AWSC Staff

Prof. Andrew Fisher

Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Director of the Centre. Andrew has significant experience in the area of animal welfare, with a particular focus on production animal management and transport. Research interests include improved husbandry practices and management of farmed livestock species.

Dr. Lauren Hemsworth

Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Research interests include the human-animal relationship and its influence on animal welfare and productivity, field welfare assessment in farm and companion animals and developing education programs for recreational horse owners.

Dr. Carolina Muñoz

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Carolina is working within the MLA project examining Mulesing in prime lamb systems.

Dr. Jordan Hampton

Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Jordan has secured a McKenzie Fellowship and is working on a project to identify the adverse impacts on wildlife of lead ammunition in the Australian environment.

Dr. Jeremy Marchant

Research Animal Scientist, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service - Livestock Behavior Research Unit. Works at the Livestock Behavior Research Unit, based in West Lafayette, Indiana. Expertise is applied animal behavior (applied ethology) and stress physiology with a research focus on welfare issues surrounding housing and management of pigs and dairy cattle.

Prof. Grahame Coleman

Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Grahame has followed a research career in aspects of human and animal behaviour associated with biological rhythmicity and sleep and changes in stress-related and reproductive hormones. Current research interests focus primarily on human-animal interactions in farm and companion animals and public attitudes to animal welfare.

Prof. Paul Hemsworth

Hon Professor, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. A research career studying the behaviour and welfare of farm and companion animals, particularly examining the influence of the social and physical environment on farm animal behaviour and welfare and the influence of human-animal interactions on animal welfare and productivity.

Dr. Megan Lucas

Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Megan’s research experience is in studying the effects of factors such as the human-animal relationship, housing, management practices and early life experiences on pig welfare and productivity. Working within the CRC-P project ‘Eliminating pig tail removal to improve welfare and industry sustainability’

Dr. Mia Cobb

Honorary Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Research explores human attitudes, housing and management practices, animal behaviour, stress physiology and how animal welfare relates to the sustainability of animal-based industries. Active in the exciting domains of science communication, emerging technologies, citizen science, welfare auditing, and all things dog.

Dr. Peta Taylor

Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Peta's passions include the behaviour and welfare of production animals, with a particular interest in poultry and focus on combining assessments of physiology and behaviour.

Dr. Ellen Jongman

Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Research interests include the effect of housing, husbandry procedures and management on the welfare of sheep, dairy cows and companion animals. Remote monitoring of animal welfare indicators is also a focus.

Mr. Jeremy Skuse

Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Jeremy is Executive Officer for the National Primary Industries Animal Welfare RD&E Strategy and works with The Animal Welfare Collaborative out of the University of Queensland. His Interests include practical assessment of animal welfare, welfare assurance and training programs which optimise animal welfare.

Ms. Maxine Rice

Research Assistant, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Maxine directs the conduct of research projects across species and assists in the development of grant applications.

Mr. Kym Butler

Senior Biometrician, Agriculture Research, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. Kym works within the Biometrics Unit, Agriculture Research and applies biometric analysis to the Centre’s research projects.

Ms. Rutu Y. Acharya

Research Assistant, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Rutu assists in the conduct of research projects across animal species.