Dr Jessa Thurman
Pronouns: she,her,hers
CERC Postdoctoral Fellow
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Biography
Dr Jessa Thurman joined CSIRO in 2024 as a CERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Agroecology team to study when and where biocontrol agents are most effective for broadacre crops. Her research is aimed at improving the use of biocontrol agents and overall pest control on farms using ecological modeling.
Her PhD focused on the role of non-crop habitat on biological control of the diamondback moth and other economically important pests of vegetable crops. Non-crop habitats can serve as reservoirs for natural enemies and her research focused on identifying those natural enemies, measuring their impact on pest populations, and determining the impact of farming practices on these relationships. She focused on the role of adjacent vegetation and the addition of floral strips to crops on biological control.
Before her PhD, Dr Thurman embarked on a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study applications of entomology around the world. Following this, she pursued a Fulbright Fellowship to study the impact of native biocontrol agents on tree crops like macadamia and cacao. She has a strong passion for entomology and is inspired to improve our use of cropland to enhance ecosystem services and the conservation of native fauna.
Other Interests
Dr Jessa Thurman also studies and documents the lives and ecologies of Australian insects through macrophotography, teaching, and writing. This has resulted in scientific publications on the ecology of the giant wood moth and taxonomic revisions of leaf insects (Phylliidae), and the publication of her children's reference book, Australia's Incredible Insects. It has also resulted in her co-coordinating courses at the University of Queensland.
Academic Qualifications
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2023
Doctor of Philosophy
The University of Queensland, Australia -
2016
Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Hendrix College, USA
Achievements and Awards
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2022-2022
Whitley Award – Best Children’s Natural History Book
Royal Zoological Society of NSW -
2021-2022
Outstanding Service & Citizenship
The University of Queensland -
2021-2022
“You gotta be crazy” – Craziest idea that led to a scientific publication
The University of Queensland -
2021-2021
Best Student Talk
International Society of Hymenopterists -
2020-2021
Outstanding Service & Citizenship
The University of Queensland
Current Roles
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CERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow
My research focuses on spatial tools for deployment of mass-produced biocontrol agents. More details about our team projects can be found on our website: https://research.csiro.au/agroecology/
Fields of Research
Grants
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2022-2023
Australian Entomological Society Student Grant
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2022-2022
Student-staff Partnerships Grant - University of Queenland
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2020-2021
RSP-Industry Partnership Seed Funding
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2019-2022
Horticulture Innovation Australia Research Grant
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2019-2021
Global Change Scholarship
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2018-2018
Fulbright Research Fellowship
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2016-2017
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Professional Experiences
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2023-2024
Lecturer and Casual Academic for Field Ecology
The University of Queensland -
2023-2024
Co-coordinator for Australian Terrestrial Ecology
The University of Queensland -
2018-2018
Fulbright Scholar
Australian-American Fulbright Foundation -
2016-2017
Watson Fellow
Thomas J Watson Foundation
Community and Corporate Citizenship
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2021-2022
President - Biology Postgraduate Club
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2019-2020
Treasurer - Entomological Society of Queensland
Related links
ORCID 0000-0001-7200-8982
We have publications by Dr Jessa Thurman
Published data & software
We have published items by Dr Jessa Thurman