Rachelle Binny

Rachelle Binny is a mathematical biology researcher at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, and an Investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini, New Zealand's Centre of Research Excellence in Complex Systems and Data Analytics.

Rachelle's research integrates mathematics, statistics and biology and is data-driven. Following a BSc(Hons) in Mathematical Biology at the University of Dundee in Scotland, she undertook a PhD at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, to develop new models of collective cell behaviour in wound healing, and calibrate these using experimental data. After completing her PhD in 2015, Rachelle expanded her application of models from cell biology into ecology. She spent two years as a postdoc at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research before taking on a Researcher position there. Rachelle's current work combines modelling theory with data from ecological systems to guide conservation management. This involves collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across the conservation sector, from the Department of Conservation to local government and community groups.