Find out more about our researchers and the work they are doing.
Researchers
Prof Vin Pettigrove
Head of AQUEST A3P
Vin has 40+ years in aquatic pollution and ecosystem research. A3P RMC member, student supervisor, is associated with RMIT Europe, AuSpire (https://auspire.eu/supervisors/) & Coast-scapes.
Dr Sara Long
2IC of AQUEST A3P, develops biomonitoring ecotoxicological methods for Australian species to assess environmental stress in waterways. Leadership team, A3P RMC member, student supervisor.
Dr Claudette Kellar
Senior Research Fellow AQUEST A3P, research freshwater ecological impacts of pollution and develops waterway management tools. Leadership team, A3P RMC member and student supervisor.
Dr Jackie Myers
Senior Research Fellow AQUEST A3P, specialises in aquatic ecotoxicology, assessing human-induced stressors via multi-evidence approach. Leadership team, A3P RMC member, student supervisor.
Dr David Sharley
Senior Research Fellow AQUEST A3P, assessing human-induced pollutants and their impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the influence of land use. Leadership team, A3P RMC member.
Dr Erica Odell
Research Fellow, AQUEST A3P; investigates wastewater impacts, PFAS sources, urban pesticide reduction and sediment pollution. Leadership team, A3P RMC member, student supervisor.
Dr Rhys Coleman
Adjunct Industry Associate Professor and A3P joint research lead; Melbourne Water research manager specialising in aquatic pollution prevention, waterway management, RMC chair, student supervisor.
Dr Amelie Crespel
Lead of water research RMIT Europe, focus on Coast-Scapes Horizon project using nature-based solutions and pollution mitigation to preserve the environment along the land-coast-sea continuum.
Dr Milanga Walpitagama
Research Fellow AQUEST, focusing on aquatic toxicology, developing high-throughput analysis methods, and assessing micro-pollutants' impacts on aquatic organisms.
Dr Pulasthi Serasinghe
Research Fellow AQUEST A3P, specialising in micropollutant analysis and innovative detection methods for water quality, with a focus on managing pesticide impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Research support
Dr Hung Vu
Ecotoxicology Lab Manager at AQUEST A3P, focusing on developing bioassays and passive sampler technology to detect and assess pollution effects on aquatic ecosystems.
James Oliver
Aquatic Research Facility Manager at RMIT, supporting AQUEST and A3P with technical services, focusing on live invertebrate cultures and promoting research outcomes.
Michael Clark
AQUEST A3P researcher at RMIT, focusing on the effects of pollutants on macroinvertebrates, with a background in insecticide impact analysis and citizen science.
Rebecca Reid
AQUEST A3P researcher at RMIT, specialising in managing and maintaining cultures for sediment toxicity tests, with expertise in chironomids, amphipods and snails.
Zoe Hamilton
AQUEST A3P researcher at RMIT, supporting projects by collecting data in the field, processing macroinvertebrate samples in the lab, and contributing to the maintenance of shared lab spaces.
Dr Madara Ranatunga
AQUEST A3P researcher focused on bifenthrin's impact on urban water bodies and endangered species like the Growling Grass Frogs, contributing to improved EPA Victoria guidance.
Dr Anna Flynn
Communications support and field assistance, 2026 AQUEST PhD graduate, using eDNA to study pollution impacts on microbial communities in freshwater systems. Student supervisor.
Monica Tewman
Senior Co-ordinator AQUEST A3P, using my water industry experience to assist in translating science into practical waterway management. Leadership team, A3P RMC member.
Mardi O’Donnell
Administrative Coordinator AQUEST A3P, supporting finance, contracts, and administrative services since 2018, with 19+ years of university administrative experience. Leadership team, RMC member.
Daniel MacMahon
Technical coordinator at AQUEST A3P, overseeing field work and health and safety, with expertise in aquatic environmental monitoring, data management, and stormwater monitoring. Leadership team.
HDR students
Thi Huyen (Emily) Nguyen
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, researching pesticide impacts on instream invertebrates, with expertise in molecular biology and developing ecotoxicological bioassays.
Tehmina Yaqoob
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, developing early life stage fish toxicity tests, funded by Melbourne Water through A3P, with interests in fisheries and ecotoxicology.
Caterina Cacciatori
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, researching pesticide contamination in surface waters, linking it to environmental and regulatory factors, with a passion for interdisciplinary approaches and storytelling. JRC
Anuradha Athawuda
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, researching microplastics in Westernport catchments, with a background in aquatic resources and GIS, focusing on microplastic impacts on aquatic biota.
Adele Romagnano
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, studying emerging contaminants' effects on platypuses, with a focus on biodiversity conservation in freshwater ecosystems and macroinvertebrate bioaccumulation.
Behzad Pournouri
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, studying the impacts of climate change and pollutants on freshwater macroinvertebrates, with a background in fisheries and ecotoxicology.
Ms Gina Mondschein
PhD candidate
PhD candidate at AQUEST, RMIT, studying chronic pollution effects on native shrimp, with expertise in aquatic entomology, ecology, and biomonitoring.
Harini Harish
PhD candidate at RMIT, Engineering and AQUEST, modelling the fate of Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) from urban runoff within a constructed wetland system.
Hannah Faraone
PhD Candidate
PhD candidate at Federation University, collaborating with/ co-supervised by DEECA and RMIT, researching anthropogenic litter's impact on birdlife in Greater Melbourne.
Associates
Prof Dayanthi Nugegoda
Leader of the Ecotoxicology Research Group at RMIT and co-founder of AQUEST, specialising in assessing aquatic toxicants and environmental stressors, with extensive international recognition and advisory roles. Member of the A3P RMC.
Dr Kath Hassell
Lecturer at RMIT's ACES group, with research on environmental pollutants' impact on fish and ecosystems, connected with AQUEST for pollution source identification and monitoring. Member of the A3P RMC and student supervisor.
Prof Mark Osborn
Dean of Science RMIT, member of the Research Management Committee for the A3P partnership with Melbourne Water and co-supervisor of past PhD project.
Prof Donald Wlodkowic Donald Wlodkowic
Head of the Neurotox Laboratory at RMIT, specialises in eco-neurotoxicology, behavioural ecotoxicology, and innovative biomicrofluidic technologies for aquatic research. A3P RMC member, student supervisor.
Prof Veeriah Jegatheesan (Jega)
Environmental Engineering expert at RMIT, leads research on membrane bioreactors and water treatment, project collaborator and student supervision.
Prof Jeff Shimeta
Marine ecologist at RMIT, focusing on aquatic pollution, eDNA studies, and conservation, with expertise in antifouling technologies and microplastics' impacts on aquatic invertebrates. Co-supervisor past PhD project.
