Over the last few years, in the course of my studies and work, I have worked on a wide variety of animals – from vertebrates (like mice) to koura, bees and other invertebrates. I am now working on kuku embryology using SPLiT-seq single cell sequencing approaches, funded by a Marsden FastStart research grant. My project aims to advise the kuku hatchery industry on the effects of breeding for climate resilience, an important question to answer in a warming world. What drawbacks are there? What benefits? Which life stages are most vulerable to climate change, and where can we intervene?
I also have a background in science communication, and enjoy sharing my work with a variety of audiences! Find me at mary.hawkes@postgrad.otago.ac.nz or https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-hawkes-1397092b4/, and lets chat about cool developmental biology and how it effects our world!
Co-supervisors, Professor Peter Dearden, Professor Neil Gemmell, Dr Nathan Kenny