Research focus

I am a plant ecologist with a particular interest in extreme environments, where temperature and water stress shape plant distribution and survival. I came to UTS in 2007 from the Australian National University, where my research was focused on leaf structure-function relationships, including links between leaf form, temperature and water use. A core research focus is plant function under extreme temperatures, which are increasing in both intensity and frequency. Knowing how plants respond to such extremes is vital to forecasting species distribution as the climate changes. I am privileged to be conducting collaborative on-Country research in Australia's central desert region, and to have worked on the lands of many First Nations people across Australia, most recently with Anangu, Traditional Custodians of Uluru-Kata Tjuta.*

Addressing these important research priorities is made possible through wide-ranging partnerships and collaborations, including with the talented research students I am fortunate to supervise.

Current researchers in the Leigh lab^#:

• Lisa Danzey – PhD
• Catie Pottinger – PhD
• Leon Sims - PhD
• Sally-Ann Bird - undegraduate research internship / lab volunteer
• Nicole Thwaites - undegraduate research internship / lab volunteer

Current affiliated members:

• Sabrina De Zen - PhD (co-supervised, Australian National Univeristy, ANU)
• Shae Jones - PhD (co-supervised, University of Wollongong)
• Jay Nicholson - PhD (co-supervised, ANU)
• Jannice Banks - MPhil (co-supervised, ANU)

*For details of research and community contributions, see 'Research Outputs', 'Funded Research' and 'Impact'.

^#For a full list of Leigh lab members, see 'Teaching and Supervision'.

Teaching and learning

Undergraduate teaching in environmental science are among the joys of my work as an academic and it is thrilling to see so many of my past students thriving as environmental scientists, contributing to a better natural world. To develop innovative, student-centred approaches to support learning in life science, I have lead and/or collaborated on range of funded projects⁺.

Awards and recognition for these efforts include:

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Australian Government Office of Learning and Teaching Citation
• UTS Learning and Teaching Award and three UTS Faculty of Science Awards for excellence in supporting student learning 

⁺For details of undergradute subjects taught and teaching and learning grants, see 'Teaching and Supervision'

Academic and community engagement

For the majority of my time at UTS, I have held leadership and higher management roles, including Head of School (Life Sciences) and Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, (Faculty of Science), contributing to the strategic direction of the Faculty of Science and facilitating the shift of our teaching to online mode during COVID. In 2021, I chose to return to my ecological roots in research and teaching and wider community engagement.

I am a regular reviewer for high profile journals in plant ecophysiology and ecology, former Associate Editor, Austral Ecology, have been an active member of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA), since 2002, including:

• Local Organising Committee of the ESA2020 conference: Understanding Ecological Extremes - Mechanisms of Resilience and Recovery.
• Organiser and Chair of the ESA2014 conference symposium: Thermal tolerance in a changing climate – where are we now? 
• ESA Equity and Diversity Committee.

Other memberships include:

• Australian Society of Plant Scientists
• Australian Rangelands Society
• Australian Flora Foundation
• Australian Plants Society
• Sydney Plant Ecophysiology Group

Engaging with the wider public about plant science in a user-friendly way is paramount and I welcome opportunities for TV and radio interviews, in-person presentations, articles in The Conversation, podcasts and blogs.^{^}

^{^}For details and links, see 'Service & Leadership' and 'Impact'.