Dr. Fiona Hogan
Associate Professor, Conservation Biology
Campus
Biography
Dr Fiona Hogan is a lecturer and researcher in environmental science specialising in conservation genetics, wildlife genetics, and biodiversity conservation. Her research focuses on developing genetic tools for threatened species management, including the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and non-invasive DNA sampling (e.g. faecal/scat DNA) to assess population structure, connectivity, health, and diet in wildlife populations.
Fiona works closely with industry and government partners to deliver applied conservation outcomes. She has led and contributed to multiple funded projects on koala conservation and wildlife monitoring across Australia, working with organisations including Brisbane City Council, DEECA, DCCEEW, and industry partners. Her work integrates emerging approaches such as AI-assisted detection and citizen science with genetic monitoring to support evidence-based conservation and land management. She supervises numerous PhD projects focused on threatened wildlife, both in Australia and internationally, including work on pangolins using non-invasive genetic approaches.
Fiona’s contributions to research impact and community engagement have been recognised through multiple Vice-Chancellor awards, including the 2025 Award for Excellence in Community Engagement and Impact. She is passionate about teaching biodiversity and environmental science, emphasising real-world applications and the role of genetics in conserving biodiversity.
Fields of research
- Genomics
- Population ecology
- Conservation and biodiversity
More about Fiona
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), La Trobe University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Deakin University
Areas of interest
- Conservation genetics
- Wildlife genetics and biodiversity conservation
- Koala conservation and population genetics
- Non-invasive DNA sampling (faecal and scat DNA)
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) in ecology
- Genetic monitoring of threatened species
- Ecological restoration and seed sourcing
- Human impacts on biodiversity
- International wildlife conservation (e.g. pangolins)
Grants
- 2026: Harnessing non-invasive genetics, AI detection and citizen science to monitor koala population dynamics, health, and diet across Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. ($400,250)
- 2024: Greater Glider Scat DNA Genetics. Noosa and District Landcare Group. ($9,768)
- 2023: Koala survey and scat collection. Greenfleet. ($8,365)
- 2023: Victorian koala genetics and healthy survey. DEECA. ($158,500)
- 2021: Koala population genetics across SE QLD and NNSW. DCCEEW (OWAD Environment) ($360,216)
- 2021: Gliding to recovery, Greater Gliders. DAFF. ($95,000)
- 2020: Genetic resilience of koalas in Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. ($2,500)
- 2020: Koala population genetic study across Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. ($292,312)
- 2019: Genetic investigation into two rare Victorian Eucalyptus. FAME. ($20,000)
- 2019: Koala population genetic study across Brisbane. Brisbane City Council. ($149,330)
- 2019: eDNA methods for detecting burrowing crayfish. DEECA. ($229,000)
- 2016: Koala scat genetic testing. OWAD Environment. ($210,244)
Awards
- 2025: Vice-Chancellor Award for Excellence in Community Engagement and Impact. Federation University.
- 2022: Vice-Chancellor Award for Excellence in Research Partnerships and Impact. Federation University.
- 2020: Vice-Chancellor Commendation for Research Impact and/or Engagement. Federation University.
Current
- PhD student, Federation University, ‘Harnessing non-invasive genetics, AI detection and citizen science to monitor koala population dynamics, health, and diet across Brisbane’, principal supervisor.
- PhD student, Federation University, ‘From landscape to seedbank: Habitat and genomic insights for threatened eucalypt restoration and conservation’, principal supervisor.
- PhD student, Federation University, ‘Herpetofauna as indicators of climate change in Nepal’, associate supervisor.
Past
- PhD student, Federation University, ‘New insights into wild deer population genetics, ecology and impacts: implications for management in southeast Australia’, principal supervisor.
- PhD student, Monash University, ‘Genetic data from koala scats: method development and investigation of a unique population in South Gippsland’, principal supervisor.
- PhD student, Deakin University, ‘Species Conservation in fragmented landscapes: Implications for the Grey-crowned Babbler’, research supervisor.
- PhD student, Deakin University, ‘Ecology of an urban-adapted species over an urbanization gradient’, research supervisor.
- Environmental science
- Conservation biology
- Biodiversity conservation
Specialist roles
- Founder and leader, WildDNA
Future Regions Research Centre (FRRC)
- Publications
Assessment of the Habitat, Health and Recruitment of Two Critically Endangered Eucalyptus Species-E. yarraensis and E. Strzeleckli-in Southeastern Australia
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/emr.70032