Curriculum vitae of Mason Campbell - Laurance Lab

Curriculum vitae
Mason Campbell
Address: Atherton, Q.L.D
Email: mason.campbell@my.jcu.edu.au
Qualifications/Publications/Scholarships
2010
Co-author of a peer reviewed Journal article:
Biomass and floristic patterns in the ground layer vegetation of box-gum grassy
eucalypt woodland in Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat Nature Reserves, Australian
Capital Territory, Cunninghamia (2010), 11(3): 319-357
2009
Acknowledgement of considerable assistance in the production of the C.S.I.R.O
publication entitled: “Biodiversity in the paddock: a land manager’s guide”
2008
Research project on the Australian plant genus Pelargonium which was undertaken at
the Australian National University in conjunction with the Australian National
Herbarium. Project involved morphological, physiological, germination, floral and
genetic trait analysis of all species in the genus. Field research was undertaken over
all states and territories of Australia bar the Northern Territory and included numerous
remote field work.
Presentation delivered at the 2008 annual Ecological Society of Australia (ESA)
conference at the University of Sydney entitled: Ecologically disparate Pelargonium
species display consistent stomatal responses to stress
2006
Australian National University Bachelor of Science Honours degree
Awarded 1st class honours result for a project specializing in plant eco-physiology
with the thesis entitled “Plasticity in stomatal and photosynthetic response to water
availability in selected Pelargonium species”. The thesis examined the morphological
(plastic) and physiological (instantaneous) response to water limitation of five plant
species within a single genus that are endemic to various locations within a natural
rainfall gradient in their native habitat.
Upon completion of this research I was offered a golden key membership for the
achievement of obtaining results in the top 15% of the Australian National University
(I declined as I am already a member, please see below).

To undertake the above study, I was awarded a competitively selected Australian
National University (Research School of Biological Sciences) $10000 scholarship
2005
James Cook University Cairns Bachelor of Science with a double major- Botany
and Zoology
Awarded a Golden Key Society membership for results achieved being in the top 15%
of the university
1999
Smithfield High School (Queensland) Year 12 Certificate
Distinction in the national English competition
Employment History
2011
Late June PhD commenced at James Cook University
2010-2011
Environmental scientist/senior botanist for the private environmental
consultancy Biotropica Australia Pty Ltd
This position required various roles for numerous customers including (but not
limited to):
Project management including field surveying and environmental management plan
production for Ergon Energy throughout Queensland. Duties included- plant
identification (especially declared weeds and rare and threatened species),
identification of animal habitats, production of management plans under the code of
practice, remote area field work, use of GIS Arc Pad program and Trimble GPS
systems, understanding of the local, state and federal acts (e.g. Nature Conservation
Act 1992, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Land
Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002) regarding pest and rare and
threatened plants and regional ecosystems
Field survey and pre-construction survey management plan production in Papua New
Guinea for Coffey Natural Systems Pty Ltd. Duties included- remote and dangerous
field survey work determining rare and threatened plants (IUCN redlist and PNG
legislation), ecosystem variations, listed weed species, identification of animal habitat
sites, structural environmental features (dolines, caves, watercourses), and large tree
(

Field surveying and environmental management plan production for Main Roads
Queensland (through Environment North) throughout Queensland. Duties includedsurveying
for rare and threatened plants and animals and understanding their local,
state and federal legislation (e.g. Nature Conservation Act 1992, Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Land Protection (Pest and Stock
Route Management) Act 2002), regional ecosystems identification and ground
confirmation, use of GIS Arc Pad program and Trimble GPS systems (including
differential GPS use), identification of animal habitat sites and structural
environmental features identification (watercourses, soil changes, topographical
variations).
I also was the sole manager, curator and primary information sheet
producer/photographer for the company’s very large databases of species
identification/information sheets and botanical photographic database
2009
Technical herbarium assistant- Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH)
Duties including: Interpretation, entering and editing of biological information from
field books, and existing specimen labels into the collection database. Sample
incorporation, duplicate material preparation and distribution, names curation and
determination, literature searching (APNI, Bri Mapper, IPNI, many floras) and plant
identification using relevant keys. Position involved considerable unsupervised and
supervised work.
Volunteer at the Australian Tropical Herbarium
Duties including: Sample incorporation, duplicate material preparation, spirit sample
relabelling and spirit change, names curation and determination, literature searching
(APNI, Bri Mapper, IPNI, many floras) and plant identification using relevant keys. A
bark and blaze information determination session was also undertaken with Bruce
Gray. I also developed a label production method to enhance multiple label
production efficiency. Position involved considerable unsupervised and supervised
work.
Laboratory demonstrator
I presented a self made presentation, laboratory demonstrated a session on interesting
plant traits/variation and lectured two groups from the National Youth Science Forum
as to possible careers in plant sciences
2008
Practical/laboratory demonstrator (two semesters)
I was the laboratory demonstrator in the Botany and Zoology department of the
Australian National University for the subject Biol 2121 plants: genes to environment
and for the relevant plant sections of Biol 1009 diversity of life

2007
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Gunghalin Canberra
Technical assistant (level 3.2) position on a major research project with groups
involved including the CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems division, Parks and Wildlife
A.C.T, and the Australian National University.
The project examined plant biodiversity and grassland structure in response to
management regimes including the influence of fire, structure (fallen logs), native
species grazing pressure (kangaroos), and introduced species grazing and predation
(rabbits, foxes, cats, dogs etc) pressures.
Duties included:
Considerable field and laboratory plant species identification (using numerous keys
including the flora of N.S.W, Aus grass, Euclid, wattles of Australia etc), herbarium
construction and maintenance, plant biomass estimates and calculation using the
Botanal biomass visual estimation procedure, litter accumulation analysis, vehicle and
equipment preparation, data collection, entry and analysis, awareness and
implementation of work place health and safety, diversity and equality issues and
procedures, construction of identification and reference material for riverine and
paddock plant species, considerable soil sampling and preparation for analysis (2880
samples), data collection, downloading and analysis using a dell axim x51v P.D.A and
the Microsoft active sync program and temperature data logger data download and
analysis (i-buttons, Maxim industries).
My contract extended for 6 weeks past proposed finishing date and I am a co-author
on a resulting journal article.
Laboratoire D’Ecologie Alpine Station (The Joseph Fourier Alpine Ecological
Laboratory Grenoble France), Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble France
In conjuction with the Jardin botanique alpin du Lautaret (the Lautaret Alpine
Botanical Garden)
Part of the C.N.R.S- French National Scientific Research Centre
Technical assistant
The position involved establishment of the French component of an international
(Switzerland, Spain, France, Austria and Georgia) research project examining pastoral
management regimes, plant species biodiversity maintenance and water catchments
quality and quantity issues
Duties included but were not limited to:
Hobo weathers station (Onset computer corporations) installation, plant species
identification, soil sample collection and preparation, soil water sample collection and
preparation, and soil and soil water nutrient analysis through the colorometric chain
analysis technique and C,H,N, gas chromatograph analysis, floral phenology analysis
(surveys), data collection, entry and analysis (programs including Microsoft excel,

Hobo Onset weather station software and S.P.S.S), and collection, preparation and
installation of deep seepage soil cores and their sites including public image and
consultation and site security issues. This position also involved considerable
awareness of OH&S and workplace equality issues and incorporated extensive work
as part of a (non-English and English speaking) multinational team and individually.
2006
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Gunghalin Canberra
Employed as a technical assistant in a large project assessing pastoral plant
community structure and biodiversity response to rotational and set stocking grazing
regimes
Duties included: vehicle preparation, field equipment preparation and maintenance,
considerable field plant species identification, quadrate species assemblage sampling,
vegetation structure analysis using the falling plate meter analysis technique, data
entry into Microsoft excel and Microsoft access and subsequent graph construction,
further plant identification using the flora’s of New South Wales and Victoria,
analysis of leaf traits (weights) and temperature data logger setup, installation and
usage (i-buttons, Maxim industries).
The position also involved awareness of OH&S and workplace equality issues and
incorporated working extensively in a team and individually.
2005
Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
In conjunction with the Australian National Botanical Gardens
Member of a volunteer seven week botanical internship program that was
competitively selected from nation wide applicants
Training sessions and skills acquired included but were not limited to:
-Intensive training in current issues in biodiversity science, field skills, and herbarium
skills (biological collection management).
-Seminar presentation and training in science communication
-OH&S, equality and diversity awareness and procedures
Work performed:
-Specimen preparation (pressed vascular plant specimens and specialized techniques
for non-vascular plants and fungi)
-Assistance with specimen loan and exchange (packaging, paper and data-base entry
record keeping for each transaction)
-Specimen put-away and retrieval
-Plant identification, using standard floras and monographs
-Calculation of specimen Geocodes/spatial coordinates

-Data entry (Alphanumeric, loans, specimen data) into botanical database
Position involved awareness of OH&S and workplace equality issues and
incorporated working extensively in a team and individually.
2004
Volunteer member and worker of Kuranda Envirocare
Volunteer group rehabilitating degraded land and weed infested vegetation
specialising in restoration of rainforest and riverine vegetation
1998-1999
Bird world (Kuranda, Q.L.D): Work experience
Awareness and construction of a complete diet for numerous avian groups. Awareness
and maintenance of avian hygiene to high captive breeding standards to prevent
hygiene and disease issues.
Additional competencies
Construction white card (formerly known as blue card)
Queensland Drivers Licence – Class C
Four Wheel motorbike (quad bike) introductory course
Digital photography and post production short course
Level 1 chainsaw Licence
Introductory four-wheel drive training
Senior first aid certification Parasol Australia limited
Chemical safety course
Past Member of University II Toastmaster’s public speaking club
Memberships
Member of the world wide fund for nature (WWF) 2005-2011
Ongoing member of the Australian Ecological Society (ESA) commenced in
2008
Ongoing member of the Australian Society of Plant Physiology commenced in
2008
Subscriber to Austrobaileya the Queensland Herbarium scientific journal
References
Supplied upon request