Kate Marie Quigley

I am a molecular ecologist and Principal Research Scientist at the Minderoo Foundation, investigating the genomic basis of stress tolerance, adaptation, and resilience on coral reefs and in seagrass meadows across Australia.

I use ‘omics (population genomic, transcriptomic, metagenomic) tools and coral reproductive biology in conjunction with field, experimental, and modelling methods to understand what makes some corals resistant to heat stress while others are more vulnerable. Along with a baseline understanding of resilience in the wild, I am also examining the feasibility of large-scale restoration interventions, namely Assisted Gene Flow (AGF), to increase heat tolerance in marine organisms.

As a National Geographic Explorer, I am also working to establish partnerships with Traditional Owner communities to understand support and social licensing for genetic interventions for conservation through dialogue, engagement, and knowledge sharing.