Rate My Professor Edwina Dowle

Dr Edwina J. Dowle is a Research Fellow in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago. She earned her PhD from Massey University in New Zealand, where she developed her foundational expertise in evolutionary biology and molecular genetics. Following her doctorate, Dowle joined the University of Otago as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Gemmell Lab from 2017 to 2023. Her research during this time centered on two primary themes: investigating how parasites manipulate host behavior to improve their survival and transmission, and advancing genomic tools for biomonitoring freshwater ecosystems. Prior to these projects, her work employed genomic methods to examine genetic diversity, environmental adaptation, and speciation in diverse invertebrate taxa, including insects, wētā, and fruit flies. Dowle has presented her findings in departmental seminars, such as 'One bug two bugs three: understanding genetic diversity and adaptation in insect systems' hosted by the Department of Anatomy.

In recognition of her innovative research, Dowle received a Marsden Fund grant of $300,000 in 2019 for the project 'Battle of the body snatchers: do multiple parasites in a host help or hinder each other?', which integrated behavioral observations with genetic analyses to explore co-infection dynamics. Her contributions to molecular ecology and evolutionary genomics are evidenced by key publications including 'Targeted gene enrichment and high-throughput sequencing for environmental biomonitoring: A case study using freshwater macroinvertebrates' (Molecular Ecology Resources, 2016), 'Molecular evolution and the latitudinal biodiversity gradient' (Heredity, 2013), 'Assessing the effects of salmon farming seabed enrichment using bacterial community diversity and high-throughput sequencing' (FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2015), 'CRABS—a software program to generate curated reference databases for metabarcoding sequencing data' (Molecular Ecology Resources, 2023), and 'Genome-wide variation and transcriptional changes in natural populations of Drosophila suzukii' (PNAS, 2020). With nearly 1,000 citations across her publications, Dowle's work has significantly influenced fields like eDNA metabarcoding and parasite ecology. In late 2023, she assumed the role of Senior Scientist at The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, continuing her research program while retaining her affiliation with the University of Otago. She has also contributed to teaching excellence as a member of the 'Anatomically Correct' team that received a national award.