PhD candidate Dee Trewartha shares about her research into an endangered pygmy lizard, and how her interest into both human and non-human behaviour has led her to study the tiny reptiles. Dee also shared a little about her love of the outdoors, in particular speleology (aka caving).
What is your role and what does your work focus on?
I am a PhD candidate in Professor Mike Gardner’s Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Sociality (LEGS). My work focuses on remnant populations of the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard and whether population of origin affects the outcomes of individuals who have undergone conservation translocation. Most of my work is looking at lizard behaviour in the wild and in a translocation and matching behaviour to microclimate.
Tell us a little about your career path.
My career path has been anything but linear! The common threads throughout my varied career path have been that I am interested in behaviour (both human and non-human), I love working with animals and I am passionate about conservation and actively conserving our Australian flora and fauna.
What is something you love most about your work?
I absolutely love that I get to spend my time up in the Mid-north of South Australia working hands on with endangered lizards and contributing to their conservation management. I am happiest outdoors and out in nature which means when I am up there working I am feeling pretty happy!
What is something you are most proud of?
I am really proud of my perseverance. Life has thrown me some huge obstacles quite regularly and therefore also during my PhD candidature, and I keep being resilient and pushing through towards the things that really matter to me and the goals that inspire me. I guess I am not afraid of taking my best shot at turning my dreams into reality!
What does a normal day look like for you?
A normal day for me doesn’t really exist, but usually days have early starts and late finishes, lots of time outdoors and spending time with a lot of little lizards!
How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?
I am not the best at relaxing! I love to go climbing, bouldering, cycling, walking, caving (I am the president of the Flinders University Speleological Society aka caving club), cooking, camping and seeing friends and family. When I do sit still I like to watch movies with my dog.