Summary
Saoirse Kelleher is a PhD candidate and experienced ecological data analyst with interests in quantitative methods for understanding patterns of species occurrence across space and time. She is also interested in developing more accessible tools for ecological modelling and is committed to the open science movement in ecology.
Education
University of Melbourne | Phd Candidate | 2021-Present
Thesis on ‘Improving practical applications of dynamic occupancy models’
Colorado State University | Bachelor of Science | 2015-2019
Dual degrees in Fish, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology and Biological Science
Professional history
Stanford University Hadly Lab | Research assistant | 2020
Analysed pattens of bat activity using bioacoustic monitoring data from Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve
Western EcoSystems Technology | Data analyst & R developer | 2019-2020
Worked in collaborative development environment to build R packages for analysis of bat & bird activity at wind energy facilities.
Colorado State University Sound and Ecology Team | Acoustic data analyst | 2018-2019
Manually processed acoustic monitoring data for the U.S. National Park Service to support sound management plans.
Publications
- Kelleher S., Guillera-Arroita G., Elith J., Briscoe N. Twenty years of dynamic occupancy models: a review of applications and look to the future. 2024. In review, preprint on EcoEvoRxiv.
Teaching
Applied Ecology | Demonstrator | Spring 2022 & 2023
Re-wrote and lead data analysis practicals.
Environmental Risk Assessment | Demonstrator | Fall 2022 & Winter 2022
Spatial Tools | Demonstrator | Fall 2023 & 2024
Training
Leadership training | Leadership Victoria | 2024
First Aid Training | University of Melbourne | 2024
Melbourne Centre for Data Science Doctoral Academy | 2022
Grants
University of Melbourne School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Science Travel Grant | $2500 | 2024
University of Melbourne Faculty of Science Travel Grant | $2000 | 2023
Australian Research Training Program Fellowship | Full funding for 3.5 years | 2021
University of Melbourne Rowden White Scholarship | $6000 | 2021
Awards
School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Science Community Award 2023
Awarded for service to the Graduate Researcher community.
Service
Graduate Researchers in Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Science | Founder and Chair | 2023-2024
Founded graduate research organisation for the University of Melbourne’s new School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences.
School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Science Graduate Research Conference | Chair | 2023
Coordinated planning for inaugural conference.
School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Science Graduate Research Conference | Co-chair | 2023
Coordinated planning for 2-day conference with 100+ staff and student attendees.
Coding Club | Committee Member | 2021-Present
Coordinated talks in quantitative ecology; personally developed 20+ sessions on a range of topics.