Michelle Power (she/her)

My broad research interests are in the area of host-pathogen interactions and particularly in understanding how co-infection and endemic microbes drive disease emergence.

My career began as a parasitologist investigating the epidemiology of protozoan parasites in wildlife and extended to study the transmission of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in humans in rural and urban Australia and developing novel approaches for studying population biology of the Cryptosporidium parasite.

I not only address the risks of disease agents spreading from wildlife to people, but also the spread of human-associated infectious agents to wildlife. This research has seen me pioneer the field of antimicrobial resistance in Australian wildlife, research that has revealed the significance of dissemination of resistant bacteria to wildlife health and public health.

DNA methods are essential to this research as the parasites we study share morphological similarities that make identification difficult. In response to this we are developing fluorescence based molecular tools for assessment of parasite diversity, population genetics and taxonomic classification. We have established methods for rapid detection and species identification of Cryptosporidium.I am also interested in the relationships between wildlife and parasitic protozoa. Marsupials and their parasites represent ancient evolutionary associations, and by comparing these relationships in Australian and American marsupials, we hope to gain insights into the evolution and diversification of both parasite and host. Within this framework my research extends to aspects of co-evolution, parasite adaptation, diversity, taxonomy and epidemiology of a range of parasites including Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Giardia and nematodes.

Science communication

Michelle is passionate about science communication and uses innovative ways to convey STEM to people, including citizen science and even stand-up comedy. Her research has received media coverage on radio and in print. She also strives to show that science is for everyone and advocates for STEM inclusion through her work, scientific societies, and outreach and engagement activities.