Danielle Medek RSBS PhD Student

Danielle completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Botany & Ecology at the University of Queensland. After completing Honours there was still much about the plant world Danielle wanted to know – she felt a PhD was the only solution.

Danielle’s research focuses on grasses from the Subantarctic and the Australian Alps. She has been investigating how the different environmental constraints presented in these two cold yet different environments influence plant strategies for freezing tolerance and carbon gain.

Danielle chose ANU for her PhD after discovering the supervisors she really wanted to work with were in RSBS. Also, the rare opportunity to visit subantarctic Macquarie Island certainly did not dissuade her! Danielle says, “My group is very supportive and scientifically stimulating. With a long history of work in plant physiology, there is plenty of expertise in RSBS to draw on for help and feedback.”

Life for Danielle is not all work and no play. Her favourite Friday afternoon activity is afternoon drinks in the garden at Uni House, where grad students and academics from all disciplines mix and mingle. Off campus Danielle makes the most of Canberra’s natural environment enjoying kayaking, sailing, dancing, eating and like all PhD students – sleeping!

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