DoctorDamien Esquerre Gheur
Lecturer / Lab Leader
BIO
I am an evolutionary biologist and herpetologist interested in the processes that generate biodiversity and different spatial and temporal scales. I combine genomics, phenomics and environmental and ecological data for my questions, and mostly use reptiles and amphibians as study organisms, with a special love for snakes. At a macro-evolutionary scale, I am interested in how biotic exchanges, environmental changes and the evolution of key innovations induce groups to start diversifying in species diversity as well as in ecology and morphology. At the moment I have a particular interest in snake venoms, their evolution, and how they can act as key innovations, which is part of a DECRA Fellowship I am undertaking. At the micro-evolutionary scale, I use phylogeography and population genetics to understand how to delimit species, quantity diversity and understand the process of speciation.
I also work as a professional wildlife photographer, teaching courses and leading photographic expeditions around the world.
At the University of Wollongong I have established the Biodiversity Evolution Lab (www.desquerre.com), which is rapidly growing. If you are interested in becoming doing your Honours, Masters or PhD in my lab send me an email.
UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG APPOINTMENTS
- Lecturer / Lab LeaderUniversity of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia5 Jun 2022 - present
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- PostdocAustralian National University, Canberra, Australia6 Aug 2019 - 30 Apr 2022
NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Photography instructor and tour leaderNatureArt Lab, Australia1 Mar 2016 - present
DEGREES
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Australian National University, Canberra, Australia2 Feb 2015 - 3 May 2019
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Evolution, Ecology and GeneticsAustralian National University, Canberra, Australia2 Feb 2013 - 10 Dec 2014
- Licenciatura en Ciencias Biologicas (Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences)Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile3 Mar 2007 - 8 Dec 2011
LANGUAGES
- EnglishCan read, write, speak, understand and peer review
- Spanish - Latin AmericanCan read, write, speak, understand and peer review
- FrenchCan read, speak and understand