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Doctor

David Hamilton

Adjunct Researcher

Biological Sciences

Orcid identifier0000-0001-5883-0136
  • Adjunct Researcher
    Biological Sciences

BIO

Dr David Hamilton is an Adjunct Researcher with the University of Tasmania, as well as a Conservation Ecologist with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. Working across both organisations helps him apply a behavioural ecology lens to conservation management practices in Tasmania.

David completed his PhD at the University of Tasmania in 2019, investigating the impact of behaviour on the spread of a transmissible cancer (devil facial tumour disease, DFTD) through Tasmanian devil populations. This research greatly increased our understanding of one of the most challenging factors to elucidate in wild populations of animals affected by a disease – the influence of behaviour.

Prior to this, David had conducted research on Gouldian finches and frillneck lizards in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, as well as meerkat social evolution in South Africa, and seabird populations in his native Scotland. Currently David is employed as a Conservation Ecologist by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC), running ecological monitoring on TLC’s reserves and conducting applied research, often in affiliation with UTAS researchers, that contributes towards TLC’s land management practices.

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Conservation Ecologist
    Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Hobart, Australia4 Oct 2021 - present

DEGREES

  • PhD
    University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
  • MSc
    Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • BSc Hons
    University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

SCHOOL AND PORTFOLIO

  • School of Natural Sciences

FIELD OF RESEARCH