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Whether I am predicting the lifetime value of a customer, or solving riddles about wasp behaviour, I bring a creative, hypothesis-driven approach to producing insight out of our messy world of data.
Studying nature trained me to be comfortable with complexity and uncertainty during my early career as a research scientist. After establishing a career in the science of plants and pollinators, I moved to government to support biosecurity strategy and response. I now bring my unique and flexible skill set to work as a Data Scientist for a private company, producing modelling and analytics for organizational insight and action.
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Qualifications
July 19th 2013: PhD Australian National University (ANU).
2000 – 2004: BSc (Hons) Biological Science University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Professional appointments
Oct 2022 – Present: Data Scientist. Amused Group Pty Ltd.
Mar 2020 – October 2022: Analyst – Invasive species. Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions.
Dec 2019 – Jan 2020: Independent consultant. Statistical modeling to inform targets for monitoring construction impact on threatened communities.
Jun 2019 – Dec 2019: Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Success and failure in plant translocations for conservation. University of Queensland.
May 2016 – May 2019: McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Pollination and adaptation in the Australian flora. University of Melbourne.
Mar 2016 – Aug 2016: Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellowship: Global plant-mating systems meta-analysis. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA.
Sept 2015 – Dec 2015: Lecturer: Field Studies in Functional Ecology (BIOL2203), The Australian National University.
Apr 2013 – Jan 2016: Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Above and below ground interactions in Caladenia spider orchids. The Australian National University / Kings Park Botanic Garden
Nov 2012 – Mar 2014: Postdoctoral Scholar: Floral community colour and pollination in the South African orchid flora. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Aug 2007– Dec 2007: Research Assistant: Invasion genetics of European Starlings. University of New South Wales
Mar 2007 – Jun 2007: Research Assistant: DNA barcoding of Australian flora. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Mar 2005 – Feb 2007: Research Assistant: Empirical tests of population genetics theory, and technician; Molecular Ecology and Evolution Facility. University of New South Wales
Research grants awarded
2020: National Geographic Explorers Research Grant (£17 994 GBP)
M Vallejo-Marin, M Saunders, D Field, M Hall, MR Whitehead: Why do some bees, but not others, buzz pollinate?
2017: Hermon Slade Foundation Research Grant ($53 994 AUD)
MR Whitehead: Plant biodiversity and adaptation in a changing world: the effects of animal pollinators.
2016: McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellowship ($286 000 AUD)
2016: Endeavour Postdoctoral Research Fellowship ($20 000 AUD)
2014: Australian Orchid Foundation ($10 000 AUD)
MR Whitehead, Rod Peakall, Kingsley Dixon, Celeste Linde: Below ground diversity in an orchid biodiversity hotspot.
2012: Percy Sladen Memorial Fund grant (£750 GBP)
MR Whitehead: Are pollinators of rewardless flowers betrayed by learning or instinct?
2008 – 2010: Australian Pacific Science Foundation Research Grant ($30 000 AUD)
MR Whitehead and R Peakall: Gene flow in Australian sexually deceptive orchids.
Michael Whitehead 