Adam T. Downie

I am an eco-physiologist and post-doctoral researcher currently based at the University of Queensland, in Brisbane. I have a broad interest in animal physiology, ranging from sturgeon to reef fishes and even marsupials. Originally from Canada, I received my BSc (Hons) majoring in marine biology from the University of New Brunswick (Saint John) in 2015. During my undergrad I worked with Prof. James Kieffer investigating a range of projects involving sturgeons, including salinity tolerance, and swimming performance. In 2016 following a childhood dream of living in Australia, I moved to Townsville, to intern with Prof. Jodie Rummer's group at James Cook University. This experience catalyzed my interest in understanding swimming performance in coral reef fishes.

In 2017 I started my PhD with Jodie, investigating how coral reef fishes develop the ability to swim, and the physiological mechanisms underpinning such performance. I completed my PhD in 2021 and started a post-doc with Prof. Craig Franklin's group at the University of Queensland, investigating the impacts of ultraviolet radiation from the sun on marine life (corals, and Nemos). During this time, with my fondness for all of Australia's wildlife (the koala is my favorite animal), I started a collaboration with Dr. Edward Narayan investigating how Australian marsupials maintain physiological homeostasis.