Lisa Ashby

candidate in Master of transdisciplinary innovation (MTrans.innov.) – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Rosalie Chapple, Shelley Alexander

An ecocentric perspective on the inner and social lives of wild canids in Australia

Lisa’s research seeks to document the individual lives of Australia’s wild canids, or ‘dingoes’, and unmask the consequences of lethal management practices on their social and cultural experiences. She will explore how the dominant anthropocentric view of wild canids shapes our capacity to provide space and safety for them to construct rich, stable lives and communities. Further, this will be contrasted with exploration of how ecocentrism might alter Australian perceptions and management of canids, and what benefits might accrue for wild canids and people alike. Science-based socio-ecological evidence will be gathered in the field and, combined with existing literature, will form a conceptualisation of the lived experiences of the canids using ecocentrism and compassionate conservation as its basis. Following recent interdisciplinary animal-culture research, Lisa’s observations of their sociality will be underpinned with empathetic insights to describe canid inner and social lives under different contexts. This will present a clear vision of the richness of their communities and lives, challenging us to rethink how humans might interact with canids in ways that recognise their agency and rights.

Prativa Bomzon

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Rosalie Chapple

Contextualising free-roaming dogs as ecological beings in the eastern Himalayan foothills of India

Prativa’s research investigates the evolving relationships between humans, free-roaming dogs (Canis familiaris), and other wildlife. Specifically, she is interested in how street, community, and owned dogs become feralised and how this shapes their experiences and relationships. Working in the complex landscapes of her hometown of Darjeeling, India, her study examines how the framing of domestication and co-evolution with people shapes how free-roaming dogs are perceived and the ecological interactions they have with their own and other species. Using a range of ecological, sociological, and animal studies perspectives, Prativa hopes to unravel the socio-cultural barriers that inhibit coexistence between free-roaming dogs, people, and wildlife.

Rajendra Dhungana

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Achyut Aryal

Problematising tiger conservation and climatic change in Nepal

Rajendra’s research seeks explore the remarkable success Nepal has achieved in recovering tiger populations since 2010, positioning itself as a global leader in large carnivore conservation. However, this achievement now faces emerging challenges from climate change, habitat fragmentation driven by infrastructure development, escalating human-tiger conflict, and governance complexities introduced by federalisation. These dynamics place tiger conservation at a critical crossroads, requiring integrated approaches that balance ecological integrity with socio-economic aspirations. This research examines traditional conservation objectives—such as spatial distribution, habitat use, and prey dynamics—alongside risks posed by climate change, land-use change, and habitat availability within the Terai Arc Landscape. Furthermore, it explores socio-ecological drivers shaping human-tiger interactions and identifies policy priorities and financing mechanisms that reconcile competing interests. By synthesising ecological and social dimensions, Rajendra aims to inform adaptive strategies and decision-making frameworks that reimagine tiger conservation as a catalyst for landscapes where both people and nature can thrive.

Nynke Kooistra

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Rosalie Chapple

Understanding the potential for street dogs to thrive in the bustling communities of India

Nynke’s research explores the links between the health and well-being of street dogs, local human communities, the physicality of different urban environments, and the institutional systems. It aims to assess levels of ‘thriving’ in street dogs using an index comprised of the conditions and key institutional factors that impact on dog well-being thus offering a more objective assessment of the potential for dogs to thrive, rather than merely survive, in the urban ecosystem. Her research takes a multidisciplinary approach by studying dog behaviour, health and well-being, social interactions among dogs and with humans, community attitudes and levels of care, and supporting systems and institutional frameworks with the aim to find an optimum suite of conditions for dogs to thrive.

Rashmi Singh

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Rosalie Chapple

Socio-ecological transformations in the Indian trans-Himalaya: contextualising coexistence through multispecies relationships

Rashmi’s research focuses on the complex multispecies relationships that underpin socio-ecological systems. Transformation in these systems can drive positive change, but knowledge of how complex interacting parts affect one another is a considerable challenge that requires transdisciplinary thinking. As a global biodiversity hotspot, the trans-Himalayan region is struggling to balance the needs of its constituents and accommodate change. Through her doctoral research, she is focusing on transformations in human-canid and inter-canid relationships, particularly the free-ranging village dogs and wild canids like wolves and foxes. Already ecologically challenged, rural dogs are reportedly increasing in numbers in the Himalayan regions, and potentially driving novel interactions between the domestic canids, wild animals, livestock, and humans.

Margarita Steinhardt

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Susanne Pratt, Daniel Ramp

Evolutionary trajectories and historical processes that shape human-felid communities

Margarita’s research explores human-wildlife coexistence in shared multispecies landscapes with a specific focus on the Felidae (the cats) family. Combining perspectives from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, Margarita’s research seeks to understand what values, histories and relationships enable some human-felid communities to respectfully coexist while others are fraught with conflicts. Margarita’s first case study focuses on the interactions between Spanish naturalists and the charismatic Iberian lynx in the Southern Spain region of Andalusia. This work is driven by an interest in how nonhuman charisma shapes affective interspecies relationships between lay naturalists and the animals they are drawn to.

Deborah Sullivan 

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Kate Brandis, John Porter, Andrea Harvey

Optimising pelican health and well-being in a multi-stakeholder world

Deb’s research borrows from her expertise as a leading pelican biologist, seeking to address the complex relationship people have with these large waterbirds. Pelicans worldwide are at the interface between aquatic environments and human resource use, driving conflict between stakeholders that often results in the persecution of pelican populations. A bird’s physiological state contributes to its wellbeing, survival and reproductive success, however, knowledge of the physiology of the Australian pelican and the link between population dynamics, habitat characteristics and pressures from a peri-urban environment are poorly understood and underrepresented in scientific literature. Using a range of measures (blood chemistry, diet, and movement), Deb’s research aims to determine the health and wellbeing of pelicans in relation to the pressures of living in a peri-urban wetland environment.

Alex Trobec

PhD candidate – Supervisors: Daniel Ramp, Kenny Sabir, Luke Mathieson

Determining sustainability interventions to help improve the resilience of livestock farms against environmental perturbations

Alex’s research is part of the Foragecaster project, funded by the Food Agility CRC. Alex is a data scientist focused on sustainability practices that help farmers meet the growing demands of the global food system and biodiversity conservation. Alex has a National Industry PhD Scholarship from the Department of Education and he works full-time with AgriWebb, a key industry partner on the Foragecaster project. His PhD project investigates how livestock farms can increase long-term efficiency despite volatile rainfall and temperatures under global warming. While there is pressure to boost output by intensifying agriculture, farmers must also consider the environmental impacts of increased stocking load, including land deterioration and greenhouse gas emissions. His research will explore the relationship between farm productivity and environmental factors, identifying key drivers of resilience. This will help identify sustainable practices and holistic grazing management, providing farmers with the tools for informed, long-term decisions.

Madeline Watts

PhD candidate – Supervisor: Daniel Ramp

Advancing One Welfare to reframe co-existence and conservation for Eastern Grey Kangaroos

Madeline’s research will advance the One Welfare framework to integrate animal welfare science with conservation and social science, reframing coexistence strategies for Eastern Grey Kangaroos. By linking welfare indicators to ecological measures, this study will explore how kangaroo well-being can drive social change, improve coexistence, and strengthen conservation outcomes. Focusing on Eastern Grey Kangaroos—often perceived as abundant yet facing threats from land-use change, management practices, and climate impacts—this research will test welfare as an early warning indicator of species decline and inform policies that balance biodiversity and human interests.

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