Researcher biography
Lena van Swinderen is a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, working under the supervision of Professors Richard Fuller, Hugh Possingham, James Watson, and Marc Hockings. Her project is focused on the causes and consequences of multiple overlapping layers of protected area designation. Lena has a strong interest in both the “how” and the “why” of conservation and is passionate about improving protected area outcomes.
Before embarking on her PhD, Lena completed a Bachelors of Science/Arts at the University of Queensland, majoring in zoology and English literature. She joined the Fuller Lab for her Honours year, during which she explored the ramifications of using population thresholds to identify important habitat for Australia's migratory shorebirds.