Damien Esquerré (Principal investigator)
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I am originally from Chile but have lived in Australia since 2013. I am an evolutionary biologist and herpetologist interested in the processes that lead to increased speciation and evolution. I work on several groups of lizards, snakes and frogs, mostly from Australia and Chile but I also look at them at a more global scale. I did my Bachelor's degree in Biological Science at the Universidad Católica de Chile, and then moved to Australia in 2013 to join Scott Keogh's lab as an MPhil student, then PhD and finally I worked there for almost four years as a postdoc. I was recently awarded a DECRA Fellowship to work on snake venom evolution and was appointed as a Lecturer at the University of Wollongong where I have established this lab. Aside from science and animals, I love photography, music, and animation. Husband to biologist Connie Leon and father to little Dalia.
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Kamryn Carter (PhD student)
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Kamryn did her Honours with me looking at the diversity, biogeography and evolution of the enigmatic Garthia geckoes from northern Chile and the Liasis pythons from Australia and Asia, writing three chapters for her Honours thesis! She is now doing a PhD with me looking at the conservation genetics, phylogenomics and evolution of Australian frogs, in co-supervision with Prof. Phil Byrne and Dr Aimee Silla. Outside research she likes taking care of her pe frog and her million plants.
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David Brito (PhD student)
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David is originally from Ecuador where he has worked on biogeography and macroevolution of Stenocercus lizards and taxonomy, systematics, and ecology of Ecuadorian amphibian and reptiles. Additionally, he is a directive member and researcher of an organization (REMFA) that researches the impacts of roads on wildlife. He is now doing PhD in my lab looking at cranial and venom evolution of Australian fossorial elapid snakes. Outside of research, David loves painting and hiking. He also named a frog after Led Zeppelin and this was tweeted by Robert Plant himself!
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Felipe Triana (PhD student)
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Felipe is a Costarrican/Colombian biologist that has a huge interest in expanding knowledge of venomous animals’ ecology and evolution for its effective management and conservation. During his bachelor degree, he participated on projects involving the ecology, behavior and conservation of snakes, scorpions and anurans. His masters thesis focused on the spatial ecology and habitat selection of resident and translocated Mesoamerican rattlesnakes (Crotalus simus). He is now starting a PhD in the evolution of snake venom of both Australasian and American species in the Biodiversity Evolution Lab. Apart from research, Felipe enjoys swimming, eating, and exploring nature.
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Liam Foley (PhD student, co-supervised)
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Liam did his Honours with Dr Nikolas (Nik) Johnston where he investigated the systematics of Australian carrion-breeding blowflies (Calliphorinae), and now a PhD focusing on a completely different group of flies, primarily supervised by Nik and co-supervised by myself. His current research aims to understand the systematic relationships and evolution of the Australasian cluster flies (Polleniidae). Besides research, he enjoys macro photography, gardening, food and the gym!
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Encui Wang (PhD student, co-supervised)
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Encui is passionate about understanding insect biodiversity and ecology, focusing on insect taxonomy, systematics, and phylogenetics. She has previously focused on the biodiversity and classification of Lepidoptera. Her PhD (primarily supervised by Dr. Nik Johnston and co-supervised by myself) explores the phylogenetic relationships and ecological traits of the under-studied subfamilies of blowflies (Calliphoridae), integrating molecular and morphological approaches. When not immersed in research, Encui enjoys cooking, exploring nature, and participating in biodiversity conservation activities.
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Juan Carlos Cusi (PhD student, co-supervised)
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Juan Carlos is a Peruvian biologist doing a PhD study at San Marcos University, Peru, supervised by Dr. Carolina Machado and co-supervised by myself. He is exploring the population structure of the widespread gecko Phyllodactylus gerrhopygus (Phyllodactylidae) using a genomic approach. Previously, he has worked in taxonomy, systematics and ecology of frogs, salamanders and reptiles in the Amazonian forests from Peru. Outside research he enjoys playing soccer and dancing Cuban salsa.
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Pablo Lamilla (PhD student, co-supervised)
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Pablo is a Chilean biologist doing his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the Universidad de Chile, supervised by David Véliz and co-supervised by myself. Currently, he is interested in exploring hybridization and introgression in Trichomycterus freshwater catfishes from central Chile, integrating morphometric and genomic approaches to understand their potential role in diversification. He has also worked on the behavioural ecology of birds and is interested in the natural history and biodiversity of vertebrates from Chilean ecosystems. Outside research, Pablo enjoys nature, wildlife photography, and pending time with his family.
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Tarani Jindal (Masters student, co-supervised)
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Tarani is doing a Masters in Biosciences at the University of Melbourne co-supervised by Dr. Iliana Medina Guzman and myself. Interested in behavioural and evolutionary biology, her thesis will focus on studying sex-biased dispersal in Harlequin bugs and whether it is linked to the strength of chemical warning signal. She has worked with birds, fish and snakes in India, and is keen to explore the incredible fauna of Australia. Outside of research, Tarani enjoys performing arts (such as theatre and dance).
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LAB ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS
James Dorey (Lecturer/Research associate)
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James was recently hired as backfill lecturer for three years to cover my teaching while I do my DECRA. He is also working on his exciting research on the macroecology, macroevolution, and systematics of Oceanic bees, and we will also be collaborating on various projects. James did his undergrad at the University of Queensland, his PhD at Flinders University and a postdoc at Yale University. He is one of Australia's leading experts on bee evolution and has even written a book on the bees of Australia. Outside of research, he loves fishing, volleyball and nature photography.
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FORMER LAB MEMBERS:
Bojana Kuzmicic (Masters student 2022-2025)
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Bojana did her Master with me through the Universidad de Valparaíso in Chile. She looked at the phylogeography, species delineation and taxonomy on the extremely cool and complicated Liolaemus gravenhorstii complex, which we hope to publish soon! She now works as a wildlife consultant in Santiago, Chile.
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Katie Harper (Honours student, 2025)
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Katie did her honours on the phylogenetics and biogeography and of Phymaturus, an Andean lizard radiation, which we hope to publish soon. She is now looking for PhD opportunities on her passion, wild cats!
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Tegan Edwards (Honours student, co-supervised, 2025)
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Tegan did her Honours with Dr James Dorey and co-supervised by myself investigating conservation genetics of Fijian bees, specifically in the Hylaeus genus. She is now taking a year off to figure out what's next, but surely something exciting related to conversation biology.
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Jade Clough (Undergraduate research project student, 2024)
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Jade undertook an undergraduate research project investigating the ecological effects of bushfire severity on native reptiles in Morton National Park, in collaboration with Prof Jonathan Webb. She is now a wildlife ecologist and research assistant with a strong focus on threatened reptile species.
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Kamryn Carter (Honours student, 2024)
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Kamryn did her Honours looking at the diversity, biogeography and evolution of the enigmatic Garthia geckoes from northern Chile and the Liasis pythons from Australia and Asia. Kamryn is now starting a PhD in the Biodiversity Evolution Lab.
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Neil Balchan (Visiting PhD student, 2024)
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Neil is doing a PhD at Oklahoma State University supervised by Dr. Guin Wogan, focusing on understanding the evolution of Asiatic cobras and their venoms. He spent a semester in 2024 in my lab and worked on different projects ranging from frog population genetics to venom evolution. He is back in the US but still very much involved with the lab and we hope to have him back.
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Brogan Dragisic (Honours student, co-supervised, 2024)
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Brogan did his Honours on interpopulation variation in Bibron's toadlets (Pseudophryne bibronii) co-supervised between Prof. Phil Byrne, Dr. Aimee Silla and myself. He is now living in Arizona pursuing a career in conservation biology.
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Sebastián Lenz (Undergraduate research project student, 2024)
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Sebastián did his Bachelor of Marine Biology at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. His undergraduate research project, co-supervised by Prof. Jhoann Canto (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile) and myself, focused on characterizing Chilean grenadier fish (Coelorhincus) using geometric morphometrics.
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Maxime Weisse (Undergraduate research intern, 2024)
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Maxime came from France to do a three month internship performing molecular work that helped understand the diversity of Liolaemus lizards in South America and also made beautiful art to decorate the lab. He is now back in France finishing his studies in Biotechnology
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Jesse Campbell (Undergraduate research project student, 2024)
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Jesse completed an undergraduate research project, co-supervised by myself, George Madani and Chad Beranek, that examined the relationship between the burrows of Lycosid spiders and the endangered Monaro earless dragon (Tympanocryptis osbornei) in southern NSW. He is now completing a Bachelor of Science at UOW, aside from being a mad herper and youtuber.
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Academic lineage
Here is a photo of five generations of herpetologists, left to right is my academic great grand father (Harold Heatwhole), Grandfather (Rick Shine), father (Scott Keogh), myself and the new generation made by David Brito, Katie Harper and Kamryn Carter. Our PhD lineage includes academic ancestors like Joseph Grinnell (hugely important in developing ecological niche theory) and Georges Cuvier (one of fathers of palaeontology). Check the lineage here.
