Dr Christina Birnbaum
Honorary Fellow
Deakin University, Burwood campus
221 Burwood Hwy, VIC 3125
Christina's research
Christina is a plant ecologist interested in a wide range of topics related to plants, specifically their biology and interactions with below-ground micro organisms in native and novel environments, especially with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. She uses field observations, combined with experimental manipulations and molecular tools to explore questions pertaining plant-microbe interactions in natural and modified ecosystems to inform invasive species management, restoration ecology and plant-microbe dynamics. Christina has gained research experience working in Europe, Australia and USA.
Christina is also a strong supporter of women in STEM through various mentoring schemes.
Keywords
Microbes, plants, invasive species, plant-microbe interactions
Academic Highlights
- Honorary Fellow – Deakin University (2018-)
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Tulane University (2017-2018)
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Murdoch University (2014-2017)
- Research assistant – University of Western Australia & Murdoch University (2013)
- PhD, Macquarie University (2013)
- MSc, Estonian University of Life Sciences (2007)
- BSc, Estonian University of Life Sciences (2005)
Career Highlights
- 2018 Mentor, Women in ecology mentoring scheme, British Ecological Society
- 2017 Associate Editor, Plant Ecology
- 2017 Lead Convenor, ESA Australia Plant-Soil Ecology Research Chapter
- 2015 Murdoch University Small Grant Scheme (co-CI)
- 2014 Honorable mention- Young Scientist Oral Presentation, 57th IAVS Sympos.
- 2014 CAWS Early Career Weed Scientist Travel Award
Selected publications
Birnbaum, C., Morald, T., Tibbett, M., Richard G. Bennett, R., Standish, R. (2018) Effect of plant root symbionts on performance of native woody species in competition with an invasive grass in multispecies microcosms. Ecology and Evolution, 8:8652–8664. Access data here!
Birnbaum, C., Bissett, A., Teste, F.P., Laliberté, E. (2018) Symbiotic N2-fixer Community Composition, but Not Diversity, Shifts in Nodules of a Single Host Legume Across a 2-million-year Dune Chronosequence. Microbial Ecology, vol.76 (4), pages 1009-1020.
Birnbaum, C., Bissett, A., Thrall, P.H. & Leishman, M.R. (2016) Nitrogen fixing bacterial communities in invasive legume nodules and associated soils are similar across introduced and native range populations in Australia. Journal of Biogeography, vol. 43, pages 1631-1644.
Birnbaum, C., Barrett, L.G., Thrall, P.H. & Leishman, M.R. (2012) Mutualisms are not constraining cross-continental invasion success of Acacia species in Australia. Diversity & Distributions, vol. 18, issue 10,pages 962-976.
External links to Christina’s research
GoogleScholar: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=kUDAOacAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christina_Birnbaum
