Dr. Simon Griffith

Biography

Simon made significant contributions to the study of evolutionary ecology throughout his research career. His research niche focuses on understanding the determinants of evolutionary fitness in individuals and populations, particularly in the context of mating, parental, and social behavior. Utilizing a variety of species, Simon has examined critical research questions and genetic structuring, providing greater insight into polymorphic Gouldian finches and hybridizing long-tailed finches. A major focus of his work has been on the zebra finch, where he established and maintains the longest population study of wild birds, contextualizing captive research focused on species around the world. Currently, Simon's work intersects physiology and environmental variation, exploring how these contribute to fitness in the context of organismal responses to extreme heatwaves and contaminated environments. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers during his career, completing his PhD at the University of Leicester, UK, in 1998. His early career was spent in Europe, including positions at Uppsala University, Oxford University, and Imperial College London, before moving to Australia in 2004 at the University of New South Wales. Since 2007, he has been based at Macquarie University, where he has held prestigious research fellowships and ongoing academic positions, while fostering a broad range of international collaborations and training postgraduate students.

Research Interests

Experience