dr Marshall has already succeeded in assembling a world first draft Didymo reference genome, which will help determine if Didymo blooms occur as the result of adaptation to climate change, a response to introduction to new environments, or the result of an acquired genetic variant.

Professor Bryony James, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, says: “Dr Marshall’s work contributes to the freshwater expertise at the University of Waikato, and this Fellowship will help provide insights into a significant environmental challenge facing New Zealand that is still largely understood.”

Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early-career researchers who demonstrate a passion for research, and have a strong sense of the purpose and benefits of research to Aotearoa.

They contribute to supporting recipients to undertake full-time research programmes for two years within New Zealand in any area of research, science and technology, including social sciences and the humanities.

For more information see the Royal Society Te Apārangi announcement.


This research aligns with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Clean Water and Sanitation Climate Action

Latest stories

Related stories

Bouncing unborn baby research between time zones secret to success

Bouncing work back and forth between time zones has allowed research into fetal development to…

Oceanography researcher recognised for making waves around the world

With a sea captain for a grandfather and childhood summers spent around the sea, it’s…

An ocean of possibilities in marine research at University of Waikato

Researchers at the University of Waikato are turning to the ocean to clean up our…

Waikato researchers at the frontier of New Zealand’s high-tech robotics industry

Developing a high-tech robotics industry in New Zealand to grow and support a horticulture sector…

Algae to economics: academic promotions announced

The University of Waikato has announced its latest round of academic promotions.

University of Waikato researchers shape the future of Artificial Intelligence in New Zealand

University of Waikato researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to tackle problems…

Fieldays e-Bin

Making fruit picking easy with the e-Bin

The University of Waikato has developed an electronic fruit bin that assists in the harvesting…

Studying the sex lives of spiders

A Marsden Fast Start grant will allow University of Waikato behavioural ecologist and senior lecturer…

New research aims to discover when and to what extent children acquire social meaning of words

The desire to understand children’s associations of certain words, their meanings and associations of speakers…

NFT - Not a Fair Trade?

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have become part of the common lexicon. Twitter, Instagram, and even…

International collaboration aims to put scientists ahead of coronavirus

University of Waikato researcher Dr William Kelton has been working with international partners to prepare…

Waikato shines bright in a sea of stars at science awards

University of Waikato scientists and researchers shone brightly in a stellar showcase of science talent…