Jake Robinson
Research Fellow in Restoration Genomics
College of Science and Engineering
Dr Jake M. Robinson is a microbial ecologist with an interdisciplinary skillset. His research focuses on the nexus between biodiversity and human health, and on developing innovative strategies to conserve and restore ecosystems. Jake is a researcher in Restoration Genomics in the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology lab (College of Science and Engineering). He has pioneered studies in aerobiology and soil ecoacoustics to improve ecosystem health.
Jake is an Editor for the journal Restoration Ecology.
Invisible Friends is his first book. It's all about how microbes shape our lives and the world around us - but in beneficial ways! For more information visit: www.jakemrobinson.com
His second book, TREEWILDING: Our Past, Present and Future Relationship with Forests, was published in August 2024.
His third book, The Nature of Pandemics will be published in 2025.
Jake recently founded the Aerobiome Innovation and Research Hub (The AIR Hub) - an initiative aiming to research and safeguard the beneficial biological components of air for both human and ecosystem health: www.aerobiome.org
He is a core member of the UNFCCC Resilience Frontiers think tank. This project identifies and supports innovative 'Bright Light' ideas that promote climate change resilience. His specialist role is in biodiversity and human health linkages.
Currently undertaking an MSc in Applied Neuroscience (expected Distinction): King's College London
PhD in Microbial Ecology and Nature-based Health Interventions: The University of Sheffield
MA in Social Research (Distinction) (The Environment-Microbiome-Health Axis): The University of Sheffield
PG.Cert in Ecosystem Health (Distinction): The University of Edinburgh
B.Sc (Hons) in Ecology and Conservation (1st Class with Honours): Nottingham Trent University
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2024 2024 2023 |
SA Environment Award Finalist - awarded the Pelzer Prize Commendation for Urban Forest Research College of Science and Engineering Emerging Research Leader Award – Nominated College of Science and Engineering Emerging Research Leader Award – Nominated |
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2023 |
New York Festivals TV and Film Award for the Restoring the Urban Microbiome documentary |
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2020 |
Leading member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Resilience Frontiers team |
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2020 |
Coordinating Editor for the Restoration Ecology journal–the flagship journal for this discipline |
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2019 |
Elected as Early Career Research Fellow on inVIVO Planetary Health’s Board of Directors |
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2019 |
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Overseas Institution Award |
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2018 |
Prestigious ESRC Scholarship for a PhD in Microbial Ecology and Nature-based Interventions |
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2017 |
ESRC White Rose Scholarship for Masters in Social Research, University of Sheffield |
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2014 |
Distinction and the highest grades on the M.Sc.(Ecosystem Health), University of Edinburgh |
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2013 |
Prestigious Rufford Cup for Top Undergraduate Student: B.Sc (1stClass Honours) Ecology. |
Jake is a microbial ecologist with fourteen years of experience working in terrestrial and marine ecology and a unique interdisciplinary skillset. He uses ‘omics approaches (e.g., microbiomics and metagenomics), innovative monitoring technologies (e.g., remote sensing and ecoacoustics), and social research to study the complex interactions between biological kingdoms. His passions lie in studying the ‘unseen’ and ‘unheard’ and applying systems thinking to advance ecosystem restoration and biodiversity-human health research (including the nature-gut-brain axis).
At Flinders University, Jake teaches the BIOL1001 Plant Ecology topic and both teaches and coordinates the BIOL3701 Restoration Ecology topic.
He has previously taught the following subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students at various institutions (e.g., University of Sheffield, UCL, NMBU):
- Microbial Ecology
- Ecology
- GIS and remote sensing
- Landscape Architecture
- Biology and Design
- Restoration Ecology
Jake is a microbial ecologist with fourteen years of experience working in terrestrial and marine ecology and a unique interdisciplinary skillset. He uses ‘omics approaches (e.g., microbiomics and metagenomics), innovative monitoring technologies (e.g., remote sensing and ecoacoustics), and social research to study the complex interactions between biological kingdoms. His passions lie in studying the ‘unseen’ and ‘unheard’ and applying systems thinking to advance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and biodiversity-human health linkages.
Jake enjoys translating complex research into intelligible outputs for broad audiences. For instance, he has written three popular science books:
1. Invisible Friends: How Microbes Shape Our Lives and the World Around Us (Published in March 2023). https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/invisible-friends-microbes-jake-robinson?variant=42190054981803
2. TREEWILDING: Our Past, Present and Future Relationship with Forests (Published in August 2024): https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/treewilding
3. The Nature of Pandemics: Why Protecting Biodiversity is Key to Human Survival (due to be published in 2025).
Jake has had a leading role in various science documentaries - including Restoring the Urban Microbiome and the CNN (Warner Bros. Discovery) documentary on ecoacoustics,
Jake founded the Aerobiome Innovation and Research Hub (The AIR Hub) - an initiative aiming to research and safeguard the beneficial biological components of the air for both human and ecosystem health.
He is also a core member of the UNFCCC Resilience Frontiers think tank. They aim to identify and support 'Bright Light' ideas from across the globe, which promote climate change resilience. Jake provides biodiversity and human health expertise.
- Biodiversity
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecoacoustics
- Microbial Ecology
- Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis
- Restoration Ecology
Other project websites:
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
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