Dr Sharon Downes
Senior Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
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Contact details:
ARMIDALE NSW 2350 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Dr Downes joined CSIRO in 2004 to apply her expertise in evolutionary ecology to the problem of insecticide resistance.
In her current position delivered through the Australian Cotton Research Institute in Narrabri, NSW, she leads a research team that enhances the performance of the Australian cotton industry by developing efficient, sustainable and innovative strategies to protect plants from insects.
Dr Downes' specific focus is on managing insecticide resistance by quantifying shifts over time in its prevalence, and concurrently she studies how toxin performance, pest behavior, resistance characteristics, and preparedness for pest incursions from overseas, interact to shape the risk profile for the Australian cotton industry.
Her current vision is built on capitalizing the increasing globalization of biota that is currently reshaping pest resistance landscapes at multiple scales. It is vital that industries and scientists acknowledge the importance of managing not only key local species and genotypes of these pests but also those that are still foreign which can pose significant risk and may proliferate should they arrive in local environments. Managing potential universal resistances requires a broad perspective and knowledge; not only of the biology of critical pests but also an understanding of the interdependence of biophysical and socioeconomic factors that together potentiate or constrain efforts to limit adaptation.
Dr Downes is an invited member of the advisory panels convened by the peak industry body, Cotton Australia, for the purpose of recommending the most scientifically appropriate practices to manage resistance.
Other Interests
Outside of professional work, Sharon lives with her partner David on a 5ha block that they are designing to provide their food, water, and energy needs. Sharon promotes independent music during a fortnightly DJ stint on community radio, has run a film society in her local community, and is an avid lover of wholesome food, nature, bush walking and hiking.
Professional Areas
Fields of Research
Current Roles
-
Group Leader
Biotic Interactions -
Program Representative
CSIRO Agriculture and Food Inclusion and Diversity Team -
Project Leader
Stewardship of Bt cotton including the threat of multi-resistance -
Project Leader
Developing education capacity in agriculture -
Project Collaborator
Social-ecological aspect of Bt resistance management -
Project Collaborator
Plant pest surveillance -
Participant
National Socioenvironmental Synthesis Center (USA) Pursuit on Socio-ecological Approaches to Resistance Management for Pesticides -
Expert Member (since 2004)
Member, TIMS Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy Technical Panel -
Associate Editor (since 2003)
Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology
Academic Qualifications
-
1999
Doctor of Philosophy in Biology
University of Sydney -
1994
Bachelor of Science (Hons)
University of Melbourne
Professional Experiences
-
2018-current
Senior Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
CSIRO Agriculture and Food -
2015-2018
Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
CSIRO Agriculture and Food -
2014-2015
Principal Research Scientist, Team Leader
CSIRO Agriculture Flagship -
2014-2015
ARLP Graduate of Course 21
Australian Rural Leadership Foundation -
2011-2014
Senior Research Scientist, Team Leader, Officer in Charge
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences -
2007-2011
Senior Research Scientist, Team Leader
CSIRO Entomology -
2004-2007
Research Scientist
CSIRO Entomology -
2001-2003
ARC Postdoctoral Fellow
The Australian National University -
2000-2001
Postdoctoral Fellow
Institute for Nature Conservation, Belgium -
2001-2001
Eloise Gerry Fellow
Graduate Women in Science -
1995-1995
William Buckland Fellow
Earthwatch
Achievements and Awards
-
2017-2017
Finalist, Cotton Seed Distributors Research Scientist of the Year
Cotton Australia -
2015-2015
Impactful Publication Award, Featured on front cover in PLoS Genetics, culminated 20 years of work, stimulated ongoing discussion & involved staff from 3 BUs
CSIRO Health and Biosecurity -
2011-2011
Finalist, Cotton Seed Distributors Research Scientist of the Year
Cotton Australia -
2006-2006
Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry -
2000-2000
Jabez King Haydon Memorial Prize in Biology for best PhD Thesis
The University of Sydney -
1999-1999
Gaige Award
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists -
1998-1998
Henri Seibert Award
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles -
1999-1999
Biological Sciences Postgraduate Excellence Prize
University of Sydney -
1999-1999
Stoye Award
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists -
1999-1999
Peter Rawlinson Prize
Australian Society of Herpetologists -
1994-1994
Howitt Natural History Scholarship in Science
University of Melbourne
Other highlights
-
2008-2008
CRC Representative, Science meets Parliament, Canberra
-
2006-2012
Editorial Board Member, Australian Journal of Zoology
-
2003-2005
Australian Delegate, International Ethological Committee
-
2003-2005
Associate Editor, Journal of Herpetology
-
2001-2003
Australian Federation of University Women Delegate, Status of Women Committee
-
2001-2003
Vice President, Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW)—ACT
-
2001-2003
President, Australian Society of Herpetologists
-
2000-2002
Associate Editor, Journal of Herpetology
Grants
-
2017-2020
Department of Agriculture Rural Research and Development for Profit Scheme, Improving Plant Pest Management Through Cross Industry Deployment of Smart Sensors, Diagnostics and Forecasting, with Tom Walsh and Wee Tek Tay (CSIRO) (A$298,964)
-
2016-2019
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Resistance research and monitoring to enhance stewardship of Bt cotton and management of Helicoverpa spp, in collaboration with Tom Walsh and Wee Tek Tay: CSE1701 (A$2,625,820)
-
2016-2018
National Socioenvironmental Synthesis Center (USA), Pursuit on Socio-ecological Approaches to Resistance Management for Pesticides and Antimicrobial Drugs, led by Peter Sorggard Joergensen (Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences), and Scott Carroll (University of California, Davis)
-
2016-2018
Chinese Government Scientific Exchange of Expertise Grant, Cotton insect pest management, with Tom Walsh and Wee Tek Tay (CSIRO) and Mr Ruifeng Ding (Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences) (A$15,000)
-
2015-2018
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Developing Education Capacity in Agriculture, in collaboration with Trudy Staines: CSE1602 (A$682,530)
-
2015-2015
Cotton Research and Development Corporation Travel Grant to World Cotton Conference ($5,000)
-
2014-2016
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Economic risk assessment of resistance management strategies for BT cotton, in collaboration with Russell Gordard: 14-15PRP163 (A$584,225)
-
2013-2016
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Monitoring to manage resistance to Bt toxins, in collaboration with Tom Walsh: CSE1402 (A$2,575,418)
-
2012-2015
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Developing Education Capacity in Agriculture, in collaboration with Trudy Staines: CSE1305 (A$442,203)
-
2011-2014
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Efficacy of Bollgard III against Helicoverpa: CSE1202 (A$1,069,761)
-
2011-2014
Cotton Research and Development Corporation, The characterisation of Vip3A resistance in Helicoverpa species, in collaboration with Tom Walsh: CSE1201 (A$1,515,928)
Community and Corporate Citizenship
-
2015-current
Myall Vale Site Lead, Health and Well-being
-
2009-current
Myall Vale Site Lead, Indigenous Engagement Strategy
-
2007-current
Myall Vale Site Contact, CSIRO Benevolent Fund
Attachments
Related links
ORCID 0000-0002-3729-1732
We have publications by Dr Sharon Downes