Research

Pieter’s research interests are centred on the ecological and evolutionary responses of organisms and communities to global change. Understanding how organisms are challenged by environmental stressors and their capacity to tolerate and respond to challenges, such as heat and drought exposure over different time scales is of particular interest. To address these goals, Pieter uses a combination of laboratory, glasshouse, field, and analytical approaches to address research questions in plants and invertebrates.

Teaching

Pieter teaches ecology, physiology, and global change biology topics in ANU courses, including ‘Plants and Global Climate Change’, ‘Comparative Physiology’, and has contributed to ‘Field Studies in Ecology’.

Research supervision

Pieter has co-supervised 4 Higher Degree Research (HDR) students (3 current, 1 completed PhD) and 6 Honours students in areas of phenotypic plasticity, thermal tolerance, and alpine ecology. He has also supervised/co-supervised 9 undergraduate research project students.

Service

Pieter is on the Early and Mid-Career Researchers Committee for the Research School of Biology (RSB). He regularly serves as an examiner for RSB Honours and undergraduate research project in biology students. He previously co-ordinated the RSB HDR Mentoring Program. Pieter has contributed > 70 peer review assessments for > 30 international scientific journals.

BSc Hons (Ecology) UQ; PhD (Evolutionary Ecology) UQ