Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics Laboratory Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics Laboratory
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Joseph Schubert

Joseph started his PhD candidature in 2022 under the supervision of Professor Nathan Lo, Professor Simon Ho, and Associate Professor Jane Melville (Museums Victoria). His project is focused on the phylogenomics of the Australian Peacock Spiders and their relatives. He is broadly interested in invertebrate systematics, evolution, behaviour, and conservation.

Prior to joining the MEEP Lab, Joseph conducted his Honours research at Murdoch University on the molecular phylogenetics and taxonomy of the Australian Huntsman Spiders. He has a background in invertebrate systematics actively publishes research on the taxonomy of Australian spiders.

A list of Joseph’s publications can be found on Google Scholar.

Grants and awards

  • Joyce W. Vickery Fund, Linnean Society of NSW, 2022 – Phylogenomics of the Australian Peacock Spiders and their relatives
  • Bush Blitz Taxonomic Research Funding, Australian Biological Resource Study, 2021 – Systematics of the Brushed Jumping Spiders
  • NERC Environmental Omics Facility, NEOF1324, 2021 – Genomics of peacock spiders (in collaboration with Professor Joana Meier and Jonah Walker, University of Cambridge)
  • Harry Butler Institute Honours Scholarship, Murdoch University, 2020 – Molecular phylogenetics and systematics of the Australian Huntsman Spiders

    • Media coverage

    Joseph is passionate about community engagement and science communication and is active on both Twitter and Instagram (arachno_joe).

  • How scientists found ‘Nemo,’ Australia’s newest dancing spider. National Geographic, 15 April 2021
  • I travelled Australia looking for peacock spiders, and collected 7 new species (and named one after the starry night sky). The Conversation, 17 April 2020
  • Three new species of peacock spiders may be an arachnophobe’s best friend. Forbes, 6 March 2019
  • Peacock spiders show more of their colours. BBC News, 30 March 2020
  • Expert discovers spider that looks like van Gogh’s painting ‘Starry Night’. Fox News, 30 March 2020