Margaret Heslewood is a Project Officer (Plant Molecular) at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and is based at the National Herbarium of New South Wales at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
With a deep passion for all things biological, Margaret specialises in using molecular data to investigate the evolutionary relationships of Australian plant species and their closest exotic relatives.
Holding a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours, Margaret possesses the expertise to undertake fieldwork, plan and execute laboratory work, analyse complex molecular datasets, maintain detailed records of her research, and publish her research in peer-reviewed journals. Her fascination with the relationships and distributions of Australian plant species was a driving force behind her decision to pursue a career in this field.
As part of her current work, Margaret is responsible for research and curation of bryophytes, which include the liverworts, hornworts, and mosses. This work is made possible through a generous bequest to the Foundation & Friends from the late Systematic Bryologist, Dr Elizabeth Brown. Margaret is actively updating taxonomy of liverworts in the Herbarium’s Collections database (EMu) to reflect recent revisions, and databasing unincorporated liverwort collections held at the National Herbarium of New South Wales.
Margaret is also involved in a Hermon Slade Foundation part-sponsored project with Dr Peter G. Wilson. The project utilises genomic sequencing to investigate paralogy (genes that are descended from a common ancestor and that result from a gene duplication) in Xanthostemon, a group of tropical trees known for their spectacular flowers, with some species popular in cultivation. By utilising this advanced genomic approach, Margaret aims to provide a more accurate and informative estimate of relationships in the tribe Xanthostemoneae (Myrtaceae).
A dedication to uncovering insights into the evolutionary relationships of Australian plant species is evident in Margaret’s work, making her an invaluable member of the Science team.
