Steve Sinclair

Scientist (Resource co-ordination)
Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI),
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)

Bachelor of Science (Science Scholars Program)
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
PhD in biological sciences

“The job is very enjoyable, being a great mix of field and office work. The people are interesting and passionate about biology and conservation.”

As a scientist, I am working on a number of projects. One is the assessment of vegetation condition in Northern Victoria. This involves carrying out fieldwork across the Mallee. I am also writing national recovery plans for Senecio macrocarpus (Large headed-groundsel) and Leucochrysum albicans subsp. albicans var. tricolor (Straw daisy). I also have a role as Resource Co-ordinator for the Flora Ecology Research group, which involves seeking funding and some aspects of project management.

The job is very enjoyable, being a great mix of field and office work. The people are interesting and passionate about biology and conservation. The atmosphere is great, with the opportunity to chat to people about biology in an environment, which is relaxed, and without the requirement to wear a suit. After the PhD, the job is mostly challenging for rather mundane reasons. I am learning heaps about the way in which ecology, conservation and government policy interact, which is challenging.

I chose to study at Monash because it offered the Science Scholar Program, which gave me considerable flexibility in my course structure, and because I could get there easily by bicycle. I met lots of great people at Monash, some “nerdier” than others, who have remained my friends.

Field trips were particularly valuable- both socially, and because they allowed us to see ecology operate in the real world. From an academic perspective, being an undergraduate was mildly enjoyable, but postgraduate research was much more fun. I liked it because I had control over the questions I researched, and the pace at which I bounced along. John Hamill was a wonderful supervisor and mentor, and I really enjoyed my time in his lab. Postgraduate research also gave me the chance to demonstrate to classes, which was fun, and forced me to know the basics I might have otherwise forgotten. I think postgraduate research gave me the ability to write well, and prepared me well for being self sufficient in dealing with many problems. It also developed my patience.