PhD Research Excellence 2026 Finalists

Dr Reeves’ PhD advanced marine evolutionary ecology by clarifying how evolutionary history, population structure, and foraging behaviour together shape predator ecology. Through collaborative research incorporating First Nations knowledge alongside new genomic, forensic, and nutritional approaches, the work moved beyond narrow case studies to deliver general insights into predator behaviour and ecosystem function.

Dr Reeves’ research has produced 10 peer‑reviewed publications, with a further seven under review, and attracted more than AUD $2 million in research funding. The research received national and international recognition, including the American Genetic Association’s Best Student Paper Award and Flinders University’s HDR Student Research Impact Prize.

Beyond academia, the research involved a global collaborative network spanning six continents and reached global public audiences. Dr Reeves’ work has appeared in more than 300 news articles worldwide, contributed to four documentary productions, and featured in numerous blogs, podcasts, and television appearances.

Her research has also been translated into museum exhibitions, textbook case studies, and educational resources, including adaptations for children. This doctorate impact extends beyond advancing scientific knowledge and theory to shaping education, public understanding, and the communication of wildlife science.

Thermal imaging detects heat, allowing it to image people, objects and hazards, even in complete darkness. While it is widely used in defence, medical diagnostics and agriculture, the technology remains too expensive for many everyday applications such as home fire detection, autonomous vehicles and consumer electronics.

The main barrier is the lens material, with most common materials blocking the long wavelength infrared light required for thermal imaging. Specialised materials that do transmit this light are rare, difficult to process and extremely costly, making the lenses one of the most expensive components in a thermal camera.

During his PhD, Dr Tonkin developed a new class of recyclable polymers with the highest transparency to long wavelength infrared light recorded in literature. Working with industry partners, he designed and manufactured novel polymer lenses to replace conventional infrared materials at a fraction of the cost. This led to the first thermal imaging camera capable of clearly imaging a person using a fully polymeric lens system.

By dramatically reducing material costs while maintaining performance, the research opens the door to affordable, high volume thermal imaging for use in everyday devices and infrastructure.