The Hoffmann lab focuses on three main areas of research:

• Climatic Stress - to find traits that enable adaptation to climatic stress, and to understand the genetic basis of these traits;
• Biomonitoring - to develop methods for the early and unambiguous detection and monitoring of environmental stress;
• Applied - to develop better ways of controlling pest species.

In understanding the main issues and mechanisms involved with adaptation of organisms to stress, we are then able to make informed management decisions to industry and the community.

Techniques include: molecular population markers, ecological community assessments, pesticide assays, quantitative genetic analyses, molecular species markers and single gene assessments.

Back to top

Ary Hoffmann Bio

Professor Hoffmann received his PhD from La Trobe University in 1984 and held positions at La Trobe University before moving to the University of Melbourne in 2005. In 2000, he gained a grant from the ARC to establish a Special Research Centre, the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research. In 2004, he was elected to the Australian Academy of Science and awarded a Federation Fellowship.  His research addresses the way organisms (and in particular insects) evolve to deal with environmental stresses. His research is also directed at developing new methods of controlling insect pests and new ways of using genetic markers to monitor environmental changes.

Back to top

Hoffmann Research Group

Research Staff

• Arthur, Aston  a.arthur@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Ayres, Renae  rayres@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Byars, Sean   s.byars@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Carrington, Lauren  l.carrington@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Chong, Chee Seng c.chong8@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• D'Alberto, Clare clarefiona@optusnet.com.au
• Gower, Jane  gowerjmc@bigpond.net.au
• Griffin, Philippa  griffinp@unimelb.edu.au
• Holmes, Gareth  g.holmes@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Kearns, Joanne j.kearns@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au,
• Kellermann, Vanessa  V.Kellermann@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Mitchell, Kate  k.mitchell5@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Nash, Michael  m.nash@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Rakimov, Adrian adrian.rakimov@dpi.vic.gov.au
• Tsitsilas, Angelos a.tsitsilas@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Valenzuela, Isabel  mailto:i.valenzuelagonzalez@pgrad.unimelb.edu.a
• Van Heerwaarden, Belinda b.vanheerwaarden@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
• Wasito warsito@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au

Back to top

In the News 

• No sex please, we're insect pests - CESAR, Bio21 study shows argicultural environments force insects to reproduce asexually. This may provide methods for controlling their damaging effects. Uni of Melbourne Media Release, Wednesday 23 July 2008.