Dr Clare Stawski is interested in how animals deal with the energetic challenges they face regularly in their environment. In particular, how they cope physiologically with detrimental weather and environmental conditions that often result in a shortage of food and water resources. A few examples of such conditions are seasonal changes, extreme temperatures, storms, fires and habitat degradation. Specifically, her research strengths are field and laboratory work on questions relating to thermal physiology, metabolism, energy management, activity and behaviour in animals. Her main study organisms are endotherms, primarily mammals, but she is interested in all species. Clare has undertaken research projects throughout Australia and also in Poland, Austria and Norway. She has worked at the Department of Biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology as a lecturer (2017-2022), a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellow from the Australian Research Council (2016-2017), a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of New England (2013-2015) and a postdoctoral research fellow at Jagellonian University in Poland (2011-2012).
Professional Memberships
• Australian and New Zealand Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry
• Australasian Bat Society
• Australian Mammal Society
• The Society for Experimental Biology
Awards/Fellowships
• Large equipment grant, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2020-2021
• Starter grant for early career female researchers, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2018-2019
• Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), Australian Research Council, 2016-2017
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, University of New England, 2013-2016
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Jagiellonian University and the European Union under the European Social Fund, 2011-2012
Professional Social Media
Projects related to measuring the physiological responses of animals to environmental variables. Potential physiological traits to measure are body/skin temperature, metabolic rates and stress levels. The primary focal animals are small mammals, including bats, but other animals are possible. Environmental variables can include seasonal weather changes, unpredictable weather changes (i.e. storms), fires, habitat loss and others. Contact Dr Clare Stawski for more details.
Teaching areas
- Ecophysiology
- Evolution
- ANM103 Animal form and function
Dr Clare Stawski’s specialist areas of knowledge include thermal physiology, energetics, activity and how these physiological traits respond to changes in the environment. Clare has undertaken this research primarily on bats and small marsupials, including antechinus, dunnarts, sugar gliders and pygmy possums.