From inter-tidal snails to great whales (with a lot of birds in between), Mike Double’s research has been diverse but the uniting theme has been the use of molecular tools to address evolutionary, ecological and conservation-orientated questions.
Mike started his training with a degree in genetics and zoology at Leeds University. He then moved on to conduct doctoral research at Leicester University into the breeding behaviours of birds. Mike then moved to Australia where he worked on various postdoctoral research programs at the Australian National University for over ten years. There he combined field observations with genetic analyses to reveal the unique and fascinating behaviours of superb fairy-wrens. On the side he collaborated in studies of antechinus, fiddler crabs, spiders and many other bird species but the principal distraction from wrens was research on the taxonomy, genetics and conservation of albatrosses.
Mike’s work with seabirds, and especially albatross, introduced him to marine conservation issues and a familiarity with bobbing around the ocean in small boats. With these qualifications and his genetics background he joined the Australian Marine Mammal Centre in 2007 to initiate a population genetic research program on Australia's baleen whales.
Mike will lead the second of the small boat teams as part of this expedition. His main role as part of this team will be to collect tissue samples from whales, using a biopsy rifle.
