Sharon Downes

Sharon Downes is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, where they lead a team focused on developing sustainable strategies to protect plants from insect threats, particularly addressing insecticide resistance. With a PhD from the University of Sydney, Sharon's earlier work involved studying the behavioral ecology and life history evolution of reptiles. They have also held postdoctoral positions at the Australian National University and the Institute for Nature Conservation, where they explored ecological impacts on various species. Sharon's research significantly contributes to the Australian cotton industry through their expertise in evolutionary ecology and pest management.