Sharon Wismer

Post Doc

Sharon spent her childhood between the Swiss Alps and the shores of Durban, South Africa, where exploring local rock pools ignited her passion for marine life. After completing her BSc in Marine Biology at James Cook University in 2007, she happily managed The Bellwood Lab for next 2.5 years. Sharon subsequently moved back home to Switzerland and finished her MSc and PhD under the supervision of Prof. Redouan Bshary, at the University of Zürich and the University of Neuchâtel, respectively, where she investigated the decision strategies and cognitive abilities of cleaner fish, Labroides dimidiatus. As of 2017, Sharon is funded by a Swiss National Science Foundation postdoctoral mobility fellowship. Her collaborative project investigates the impact of recent mass bleaching events on reef fishes, with a particular focus on coral-associated fishes. In her free time, Sharon enjoys spending time with her two children and engaging in community outreach projects that educate school aged children in the conservation of the natural world.

Jodie Schlaefer

Post Doc

Jodie grew up in Canberra, Australia’s land locked capital. She loved all things science from a young age, and family holidays on the New South Wales coast fostered her fascination with the marine environment. Jodie completed her BSc (Hon, Marine Biology) in 2014 and her PhD in 2020, both at James Cook University, and both under the supervision of Prof. Michael Kingsford and Prof. Eric Wolanski. Further, she has worked as a research assistant with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies since late 2018. Jodie’s research has principally focussed on how populations of aquatic organisms are shaped by both the traits/behaviours of the organisms and the physical properties of their environments. She has studied a variety of organisms including coral reef fish larvae, jellyfish and seagrass. As an ARC Laureate postdoctoral research associate in the Function Hub Jodie will investigate the functions provided by coral reef organisms from a uniquely bio-physical perspective.

Jodie’s recent publications