Dr Susan Rutherford

Research Interests

My research interests centre on evolutionary biology with a focus on the evolution of eucalypts. I am using new genetic techniques in combination with morphological, functional trait and environmental data to address questions concerning speciation, adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, hybridisation and species boundaries.
For my Ph.D., I investigated speciation in the green ash eucalypts (Eucalyptus subgenus Eucalyptus). Previously, I worked in plant ecophysiology and I continue to work with collaborators on the water relations of the wallum vegetation of the North Coast (NSW). 
 

Current Projects

Restore & Renew
Population genomics of Eucalyptus tetrapleura and other closely related co-occurring ironbarks
Biodiversity Adaptation Transect Sydney (BATS)
Adaptive variation versus vicariance: what drives speciation in Eucalyptus?