Dr David Beale
Principal Research Scientist, Adjunct Professor of RMIT University
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BRISBANE QLD 4001 AUSTRALIA
Biography
David Beale is the Team Leader of CSIRO’s Ecosurveillance Systems team within the Industrial Environments (IE) research program. His work focuses on developing high-throughput methods for detecting, quantifying, and tracking contaminants in the environment, and assessing their biological impact using omics-based tools and techniques. David's integrated and transdisciplinary approach combines these new and novel omics-based techniques with traditional contaminant analysis, enabling him to identify and quantify human impacts and assess the robustness and resilience of biological systems and natural ecosystems. David's role involves producing research outcomes and making significant contributions in the field of environmental applications of functional omics, such as proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, and exposomics. His methodologies have been successfully applied to industrial and clinical fields beyond his original expertise, enhancing his reputation as a leading scientist with a growing national and international profile in metabolomics and omics-based research more broadly. David focuses on impact-driven projects, emphasizing areas with high potential for technology adoption by external stakeholders.
David's work is performed in collaboration with various stakeholders, including state and federal government departments, industries, conservation managers, communities, Traditional Owners, and researchers from diverse disciplines, both nationally and internationally. His sustained record of science leadership has advanced understanding of how environmental contaminants impact ecosystems and human health, providing critical insights for managing and protecting natural environments. He is also an accredited postgraduate supervisor at RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology.
Other Interests
Edited Books:
‘Applied Environmental Metabolomics: Community Insights and Guidance from the Field’ with Dr Hillyer, Dr Warden (CSIRO), and Professor Jones (RMIT). Elsevier Publishing, Netherlands, 2022. DOI 10.1016/C2017-0-04429-4.
‘Microbial Metabolomics: Applications in Clinical, Environmental, and Industrial Microbiology’ with Dr Kouremenos and Professor Palombo. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2016. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-46326-1.
Media Interest:
David’s research into the health impacts of PFAS on freshwater turtles has garnered 22 mentions across national and regional media, reaching a potential audience of 950,000. The coverage includes high-profile TV, radio, online, and print publications such as 9 News, Yahoo, ABC Radio National, and the Sydney Morning Herald. This includes:
• Talking PFAS podcast, QLD PFAS oral history collection, Queensland Library.
• Interview with Laura Tchilinguirian on National ABC News (Radio) (12th November 2024).
• Interview on Sky News (Television), Australia (13th November 2024).
• Interview on Nine News (Darwin, Australia) – special report on PFAS (13th November 2024).
• Interview with Michael Dahlstrom (Environmental Editor, Yahoo! news).
• News Corp (and affiliates; 12th November 2024).
• Sydney Morning Herald (13th November 2024).
• Interview with Danielle Beurteaux (Science News – Independent Journalism since 1921); 7th January 2025.
• Australian Geographic. PFAS: The forever chemical reality. O. Cumming, 4th February 2025.
Professional Areas
Current Roles
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Team Leader
Ecosurveillance Systems Research -
Science domain leader, Environmental Metabolomics and Systems Biology Integration.
Systems biology-based approaches to assess microbial contributions to natural and engineered environments. -
Science domain leader, Environmental multi-omics integration.
Systems biology-based approaches to assess biological perturbations to biotic and abiotic changes.
Academic Qualifications
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2011
PhD (Analytical Chemistry)
RMIT University -
2003
Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Science) (Honours)
RMIT University -
2002
Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Science)
RMIT University
Professional Experiences
-
2017-Current
Visiting Scholar
University of Queensland -
2022-Current
Omics interest group co-chair
SETAC -
2024`-Current
Adjunct Professor
RMIT University -
2023-Current
Associate Editor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
SETAC / Wiley Publishing -
2020-Current
Section Editor; Environmental Metabolomics
MDPI Metabolites (International Metabolomics society Journal) -
2015-Current
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
University of the Sunshine Coast -
2013-Current
Adjunct Fellow and Accredited Postgraduate Supervisor
Swinburne University of Technology -
2021-2024
Adjunct Associate Professor
RMIT University -
2017-Current
Organising Committee
The Australian & New Zealand Metabolomics Conference (ANZMET) -
2018-2023
Accredited Postgraduate Supervisor
RMIT University -
2019-2023
Vice President, Founding board member of ANZMetSoc
Australian & New Zealand Metabolomics Society (ANZMetSoc) -
2013-2020
Associate Editor
Water Science and Technology -
2013-2020
Associate Editor
WST: Water Supply -
2012-2012
Adjunct Fellow
RMIT University -
2012-2012
Visiting Scholar
Umeå University, Sweden
Other highlights
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2004-2004
CRC for Water Quality and Treatment Summer Scholarship (Seminar Prize)
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2008-2011
CRC for Water Quality and Treatment Post-graduate Scholarship
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2013-2013
Victorian State Finalist in "Fresh Scientist" award
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2007-2008
Young Achievement Australia Entrepreneurship Program
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2012-2012
Keynote speaker at the Australian Corrosion Association (ACA) symposium on Microbiological Influenced Corrosion
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2018-2018
Invited speaker at the Queensland Mass Spectrometry symposium, QUT Brisbane.
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2019-2019
Invited speaker at the Singapore Merlion Metabolomics Symposium, NTU Singapore.
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2018-2018
Invited speaker at the Agilent Food and Environment Mass Spectrometry Symposium, Brisbane.
Grants
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2021-2026
FDA funded Strengthening COVID-19 animal models and regulatory sciences.
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2023-2025
DCCEEW Marine Turtle Climate Change Resilience and Nest Protection.
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2022-2025
CSIRO ResearchPlus CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2021-22 (Round 2).
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2020-2024
CSIRO Julius Career Development Grant (Systems Biology).
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2021-2023
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) (COVID-19)
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2022-2023
Agilent Applications and Core Technology - Research Grant.
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2018-2022
CSIRO Research+ CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (investigating "Total systems biology approaches to ecosystem health" [Dr Katie Hillyer])
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2021-2022
Cutting-edge Symposium on Integrated Systems Biology (CSIRO Research Office).
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2018-2022
ResearchPlus CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2017-18 (Round 2).
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2020-2021
Cutting-edge Symposium on Integrated Systems Biology: Challenges and Future Perspectives.
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2017-2021
ResearchPlus CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2016-17 (Round 2).
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2017-2021
CSIRO Research+ CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (investigating "The gut pathogen interactome" [Dr Avinash Karpe]).
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2014-2015
Rapid Detection of meat pathogens using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Metabolomics. Funded by the The Australian Meat Processor Corporation
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2013-2014
Methane sampling and analysis in wastewater at the Western Treatment Plant. Smart Water Fund.
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2011-2013
Water Asset Management, The Water Environment Research Foundation.
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2011-2013
Water Asset Reliability, Water Services Association of Australia.
Community and Corporate Citizenship
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2019-2022
CSIRO Land & Water Science Council, Chair.
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2019-2022
Site Land & Water representative, Ecoscience Precinct Dutton Park.
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2015-2019
Laboratory Custodian (Metabolomics Lab), Ecoscience Precinct Dutton Park
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2015-2019
Site Chemical Safety Officer, Ecoscience Precinct Dutton Park
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2017-2019
Site First Aid Officer, Ecoscience Precinct Dutton Park
Attachments
Related links
ORCID 0000-0002-9948-9197
We have publications by Dr David Beale