ProfessorCraig Sherman

Associate Head of School (Research and Industry Engagement)

Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Life and Environmental Sciences/Deakin Centre for Marine Science

  • Associate Head of School (Research and Industry Engagement)
    Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Life and Environmental Sciences/Deakin Centre for Marine Science
  • +61 3 522 71406 (Work)
  • Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research focuses on the evolutionary biology and ecology of natural
populations. I use a combination of ecological and molecular approaches to
address fundamental questions in the fields of ecosystem restoration, invasive
species biology, genetic adaptation, and population genomics.

My research group works on a range of marine and terrestrial organisms, chosen
because they represent the best model systems in which to test fundamental
questions in ecological and evolutionary biology. Some of the main research
topics and species we work on include:

Adaptation of native and invasive species - (Sea Anemones, European Starlings,
Northern Pacific Sea Star)

Ecosystem restoration (seagrass)

Connectivity and dispersal - (Seagrass, Freshwater crayfish, Marine Fish,
Marine Invertebrates)

Mating system evolution (e.g. outcrossing, selfing, clonal reproduction) -
Corals, Sea Anemones, Seagrasses, Sea Stars

GRANTS

  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Seagrass Nursery: Developing a seagrass nursery for upscaling intertidal restoration.
    10 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2027
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    Melbourne Water Corporation - $73,636.00
  • GRANT
    Deakin Marine restoration research on seagrass, kelp, oysters and mangroves
    8 Apr 2025 - 18 Apr 2027
    People funded by this grant:
    Peter Lemon - $120,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    REACH Industry Research Scholarship Upscaling seagrass restoration in Victoria related to RM48076
    1 Apr 2025 - 1 Apr 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    Melbourne Water Corporation - $40,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    REACH scholarship: Developing the tools and knowledge for seagrass restoration in Port Phillip Bay.
    1 Apr 2025 - 1 Apr 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    Melbourne Water Corporation - $40,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Upscaling seagrass restoration works in Western Port
    15 Feb 2025 - 30 Jun 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    Melbourne Water Corporation - $363,140.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Northern Aquatic Quarantine Strategy eDNA Settlement Array Pilot
    22 Jan 2025 - 30 Jun 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - ATM_2024_0972 - $20,000.00
  • GRANT
    Project 1: Genetic analysis of Didemnum vexillum populations in Australia to identify potential source population/s, and pattern and mechanism of spread
    14 Nov 2024 - 30 Sep 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - 2024550146 - $154,947.00
  • GRANT
    Mapping seagrass and kelp to inform management of these key habitats in Port Phillip Bay
    18 Sep 2024 - 30 Jul 2027
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Port Philip Bay Fund 90 719 052 204 - OPP-75966 - $210,016.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Assessing the distribution, health and potential for restoration of estuarine seagrass meadows in the Glenelg Hopkins Region.
    18 Mar 2024 - 30 Jun 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    GHCMA Grant - Research - Glenelg - Hopkins Catchment Management Authority - $144,500.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Investigating chemical cues as a potential management option for the Northern Pacific seastar - Phase 2.
    1 Dec 2023 - 29 Nov 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - C12953 - $144,971.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION: Developing seed storage and germination methods for Zosteraceae species to support upscaling of seagrass restoration
    1 Oct 2023 - 30 Sep 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sherman C,
    • Wookey A
    ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795 - $5,775.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION: Understanding efficient and effective methods for establishing resilient Zostera seagrass meadows
    1 Oct 2023 - 30 Sep 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sherman C,
    • Coals LRM
    ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795 - $6,980.00
  • GRANT
    Improving Ocean Literacy in Port Phillip Bay Primary Schools
    30 Jun 2023 - 30 Jun 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Port Philip Bay Fund 90 719 052 204 - GA-F37514-2878 - $89,265.00
  • GRANT
    Kelping the Bay: future proofing the Golden Kelp
    30 Jun 2023 - 30 Jun 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    • Francis P,
    • Miller A,
    • Sherman C,
    • Carnell P,
    • Pocklington J
    Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Port Philip Bay Fund 90 719 052 204 - GA-F37391-8867 - $90,721.00
  • GRANT
    Mapping Port Phillip Bay biodiversity with Traditional Owners using eDNA
    30 Jun 2023 - 30 Jun 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    DELWP Port Phillip Bay Fund - OPP-55635 - $99,055.00
  • GRANT
    CSIRO Infectious Animal Diseases and Zoonoses Postgraduate Research Scholarship Program (IADZ)
    23 Jun 2023 - 30 Jun 2027
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    CSIRO Scholarship - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - $280,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    DNA based investigation of marine ascidian identify in samples from marine infrastructure.
    19 May 2023 - 17 Jul 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    • Craig Sherman
    EDP Consultants Pty Ltd - $9,790.00
  • GRANT
    Improving data on the distribution and ecological value of temperate subtidal seagrass in tayaritja (Furneaux Group of Islands), Tasmania
    1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    National Environmetal Science Program 2 - $87,153.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION - Mitochondrial inheritance and recombination in wild and farmed mussels
    1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795 - $500.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION - Seagrass Restoration Development of methods for the recovery of intertidal seagrass meadows
    1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sherman C,
    • Callahan L
    ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795 - $11,700.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION: Climate proofing the Silver Banksia, Banksia marginata
    1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795 - $13,500.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Seagrass Mapping around Geelong Ports Infrastructure.
    2 Dec 2022 - 2 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sherman C,
    • Dalby O
    Geelong Port - $35,855.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Development and validation of molecular diagnostic tools for distinguishing invasive Didemnum species from native Australian species - Phase 2.
    11 Oct 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sherman C,
    • Miller A
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - 11161 - $47,936.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Optimising eDNA sampling protocols for the early detection of marine pests and hydrodynamic modelling to determine point sources of eDNA - Phase 2.
    11 Oct 2022 - 26 Jan 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - C11085 - $212,450.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Investigating chemical cues as a potential management option for the northern Pacific seastar.
    5 Aug 2022 - 29 Jul 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - C10824 - $111,030.00