School of Medical and Health Sciences

Associate Professor Annette Koenders

Annette is a member of the School leadership team and is responsible for developing, implementing and reviewing teaching and learning strategies for the School, fostering a collaborative and inclusive School culture and developing School capability, sustainability, collaborations and external profile in teaching and learning.  Annette leads a project on indigenising the curriculum in the School of Medical & Health Sciences and the School of Science.

Current Teaching

• MMS2103 Clinical Biochemistry

Background

Annette joined Edith Cowan University in 1994 in Science, moving to Medical & Health Sciences at the start of 2022.  During her time at ECU, Annette has developed and co-ordinated highly successful international teaching collaborations with China and the UK, including the transition to online delivery in response to COVID, led a project for online delivery of the first year program in science and currently leads a team including learning designers and staff from Kurongkurl Katitijn on a project to indigenise the science and medical and health sciences curricula.  Annette has a broad teaching portfolio spanning molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, animal physiology, biological and chemical hazards as well as introductory biology for nursing.  Annette has served the University in various roles such as course co-ordination, curriculum development, participation on University Committees such as Academic Board, Radiation, Biosafety & Hazardous Substances Committee, and as Deputy Chair of the Student Appeals Committee.  Annette has been a University Contact Officer and ALLY for over a decade and uses the pronouns they/them.

Professional Associations

• Australian Council of Deans of Science
• Society of Australian Systematic Biologists
• HERDSA

Awards & Recognition

University and National Teaching Awards:

• 2011 -  Dean's Award for contributions to the School of Natural Sciences, ECU
• 1999 - Teaching Fellowship Award for Excellence in Teaching, ECU

National and International Research Positions:

• 1990-1992 Research Fellow (ARC), La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC
• 1980-1989 Research Officer (MHMRC), Monash University, Clayton VIC

Other:

• 1983-1986 Monash Graduate Scholarship, Monash University, Clayton VIC

Research Areas and Interests

Annette has obtained over $600,000 in local, national and international research funding, focused mostly on the conservation, molecular evolution and classification of aquatic invertebrates.  Some of Annette's current interests include genetic resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in Australian rodent populations, monitoring cryptic and invasive freshwater animals using environmental DNA and metabolomic approaches to understanding reproduction in freshwater crayfish.  Annette has supervised 6 Honours, 6 Masters by Research and 7 PhD students to completion and has an interest in mentoring early and mid-career research supervisors.

• Conservation
• Biogeography
• Monitoring of rare and pest species using environmental DNA
• Scholarship of teaching and learning

Qualifications

• Grad Certificate in Education, Edith Cowan University, 2003.
• Doctor of Philosophy, Monash University, 1988.
• Bachelor of Science with Honours, Monash University, 1982.

Research Outputs

Research Projects

• Chasing Flamingos - Tracking movement of synthetic eDNA in a river, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Grant, 2022 ‑ 2026, $2,000.
• Detection of anticoagulant rodenticide resistance in Australian city rodent populations, Flick Anticimex Pty Ltd, Grant, 2022 ‑ 2024, $25,068.
• Monitoring of endangered, and dangerous freshwater reptiles using environmental DNA, Animal Plant Mineral (APM), Grant, 2018 ‑ 2020, $10,000.
• Temporal and environmental patterns of Coral-Symbiodinium-bacteria networks, Ecological Society of Australia, Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, 2017 ‑ 2019, $4,800.
• Development of non-lethal methods to assess stress and reproductive status of the hairy marron, Cherax tenuimanus: a critically endangered freshwater crayfish., Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2019, $12,250.
• Biogeography and phylogenetics of the relictual, interstitial Bathynellidae (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Bathynellacea) in Australia, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Biological Resources Study - National Taxonomy Research Grant Program, 2014 ‑ 2019, $114,000.
• Temporal and environmental patter of coral-Symbiodinium-bacteria network, Ecological Society of Australia, Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, 2016 ‑ 2018, $7,000.
• The impact of nutrient load on Ostracoda (Crustacea) diversity in Perth lakes and wetlands (WA)., Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration Grant - 2015 (Round 1), 2015 ‑ 2016, $53,000.
• Microbes: The Missing Link in Coastal Landscape Connectivity, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Marine Science Program, 2013 ‑ 2016, $13,545.
• The systematics of the harvestman genus Nunciella (Opiliones: Triaenonychidae) in south-western Australia: a morphological and molecular approach, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Biological Resources Study Honours Scholarships, Masters Scholarships, APA top-ups and non-salaried researcher grants 2012/2013, 2012 ‑ 2014, $10,000.
• Biodiversity and taxonomy of Ostracoda (Crustacea) from temporary water bodies of inland Western Australia., Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration - Grant, 2011 ‑ 2012, $34,906.
• Characterisation of Fish Usage of Yarragadee Discharge Based on Water Chemistry, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2007 ‑ 2011, $18,883.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in Ephemeral Tributaries of the Blackwood River in the Region of the Yarragadee Aquifer Discharge Zone , Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2009, $15,858.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in Tributraties of the Blackwood River Receiving Discharge From the Leederville Aquifer, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2009, $21,212.
• Surface and Interstitial Invertebrate Communities in in and Near Spearwood Creek, a Tributary of the Lower Blackwood River, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2008 ‑ 2009, $18,534.
• Study of migration patterns, habitat and water requirements of fish and invertebrates in the Blackwood River, Murdoch University, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2008, $85,552.
• Field studies into the reproduction biology and conservation requirements of Hairy Marron in the South West DEC region, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2008, $13,100.
• Fish migration patterns in the Blackwood River, Murdoch University, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2008, $59,992.
• Field studies into the biology and conservation requirements of Engaewa species in the South West and Warren DEC regions, Department of Environment and Conservation WA, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2008, $37,500.
• Investigating the Tuarts of the lower Moore River, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2007, $6,500.
• Assisting recovery actions for Margaret River Marron, South West Catchment Council, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2007, $23,400.
• Fish and crayfish migrations of the Blackwood River: Influence of surface and groundwater, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2007, $34,716.
• Corbett Research 'RotorGene' 2 channel real-time DNA multiplexing system, Ramaciotti Foundation, Grant, 2004 ‑ 2005, $49,000.

Research Student Supervision