Dr Charles K. Lee

Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BSc (Life Science) Tsing-Hua Taiwan, PhD Waikato
About Charles
I am a microbial ecologist who utilises diverse technology-intensive approaches (e.g., genomics, molecular biology, drone-based remote sensing, and machine learning) to address basic and applied scientific challenges. My main interests are in extreme ecosystems such as Antarctica and geothermal environments, but I work on a wide range of habitats where my expertise can make an impact.
🔬 orcid.org/0000-0002-6562-4733
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Papers Taught
Research Supervised
PhD
- Yang, Yuchen (in progress): Retrieving and compiling knowledge of Antarctic biology using computational techniques
- Hamill, Carlin (in progress - chief supervisor Vic Arcus): Understanding enzyme evolution and allostery using Macromolecular Rate Theory
- Abbaszadeh, Jaber (in progress): The global ecology of Deinococcaceae
- Noble, Anya (in progress): The biogeography and functional roles of the Leptospermum scoparium (mānuka) phyllosphere microbiome
- Cabria, Gamaliel Lysander (in progress): Intra-species genomic variation and gene flow in hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria
- Brandt, Shelly (in progress - chief supervisor Craig Cary): The effects of ocean acidification on microbial nutrient cycling and productivity in coastal marine sediments
- Monteiro, Maria (in progress - chief supervisor Craig Cary): Resolving functional resilience of microbial communities to climate-induced change in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica
- Wakerley, Georgia (in progress - chief supervisor Craig Cary): Human impact on the McMurdo Dry Valley soils of Antarctica: extending the limits of forensic DNA detection
- Payyakkal Viswam, Jayadev (2016 - chief supervisor Ian McDonald): The role of the gut microbiome of the Huhu grub in lignocellulose breakdown
MSc (Research)
- Prout, Bernadette (in progress): Microbiome of Ryegrass
- Livne, Shir (in progress): Characterising bacterial communities associated with bioactive-producing marine invertebrates
- Challis, Jacinda (in progress): Effects of post-operative antibiotics in endoscopic sinus surgery
- Ferris, Kelsey (2021): eDNA-based monitoring of freshwater mussel populations
- Noble, Anya (2018): Environmental and biogeographical drivers of the Leptospermum scoparium (mānuka) phyllosphere microbiome
- Hu, Xiaoxue (2017): Genetic tool to detect three New Zealand freshwater mussels (Echyridella menziesii, Echyridella aucklandica, Echyridella onekaka) in environmental DNA
- Juwono, Joshua (2017): Enhancement of “flavours” through enzymatic release of glutamate
Research Interests
I study the microbial ecology and microbial genomics of a wide range of unusual ecosystems, including terrestrial geothermal habitats and the Antarctic Dry Valleys, using molecular genetic and bioinformatic tools. I also have active research projects on the microbial ecology of plant-, animal-, and human-associated habitats.
I'm interested in the development and validation of novel molecular techniques and bioinformatic analyses, and I use them in conjunction with geochemistry to examine the interactions between microbial communities and their environments.
View my Google Scholar profile here.
Recent Publications
Coyne, K. J., Parker, A. E., Lee, C. K., Sohm, J. A., Kalmbach, A., Gunderson, T., . . . Cary, S. C. (2020). The distribution and relative ecological roles of autotrophic and heterotrophic diazotrophs in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. FEMS microbiology ecology, 96(3). doi:10.1093/femsec/fiaa010
Levy, J., Cary, S. C., Joy, K., & Lee, C. K. (2020). Detection and community-level identification of microbial mats in the McMurdo Dry Valleys using drone-based hyperspectral reflectance imaging. Antarctic Science. doi:10.1017/S0954102020000243
Bottos, E. M., Laughlin, D. C., Herbold, C. W., Lee, C. K., McDonald, I. R., & Cary, S. C. (2020). Abiotic factors influence patterns of bacterial diversity and community composition in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. FEMS microbiology ecology, 96(5). doi:10.1093/femsec/fiaa042
Monteiro, M., Baptista, M. S., Séneca, J., Torgo, L., Lee, C. K., Cary, S. C., & Magalhães, C. (2020). Understanding the response of nitrifying communities to disturbance in the mcmurdo dry valleys, antarctica. Microorganisms, 8(3). doi:10.3390/microorganisms8030404
Find more research publications by Charles Lee
Keywords
Antarctica; Biochemistry; Biology; Biotechnology; Ecology; Environmental Biochemistry; Environmental Science and Technology; Microbiology; Molecular Biology
Contact Details
Email: [email protected]Room: TRU.G.17
Phone: +64 7 838 4241