Jack Arbuckle

Qualifications

Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Griffith University) 2017-2020

Current position

Bachelor of Advanced Science (Hons) major: Wildlife Biology (Currently undertaking research for Advanced Studies Tasks 1 and 2).

Contact details

Address:

School of Environment and Science,

Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus,

Parklands Drive, Southport, Queensland, 4222

Email: jack.arbuckle"at"griffithuni.edu.au

Overview

I am an undergraduate wildlife biology student in the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) program carrying out Advanced Study Tasks (2601SCG and 2602SCG) under the primary supervision of Dr Laura Grogan and co-supervisors, Dr Chantal Lanctot and PhD candidate Josie Humphries at Griffith University on the Gold Coast.

I completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Griffith University in 2020 and studied courses in immunology, biochemistry, anatomy, molecular biology, and infectious diseases. I honed my skills in the lab, using techniques like PCR, immunoblotting and microbiological plating as well as enhancing my report writing skills, critical thinking, and research ability.

After this, I started a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) majoring in wildlife biology, as I had decided to change my career direction. I have begun volunteering in projects like yellow fin bream (Acanthropagis australis) restriction feeding effects on morphometrics. This project helped me get acquainted with field research, working with animals, their husbandry and what is involved in a research project.

Research Overview

I aim to carry out a literature review, proposal, experiment, and final report on the impacts of frog chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) on the development and growth of juvenile Fleay’s barred frogs (Mixophyes fleayi) through metamorphosis. During the project, I hope to contribute to the efforts to prevent amphibian declines and extinctions that have occurred because of this devastating fungus.

Practically, my project involves housing tadpoles separately as they progress through metamorphosis in a laboratory setting and exposing half to the infectious agent and leaving half as a control. This is followed by taking measurements of their mass, length, health scores and growth (Gosner) developmental stages. I am also involved in the husbandry of these tadpoles such as water changes and feeding.

Career Goals

Upon the completion of my Advanced Studies research project, I expect to have increased my skills in lab work with animals, field work, report writing and working in a team. I hope to carry out another project in this degree for the Advanced Project courses (3904SCG) and complete an honours component in a similar field, contributing to threatened species conservation in a field like genetics, biochemistry, palaeontology, or continue with wildlife disease ecology. After this, I haven’t decided whether to pursue a PhD or work as an ecologist/conservation biologist.

Biodiversity Health Research Team

Jack Arbuckle