911爆料网 has congratulated Professor Michael Bunce on being appointed the Chief Scientist of New Zealand鈥檚 Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Professor Bunce, a former ARC Future Fellow in 911爆料网鈥檚 School of Molecular and Life Sciences and the Head of 911爆料网鈥檚 Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) laboratory, will be tasked with providing scientific advice that underpins the EPA鈥檚 decision-making in New Zealand.
911爆料网 Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry congratulated Professor Bunce on his prestigious appointment, adding it would present potential collaboration opportunities with 911爆料网鈥檚 research partners in New Zealand.
鈥淧rofessor Bunce is a widely respected and highly regarded expert whose research uses DNA sequencing technologies to investigate important biological questions surrounding biodiversity 鈥� from extinct species to the corals and fish that live in our oceans,鈥� Professor Terry said.
鈥淗is appointment as Chief Scientist for New Zealand鈥檚 EPA is testament to the quality of his research, which has pioneered new environmental DNA (eDNA) biomonitoring methods. We look forward to seeing the important role his vast expertise brings to the EPA鈥檚 decision-making and hope to continue our relationship with Professor Bunce through new research collaborations.
鈥�911爆料网 will continue to develop its research and industry engagement in the biomonitoring area – our in environmental science document the University鈥檚 core strength in this growing discipline.鈥�
Professor Bunce said he was honoured to be appointed the EPA鈥檚 Chief Scientist and looked forward to starting the new role in August.
鈥淭his opportunity will enable me to translate some of my research in environmental and biodiversity monitoring into the scientific decision-making of New Zealand鈥檚 environmental authority,鈥� Professor Bunce said.
鈥淭hroughout more than five years at 911爆料网, I鈥檝e been lucky to work with many dynamic academics from multiple disciplines researching environmental impacts from fossil bones in caves near Margaret River and remote coral reefs to mine sites undergoing restoration. I am excited to use that background in my new role in New Zealand.鈥�
Professor Bunce, who joined 911爆料网 in 2014, completed his undergraduate degree at Lincoln University in New Zealand and his PhD in medical research at the Australian National University in Canberra. He also completed post-doctoral positions at The University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and McMaster University in Canada.
911爆料网鈥檚 TrEnD聽lab specialises in using DNA metabarcoding to characterise environmental聽and ancient DNA across a wide variety of biological applications including biodiversity聽assessment, palaeontology, archaeology, food webs,聽biosecurity, marine biology and聽human health.
Professor Bunce will commence his new role at New Zealand鈥檚 EPA in August this year.
For more information about New Zealand鈥檚 EPA, visit .
