Caroline Cristofolini

Scientific Officer Biodiversity Research

Staff-Caroline-Cristofolini-hero-1584x633.jpg

Caroline has a passion for nature and plants that was sparked during her childhood – surrounded by the lush Brazilian rainforest – and she credits her parents for nurturing this ardour and supporting her educational journey.

Caroline went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and undertake advanced studies, culminating in a Master's and PhD in Plant Genetics.

In her current position, Caroline is primarily involved in conservation genomics projects focused on threatened species, particularly as part of the Saving Our Species (SoS) initiatives. She is responsible for conducting analyses, drafting reports, coordinating sample collections, and preparing samples for sequencing.

A proud member of the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience team, Caroline finds fulfilment in applying her academic background and skills to make real-world contributions to the conservation and management of threatened species, thus increasing the chances of their survival.

Caroline is also interested in furthering an understanding of pollination, seed biology, and mating systems, to comprehend species adaptability, resilience and the associative patterns between genetic, environmental, and morphological diversities.

One of her favourite plants is the critically endangered dwarf-spider orchid Caladenia pumila, which she had the opportunity to successfully propagate in the lab.

Inspired by her academic professors and colleagues, Caroline continues to make meaningful contributions to biodiversity research and conservation, driven by a deep-seated love for nature and the desire to make a positive impact on the world.

Staff-Caroline-cristofolini-1024x676.jpeg

Caroline continues to make meaningful contributions to biodiversity research and conservation, driven by a deep-seated love for nature and the desire to make a positive impact on the world.