Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Dr Jim Cummins

1970 - PhD Reproductive Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
1967 - MSc Reproduction & Embryology, University of North Wales, UK
1969 - BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of London, UK
Dr Cummins teaches Anatomy, Human Biology and Reproductive Biotechnology at Murdoch University in Western Australia. He has extensive experience in reproductive biology and assisted conception techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). He sits on the editorial board of several top journals, including Human Reproduction and Reproductive Biotechnology Online, and chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Reproductive Technology Council of Western Australia (the government body overseeing IVF clinics). He has been involved in professional editing for 10 years and has worked on about 2500 papers. He has many colleagues and friends in Asia and was a Visiting Professor at Osaka University's Genome Information Research Center in Japan in 2005. Assoc Prof Cummins began editing for the Edanz Group in 2009.

Dr Kate Fox

2003 - PhD Microbiology, University of Oxford, UK
1999 - BSc Biological Sciences, University of Leicester, UK
Dr Fox completed a PhD in microbiology at the University of Oxford, investigating novel phase variable LPS biosynthetic genes in Haemophilus influenzae. She then spent five years as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Queensland, Australia, focusing on the role of DNA methyltransferases in gene regulation in bacterial pathogens. Other projects included the design and development of live, attenuated vaccines for veterinary pathogens. She has many first-author publications in high-ranking journals in the area of microbial pathogenesis. Dr Fox is now a full-time editor, with extensive editing experience in a broad range of biological disciplines including molecular biology, microbiology, biotechnology, genomics, epidemiology, biochemistry and medicine. Dr Fox began editing with the Edanz Group in 2009.

Dr Jennifer Smith

1999 - PhD Botany, University of Otago, NZ
1994 - BSc (Hons) Molecular & Physiological Plant Biology, University of Otago, NZ
Dr Smith has worked as a research scientist investigating novel marine extracts with involvement in crop and food research. Dr Smith studied as a post-doctoral researcher at the CNRS Roscoff, France. As well, she has published several research papers in peer-reviewed journals, written numerous IP-protected/confidential reports, and presented at more than 20 international conferences. She is also a reviewer for several academic journals (Functional Plant Biology, Enzyme and Microbial Technology). Dr Smith’s areas of professional expertise for editing are biochemistry and biology, especially of plants, phycology (marine plants), fisheries science, and marine biology, and food and food technology. Dr Smith began working with Edanz Editing in 2007 and now works full time as a science copyeditor.

Dr Jane Kondejewski

1999 - PhD Physiology, University of Alberta, Canada
1984 - BSc Zoology (1st Hons), University of Bristol, UK
Dr Kondejewski’s scientific background is in physiology, endocrinology, molecular biology, obstetrics, gynecology, and perinatology. She has a special interest in the genotypes and phenotypes associated with preterm labor and pregnancy pathologies. Dr Kondejewski has research skills including DNA/RNA isolation and manipulation, DNA sequencing and analysis, PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), cell culture, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Dr Kondejewski has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts. She presently works as a grant writer and manuscript coordinator for publishing in high-impact journals. Dr Kondejewski began working as an editor for the Edanz Group in 2010.

Dr Shaun Clements

2001 - PhD Fisheries Science, Oregon State University, Oregon, US
1995 - MSc (1st Hons) Biological Sciences, Waikato University, NZ
1993 - BSc Biological Sciences (Earth Science minor), Waikato University, NZ
Dr Clements has published 9 reports as first author in international peer-reviewed journals, such as Behavioral Neuroscience, General and Comparative Endocrinology, and Hormones and Behavior. He has written numerous professional reports and made over 25 presentations at congresses. Dr Clements has also undertaken crustacean research and established telemetry arrays and associated software. Some of his research techniques and skills involve steroid radio-immunoassay, plasma lactate and glucose and ion determination, histology, and mRNA/DNA extraction and purification. Dr Clements began editing for Edanz Editing in 2007 in areas associated with the biological sciences, especially the fisheries fields.

Dr James Donkin

2006 - PhD Pathology, University of Adelaide, Australia
2001 - BHSc (Hons) Pathology, University of Adelaide, Australia
Dr Donkin's PhD thesis was entitled "The Effects of the Neuropeptide Substance P on Outcome Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats". His research interests include developing novel pharmacotherapeutic agents for the treatment of neurotrauma and neurodegeneration using rodent animal models. He has completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia, Canada, investigating potential prophylactic and therapeutic compounds in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Dr Donkin has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and currently works as a scientific writer. Dr Donkin joined the Edanz Group as a science editor, writer and reviewer in 2011.

Dr Wendy Prosser

1992 - PhD Zoology, University of Oxford, UK
1988 - BA (Hons) Zoology, University of Oxford, UK
After obtaining a BA and PhD in zoology from the University of Oxford, Dr Prosser joined the Medicine Publishing Company, Abingdon, UK, (now part of Elsevier Health Sciences) as a Staff Editor of medical educational publications. In 1998, she became Managing Editor of the journal Medicine, a position she held until 2006, when she began as a freelance science and medical writer and manuscript editor. Dr Prosser, an accomplished and highly experienced biomedical and health sciences editor and writer, began working with Edanz Group in 2006.

Dr Brielle Rosa

2012 - PhD candidate Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, Massey University, NZ
2004 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, USA
1997 - BSc (Hons) Animal Science, Cornell University
Dr Rosa worked as a large animal veterinarian at Cornell University (USA) and as an equine veterinarian at Massey University (NZ) before beginning her PhD studies. Her skills in veterinary medicine range from medicine and surgery to herd health and animal welfare. Her present PhD research is in the area of developmental origins of health and disease; specifically, the effects of maternal exercise on offspring development and later-life health in a rat model. Her PhD research integrates endocrinology, reproductive biology, exercise physiology, and imaging techniques to examine the musculoskeletal and metabolic health of her trial animals. This work has led to several publications in the American Journal of Physiology. Dr Rosa joined the Edanz Group as an editor and expert reviewer in 2011.

Dr Leah Larkin

2002 - PhD Botany, University of Texas, Austin, USA
1991 - B.A. Biology, Swarthmore College, USA
Dr Larkin has taught Evolution, Evolutionary Medicine, Biology of Insects, Plant–Animal Interactions and general biology classes at the University of New Mexico and at the University of the Pacific, U.S.A. Her research bridges botany and entomology, with a focus on the evolutionary ecology of plant-pollinator interactions. Her research skills include pollination biology, PCR and DNA sequencing, phylogenetic analyses, and taxonomy of both plants and bees. She has published 12 peer-reviewed research papers and has presented at numerous regional and international conferences. Dr Larkin is an experienced editor of reviewed journal manuscripts, PhD theses, book chapters, and grant proposals. She has also been a peer reviewer for several academic journals and of grant proposals for U.S. and international agencies. Dr Larkin began working as an editor for the Edanz Group in 2011.

Dr Ryan Jefferies

2006 - Ph.D. Molecular Parasitology, Murdoch University, Australia
2002 - B.Sc. (1st Hons) Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australia
2001 - B.Sc. Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Australia
Dr Jefferies has extensive research experience in molecular parasitology with a particular interest in emerging infectious diseases. He is currently working as a research scientist at the University of Bristol, UK, in the Schools of Biological Sciences and Veterinary Science. Dr Jefferies has published more than 20 research papers and is a reviewer for multiple journals in the fields of parasitology and veterinary science. With experience in both academic and commercial research environments, Dr Jefferies has expertise in the development of novel diagnostic methods, molecular epidemiology, population genetics, phylogenetics, molecular taxonomy and protein characterization. He has also worked on peptide-based drug discovery using yeast two-hybrid systems. Dr Jefferies began working with the Edanz Group as an editor in 2010.

Dr Neil Davies

2005 - PhD Biochemistry, University of New South Wales, Australia
1998 - BSc (Hons) Molecular Genetics, University of New South Wales, Australia
Dr Davies is a biologist with particular expertise in the areas of neuroscience, oncology, and chromatin structure and gene expression. Dr Davies has held Postdoctoral Fellow positions at a number of institutes including the François Magendie Institute for Neuroscience, Bordeaux, France, and the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. During his PhD, he examined chromatin structure and cisplatin damage at the human beta-globin gene cluster. Dr Davies has been a regular reviewer for several international journals and has edited numerous manuscripts written by both native and non-native English speakers. He has a number of first-author publications in journals such as Nucleic Acids Research and The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Dr Davies has experience in a wide variety of laboratory techniques, including acute and organotypic culture, adenovirus manipulation, lentivirus manipulation and transduction of brain slices and cultured neuronal cells, fluorescent and confocal microscopy, cell microinjection, in vivo mouse models, western blot, electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay, PCR (most varieties), cloning and bacterial plasmid production. Dr Davies began working as an editor for Edanz Editing in 2006.

Dr Alan Hodgson

2004 - DSc, Manchester University, UK
1980 - PhD Marine Biology, Manchester University, UK
1976 - BSc (Hons) Marine Biology, Liverpool University, UK
Dr Hodgson, an internationally renowned scientist and educator, is a Professor of Zoology lecturing in invertebrate biology, cell structure and function, animal reproduction, environmental physiology, marine biology and introductory microscopy. His interests are in reproductive biology, particularly in developmental processes in gametogenesis of invertebrates, structure and function of spermatozoa, comparative sperm structure and its application in taxonomy and evolutionary biology, reproductive biology/ecology of mollusks, and the physiology of spermatozoa. As well, estuarine biology, and the management of estuarine and intertidal resources, are fields in which Dr Hodgson carries out research. Dr Hodgson has published extensively, with 109 publications in peer evaluated scientific journals, a book and chapters in five other books. He is a peer reviewer for 21 international journals associated with marine biology. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including the Malacological Society of London, International Society of Invertebrate Reproduction, Unitas Malacologica, Microscopy Society of Southern Africa, Zoological Society of Southern Africa, Royal Society of South Africa, Californian Malacological Society, American Microscopical Society, and Marine Biological Association of Plymouth.

Dr Barry Patel

2001 - PhD Neuroscience, McGill University, Canada
1993 - BSc Neurobiology, McGill University, Canada
1990 - Diploma of College Studies, Health Sciences, Vanier College, Montreal, Canada
Dr Patel is a neuroscientist interested in central nervous system degeneration and mental illness. For his doctoral thesis he developed a mouse gene-knockout model for the human neurological disorder aceruloplasminemia. Subsequently, as a research fellow at the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School he studied the molecular signaling cascades involved in nerve cell migration. Dr Patel has recently focused his research on the molecular genetics of psychiatric illness as an associate at the Douglas Mental Health Institute in Montreal. His studies center on microRNA signaling networks involved in major depression and suicide. Dr Patel has published a number of first-author articles in high-impact journals, including The Journal of Biological Chemistry and The Journal of Neuroscience. He began editing for the Edanz Group in 2011.

Dr Moira Desport

2000 - PhD Molecular Virology, University of London, UK
1985 - HNC Applied Biology, Reading College, UK
Dr Desport is a molecular virologist with interests in animal health. Her thesis for her PhD in Veterinary Virology from the Royal Veterinary College was entitled “Genomic Variation and Cell Tropism of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus”. Dr Desport post-doctoral position at Murdoch University focused on the development and testing of a recombinant protein vaccine to control Jembrana disease in Bali cattle. Skills and techniques include cell culture and purification of viruses; Real-Time RT/PCR; cloning; DNA sequencing and analysis; DNA/RNA manipulation and isolation; expression and purification of recombinant proteins in prokaryotic systems; development and optimization of ELISAs; in situ hybridization; immunostaining; histopathology and peptide mapping. Dr Desport has published eight first-author journal articles and has presented at several national and international conferences. She is an invited reviewer for a number of international journals and has recently edited a book entitled “Lentiviruses and Macrophages: Molecular and Cellular Interactions”. Dr Desport joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2011.

Dr Angela Morben

2004 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, USA
2000 - BS Biology, University of North Dakota, USA
Dr Morben has six years of experience in veterinary medicine. She currently works as a general practitioner in the United States. In addition, Dr Morben has extensive experience editing and proofreading a wide variety of research manuscripts and is a member of the American Medical Writers Association. Dr Morben began working as an editor with the Edanz Group in 2010.

Dr Evan Burkala

2001 - PhD Veterinary Studies, Murdoch University, Australia
1996 - BSc (Hons) Veterinary Biology, Murdoch University, Australia
1995 - BSc Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Australia
Dr Burkala is currently employed at the University of Oklahoma in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Dr Burkala has many years of experience in molecular virology and biology, and has recently specialized in HIV immunology and evolution. He has peer-reviewed publications in a broad range of scientific areas including cancer biology and immunology in addition to reviewing many publications and grant applications. Dr Burkala’s technical skills include: cutting-edge molecular biological techniques such as heteroduplex tracking assays and mass spectrometry; common techniques like cloning, PCR, real-time PCR and recombinant protein purification; immunological techniques such as flow cytometry, ELISA, Western immunoblot and ELISPOT; cell culture techniques including primary and cell line culture, virus culture and purification, transwell migration assays and confocal microscopy; and live animal experiments including the use of mice, sheep, cattle, and rabbits for immunizations and immunological analyses.

Dr Marina Komolova

2010 - PhD Pharmacology & Toxicology, Queen’s University, Canada
2005 - BSc (Hons) Life Sciences, Queen’s University, Canada
Dr Komolova’s doctoral dissertation focused on characterizing the role of the kidneys in blood pressure regulation in various disease states (hypertension, salt-sensitivity, and obesity). She also investigated the effects of antihypertensive drugs and lifestyle changes on cardiovascular and metabolic function. She is proficient in numerous research techniques, ranging from molecular to whole-animal methodologies. Her work has been published in scientific journals including Hypertension, the Journal of Hypertension, and the International Journal of Obesity. Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor and Research Facilitator in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at Queen’s University, and a freelance medical writer. Dr Komolova began working with the Edanz Group in 2010.

Dr Harry Taylor

1970 - PhD Zoology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
1965 - BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Dr Taylor has been a lecturer in zoology, comparative physiology, and cell biology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, since 1972. His interests span all physiological systems across a variety of taxa, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, insects and spiders. Research themes include: Gas exchange and oxygen transport; morphology and hemodynamics of gills and circulatory systems; osmoregulation, acid-base balance and excretion; adaptation to marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments; the physiology of eggs and embryos and fertilization; stress associated with fishing, aquaculture and live transport; and eco-toxicity of heavy metals. Dr Taylor is experienced in a range of instrumentation and analyses including: microscopy (DIC, fluorescence, TEM, SEM, X-ray microprobe); corrosion casting; respirometry; blood gas and acid-base status; osmotic, ionic, and metabolite concentrations of body fluids and waters; atomic absorption spectroscopy; radioactive tracers, viscometry; blood pressure and flow (pulsed Doppler); heart and ventilation rates; and electrophysiology. Dr Taylor’s research group has published numerous articles in the principal international journals of his field. He has served on the advisory board of journals and book series, is a reviewer for about 20 international journals, and is a member of several national and international scientific societies. Dr Taylor began working as an editor with the Edanz Group in 2008.

Dr Hillary Noyes

2007 – DVM, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA
2002 - BS Zoology (Concentration Animal Behavior/Neurobiology), Michigan State University, USA
Dr Noyes obtained both her BS in Zoology and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University, and is currently an internship-trained small animal practitioner. She has research experience in animal behavior, farm animal welfare science and the human-animal bond. Dr Noyes received additional training in zoological medicine at several major US zoos. She has published in journals such as the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery and the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. She is a member of the AVMA Committee on the Human-Animal Bond. Dr Noyes began working as an editor with the Edanz Group in 2010

Dr Lesley Benyon

1999 - PhD Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
1994 - MSc Animal Science, North Carolina State University, USA
1998 - BA East Asian Studies, University of Virginia, USA
Dr Benyon is a researcher for the USDA-ARS in the US Horticultural Research Laboratory, which concentrates on improving citrus and specialty crops. His current research involves identifying genetic targets for combating Huanglongbing/Citrus greening in citrus, the bacterial pathogen, and the insect vectors. Dr Benyon has a diversified science background, including having researched antimicrobial peptides at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr Benyon has also worked in East Asia with scientists from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China, and was a post-doctoral associate at Okayama University in Japan. Dr Benyon began editing for the Edanz Group in 2011.

Dr Nina de Boo

2005 - PhD Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands (in collaboration with the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, NZ)
1997 - MSc Medical Biology, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands
Dr de Boo is a physiologist with a particular interest in fetal growth and metabolism. Her PhD thesis was entitled “Aspects of Nitrogen Metabolism in Intrauterine Growth Restriction,” focusing primarily on urea cycle disorders in growth-restricted human neonates and fetal sheep. She has since completed a post-doctoral study on the development of intrauterine treatments for intrauterine growth restriction by hormonal supplementation. Dr de Boo has extensive experience in writing and editing both scientific and non-scientific manuscripts and is now a full-time freelance editor.

Dr Christopher Kelly

2006 - DPhil Molecular Systematics, Oxford University, UK
2000 - BSc (Hons) Zoology, Rhodes University, South Africa
1999 - BSc Zoology & Biochemistry, Rhodes University, South Africa
Dr Kelly’s academic interests are in biological sciences and the philosophy of science. His work is focused on understanding, classifying and conserving biological diversity. Dr Kelly’s particular research specialty is the evolution and biogeography of snakes. After undergraduate study at Rhodes University in South Africa he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he obtained a DPhil in molecular systematics of 'advanced' snakes. His subsequent postdoctoral work has investigated the phylogenetics, phylogeography and taxonomy of several groups of African snakes, incorporating extensive molecular genetic laboratory work, analytical computation, and field surveys. His research has been internationally acclaimed through receipt of the Joseph B. Slowinski Award for excellence in snake systematics (2010), after one of his publications was selected as the best snake systematics paper to be published globally in 2009. Dr Kelly is an experienced lecturer in the biological sciences, and is a reviewer for many international journals. He joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2012.

Mr Christopher Milazzo

2011 - (In Examination) PhD Medical and Surgical Science, University of Otago, Dunedin School of Medicine, NZ
1991 - BSc Animal Science, Cornell University, USA
After graduation from Cornell University, Mr Milazzo worked for 10 years at a preclinical contract research organization where he was in charge of multi-disciplinary programs for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Later Mr Milazzo became the director of preclinical research for a biotechnology company developing controlled-release drug implants for ophthalmic, orthopedic, and cardiovascular use, contributing to several IND and NDA applications to the US FDA. Mr Milazzo moved to New Zealand for his PhD studies, and has been working with biotechnology companies developing peptide therapies for muscle wasting disease and molecular diagnostic products for cancer detection and monitoring. His PhD thesis submitted in 2010, was entitled "Sheep Fat Bingo - A Comparison of Subcutaneous Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Infrapatellar Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Regard to their Chondrogenic Ability in a Sheep Model of Osteochondral Defect Repair". Mr Milazzo’s laboratory expertise includes techniques and surgical skills (particularly orthopedic) associated with a variety of large and small research animal models. These include stem cell and chondrocyte isolation and culture, immunohistochemistry, biochemical assay, histopathology specimen preparation and evaluation, microscopy, RNA extraction and cDNA preparation, and gene microarray. Mr Milazzo joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2011.

Dr Jane Charbonneau

1990 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Edward Island, PEI, Canada
1986 - BS Animal Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
After graduating, Dr Charbonneau spent 10 years involved in general surgery, preventive medicine, behavior counseling and diagnostics and treatments related to dermatology, gastroenterology, endocrine and emergency patients in an animal veterinary practice. In 2000, Dr Charbonneau began a 10 year focus on emergency medicine and surgery and completed a one-year term teaching equine locomotor diseases to students of massage therapy. Her experience in emergency medicine includes critical care of trauma patients and patients in cardiac, liver and renal failure, infectious disease, resuscitation and transfusion medicine, neurological and endocrine emergencies as well as surgical correction of gastric dilatation and volvulus, ruptured splenic masses, gastrointestinal foreign bodies, bullet wounds, fractures and wound repair. Currently, Dr Charbonneau works as a relief veterinarian, and has an interest in clinically focused communication. Dr Charbonneau joined Edanz as an editor in 2011.

Dr Susannah Cleary

2007 - PhD Biomedical Science (Neuroendocrinology), Murdoch University (Australia) in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (USA)
2003 - BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australia
Dr Cleary is a biomedical scientist with a special interest in cancer research and chronic disease. Her doctoral thesis was entitled “From chromaffin cells to phaeochromocytoma: insight into the sympathoadrenal lineage”. Dr Cleary was a Post Doctoral Fellow with the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH), where she was the lead researcher on a project investigating novel strategies for the treatment of metastatic kidney disease. Dr Cleary has an extensive history of research in cancer tumor biology and an interest in the developmental origins of cancer, especially those related to mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau gene. Dr Cleary has an interest in health policy and was a Fellow with the Fogarty International Center at the NIH. During this time she was involved in a number of global health policy projects. Dr Cleary has published a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals in addition to other science writing for a non-technical audience. Dr Cleary began working as an editor for the Edanz Group in 2010.

Dr Sarah Hanton

1996 - PhD Marine Biology, University of Aberdeen, UK
1992 - BSc (Hons) Ecology, University of York, UK
Dr Hanton undertook post-doctoral research in intertidal ecology including the spatial and temporal dynamics of intertidal and coastal species. She has a strong academic background and skills in database management, having maintained, compiled and developed bibliographic databases with a focus on aquatic biology, water science and technology, African natural and cultural history, and ornithology. She currently teaches in the fields of mathematics, biology, and computer studies. Dr Hanton has published extensively and began editing for Edanz Editing in 2007, editing in a variety of areas.

Dr Brendan O’Sullivan

1977 - PhD Marine Biology, National University of Ireland
1972 - BA (Mod), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Dr O'Sullivan has been an active researcher in the field of aquaculture, as well as being involved practically in the development of several aquaculture industries in both Ireland and Australia. Widely published in his field, Dr O’Sullivan is now a full-time copyeditor. From 1994 to 2000 undertaking English correction of journals and book editing for Elsevier Science BV (Amsterdam), Dr O’Sullivan worked in the fields of science and medicine. Dr O’Sullivan has also copyedited for Taylor & Francis, Oxford. Dr O’Sullivan began working with Edanz Editing in 2006.

Ms Abigail Powell

2006 - MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Management, University of Oxford, UK
2004 - BSc Biology, University of Durham, UK
Ms Powell is a marine biology PhD candidate at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. Her research aims to determine the key drivers of sponge distribution patterns on Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Before moving to New Zealand she worked at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Switzerland as a Junior Professional Associate on the Species Programme. Ms Powell has considerable research experience in the fields of ecology, biology and environmental management. Her MSc research at Oxford University focused on emerging forms of protected area governance in Sumatra. Ms Powell has extensive experience in science communication and the editing of journal articles, book chapters and reports. She joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2011.

Ms Emily Morris

2006 - MS Biology, Humboldt State University, USA
2003 - BS Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, USA
Emily Morris has studied at UC Davis, the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science and Humboldt State University. Her research has focused on the molecular diversity and physiology of coral reefs and their symbiotic dinoflagellates. She has a broad background in oceanography and the life sciences and successfully published her master's research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Ms. Morris joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2011.

Ms Amber O'Connor

2012 (Expected) - PhD Cell Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA
2006 - BS Microbiology, Arizona State University, USA
Ms O'Connor’s PhD thesis entitled “Consequences of primary cilia ablation in the developing limb and epidermis” will be submitted in early 2012. She is also a graduate of the 2010 Embryology course at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. Ms O’Connor is presently researching in fields related to hedgehog signaling, limb and bone development, and primary cilia. She has experience in mouse breeding, genetics, histology, transgenic and knock-in model generation, development, and embryology. In vitro techniques Ms O'Connor is skilled in are primary cell culture, qRT PCR, western blotting, confocal imaging, and in situ hybridization. She has extensive training in embryology and development, as well as an understanding of the complex signaling pathways involved in pattern formation, cell fate determination, and specification. Ms O'Connor has published a methods chapter on the generation of mouse models, and has 3 peer-reviewed publications. She is a regular attendee and presenter at the American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting. Ms O'Connor began as an editor with the Edanz Group in 2011.

Ms Sydney Koke

Present - MA Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Canada
2008 - BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada
Ms Koke is presently in the Psychology and Neuroscience PhD program at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A. Her research interests include the neurological mechanisms of time and rhythm perception, motor rhythm synchronization and therapeutic brain stimulation. Previously, Ms. Koke worked as a research associate at the University of Calgary in the Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group and then as a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute in various research labs; studies included epilepsy, circadian rhythms, learning and memory, and therapeutic brain stimulation. She has experience with behavioral training and stereotaxic surgery in both rodent and primate models. Ms Koke has 5 years of research experience in the fields of behavioral neuroscience and clinical neuroscience; publishing two papers in international peer-reviewed journals. Ms Koke joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2010.

Ms Robyn Tourle

2010 - MSc. Biological Control of Weeds, Rhodes University, South Africa
2005 - BSc. (Hons) Entomology, Rhodes University, South Africa
2000 - BSc. Zoology; Environmental & Geographical Science and Botany, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Ms Tourle’s MSc studies addressed the effects of ant predation on the efficacy of biological control agents for Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) in South Africa. Before these studies she had worked at the Iziko Museum (SA) identifying ant morphospecies. After graduation Ms Tourle worked with Prof. Wehner at Irchel University (Switzerland) preparing his extensive ant collection for hand-over to the Senckenberg Museum. From her studies Ms Tourle has had two peer reviewed papers published. She joined the Edanz Group as an editor in 2011.

Dr Andrea Alfaro

PhD Marine Biology, University of Auckland, NZ
MSc Marine Ecology, California State University, Northridge, US
BSc Wildlife Biology, University of California, Davis, US
Dr Alfaro is a marine biologist with special interests in invertebrate ecology and aquaculture. Her research is inter-disciplinary (i.e., chemistry, physiology, microbiology, genetics, geology, statistics), and aims to elucidate the complex interactions among organisms and their environments. Current projects include the ecology and cultivation of mussels, and estuarine community ecology (i.e., food web dynamics). She is skilled in the design and implementation of field and laboratory experiments that incorporate tools and approaches from a variety of fields. Dr Alfaro is a Senior Lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Dr Alfaro began working as an editor for Edanz Editing in 2008.

Mr Simon Grove

1994 - MSc Marine Science, University of Otago, NZ
1992 - BSc Physiology, University of Otago, NZ
Mr Grove has worked as a research scientist with the University of Otago (New Zealand) and the University of Western Australia, focusing on marine benthic ecology, marine environmental impact assessment, marine invertebrate taxonomy and underwater habitat mapping. He has had several reports published in peer-reviewed journals, particularly those relating to the multivariate statistical analysis of marine communities. He also has experience with the application of video technology for underwater research and a background in physiology and human health science. Mr Grove began working with the Edanz Group in 2008.
Syndicate content Syndicate content