Dr Shawan Chowdhury is a global change biologist with a special focus on insects. While much of his current research is focused on ecological modelling or big data analysis, he has strong fieldwork experience in the tropics. Before joining Monash University, he did a short postdoc on wildlife crime at Adelaide University with Professor Phill Cassey. Earlier, Dr Chowdhury completed a two-year postdoc with Professor Aletta Bonn at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), analysing biodiversity trends in Germany. In May 2022, he completed his PhD on insect migration and conservation at the University of Queensland with Professor Richard Fuller and Emeritus Professor Meron Zalucki.

In addition to all these projects, Dr Chowdhury led several projects on citizen science and biodiversity conservation. For example, he identified the potential of social media biodiversity records in reducing the global biodiversity shortfall [Chowdhury et al., BioScience] and improving conservation assessments [Chowdhury et al., Conservation Biology]. Dr Chowdhury applied this approach to identify the most important conservation areas for Bangladeshi animals, which can be widely applied to other countries, especially if they lack comprehensive biodiversity databases [Chowdhury et al., One Earth]. They also developed a methodology to extract biodiversity data from Facebook [Chowdhury et al., Conservation Biology].

Dr Chowdhury extensively worked on limiting the scientific barriers for non-native English speakers and science-policy research. For example, with Dr Tatsuya Amano (University of Queensland), Dr Chowdhury conducted a global assessment of the manifold issues non-native English speakers face [Amano et al., PLoS Biology; Amano et al., In review]. In another research, he is working with Professor Laura López-Hoffman (University of Arizona) on the biasness of the global treaties on migratory species.

The primary focus of our lab is to understand and conserve biodiversity in a rapidly changing world, with a particular emphasis on insects. Our research leverages cutting-edge computational tools, geospatial analysis, and fieldwork to address critical gaps in biodiversity knowledge and conservation planning. We focus on the following five research topics (but not limited to):

I) Minimising the global biodiversity data shortfall

II) Causes and consequences of insect migration

III) Language barrier and biodiversity conservation

IV) Understanding the impact of global change on insects

V) Insect conservation in the Anthropocene

We are looking for PhD students in insect conservation, insect migration, or citizen science. We expect candidates to have some experience in fieldwork and ecological modelling, as well as at least one relevant scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out.

We are always interested in discussing research ideas. If you have any specific research ideas and think we would be the right place for that project, please feel free to reach out. You can always email me to discuss potential research topics.

If you want to join our lab, please be specific and follow the following three points when emailing. Instead of just writing to join our lab, briefly explain why you are interested and how you would contribute. Similarly, instead of writing that you are interested in working on insect conservation, try to come up with a specific research idea (e.g., changes in butterfly community composition) that is aligned with our research interests. Finally, please ONLY attach your 2-page CV to the email, nothing else. If you follow these three points, you will receive a non-generic response (not only from me but from any faculty member you approach).