Farzin Shabani

Biography

I graduated with a PhD in environmental science, environmental modelling and climate change from the University of New England in Australia.

I co-supervised seven PhD students; all graduated.

I have extensive experience in developing species distribution and other environmental models during my four postdoctoral and research fellowship positions (4 years at Flinders University, 2 positions (one year each) at Macquarie University (MQ), 2 years at the University of New England, UNE) and one year for Biosecurity Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Queensland Government (Australia)

My particular expertise is developing models that perform well across different assumptions, data qualities, and species/ecosystems. I have a deep understanding of model limitations to many applications in applied and theoretical ecology. My research has resulted in formative papers on the processes and consequences of climate change on ecosystems in the past, present and future, with my most important contributions being in conservation management, ecology, and species’ responses to global change.

I have mentored and supervised many students (undergraduate & HDR) & several Research Associate, had several management roles (e.g., lab manager, workshop organiser, intensive schools). further, I was involved in several teaching programs (I acted as a guest lecturer, lab demonstrator). I have led several research projects that involved coordinating other researcher., I have been actively involved in writing grant proposals. I worked on several national and international research & industry-funded projects (see below).

At Flinders University I was within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage ($45.75M) where I applied global dynamic vegetation models (LPJ_GUESS) and several bioclimatic envelopes to examine the impacts of palaeo-climate change on extinct and surviving Australian species. CABAH is funded by a $33.75 million grant from the Australian Research Council, $1 million from the NSW Government, and $11 million from 20 participating universities, museums, and organisations.

In the Which Plant Where project ($12M), I ran bioclimatic envelope models for ~ 2500 plant species and then developed online tools allowing people to find out where popular plants are likely/unlikely to thrive in Australia under current and future climates. Which Plant Where, When And Why Database For Growing Urban Greenspace is funded by the Hort Frontiers Green Cities Fund, part of the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative developed by Hort Innovation, with co-investment from Macquarie University, Western Sydney University and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and contributions from the Australian Government. I also was involved in another project entitled “WEED FUTURES, determining current and future weed threats in Australia“

Grant reviewer: The Marsden Fund Council, 2019 + I am an ongoing reviewer for several high-standing journals including Methods in Ecology and Evolution (IF 7.7), Science of the Total Environment (IF 7.9), Journal of Environmental Management (IF 6.7), Habitat International (IF 5.3), Climate Services (IF 5.6), Geomorphology (IF 4.1), Environmental Pollution (IF 8.0), and Field Crops Research (IF 5.2). I have been a Verified Editor 53 times and a Verified Reviewer = 60 times (Publons) to date.

Honours, awards and grants

1. Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers from Flinders University (2019) + $2500 research fund. This award recognises the outstanding contributions I have made to the University;
2. Chancellor’s doctoral research Medal from the University of New England for excellence in the University of New England Doctor Of Philosophy (2016);
3. University of New England International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS);
4. University of New England Keith and Dorothy Mackay Travelling Scholarship, $3000

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Dr Farzin Shabani
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University
P. O. Box: 2713, Doha – Qatar, Office BCR A208
Email: fshabani@qu.edu.qa