Author Archives: A/Prof John Lesku

Dear friends, These are the moments that matter most. It is my pleasure to announce that Shauni Omond’s PhD entitled, “Characteristics and mechanisms of sleep in the free-living platyhelminth flatworm” was passed following peer-review without the need for any amendments. Incredible! Shauni is well known in our School of Agriculture, Biomedicine & Environment. She servedContinue reading “Introducing Doctor Shauni Omond, PhD”

Earlier this month, we were joined in Melbourne by Sophia Lee: A new Honours student from California. Bristling with potential and enthusiasm, Sophia will conduct research into the significance of rest in fiddler rays. Based (mostly) at the Queenscliff Marine Research Station, she will conduct behavioral assays on captive rays to determine when they areContinue reading “Welcome Sophia Lee!”

The end of 2022 is nigh – an appropriate time to reflect upon the successes achieved and a glimpse of more to come in 2023. Firstly, Mr Robin Johnsson became Dr Robin Johnsson after the sterling review of his dissertation entitled, “Cognition and sleep in Australian magpies”. Soon afterwards, Robin relocated to the USA toContinue reading “2022 Anno Domini”

Put down what you are doing. Grab a tissue. Settle in. We’ve all known this bittersweet day would arrive. It has and I should explain. On Tuesday, July 27th, 2017 I received a Swedishly-succinct e-mail from a stranger: “Hello Dr. Lesku and Prof. Roth, I am writing to apply for the open Phd position inContinue reading “Introducing Doctor Robin Johnsson, PhD, MSc”

Is today the day we find out about the five accomplishments of the Sleep Ecophysiology Group to unfold in just the last ten days? … … Yes, it is. And so, with great admiration and pride, I introduce: 1. Omond SET, Hale MW and Lesku JA. 2022. Neurotransmitters of sleep and wakefulness in flatworms. SleepContinue reading “Your Series of Successes!”

We find ourselves on the cusp of 2022. As in years past, Australia remains a world leader in greeting the New Year earlier than most nations, owing to our unique combination of eagerness, earnestness, our vigour and vim (and also to rotational advantages afforded by our geographical placement). These traits, exhibited wholly by Australia, isContinue reading “The End of the Beginning”

I should preface my latest post with recognition that I had intended to be a more regular blogger. Despite the good intention, I haven’t updated the world on our successes since last March. Where did the year go? Twenty-twenty was an absolute blur: Australian bushfires and floods, leading into the ongoing pandemic that caused aContinue reading “Breaking the One-year Silence, again”

I am a poor blogger. I haven’t posted a thing in one year. And what a pity? The lab has done great things in 2019. When viewed individually or collectively, I think you will agree. And so – in surname-reverse-alphabetical-order – in only 2019… Zaid, Erika completed all data collection for her PhD. She conducted,Continue reading “Breaking the One-year Silence”

Big, enthusiastic Congratulations to Dani Eastick on her first, first-author publication. Here, Dani provides new insight into the physiology of some helmeted Dinosaurs (bottom left) through… …the study of helmeted cassowaries (above right)! Cassowaries, and perhaps some Dinosaurs, used such appendages for heat exchange with the environment, conserving body heat at low temperatures and off-loading 8%Continue reading “New Publication”

It has been half a year since my last post; unsurprisingly, a lot has happened since mid-year. Soon-to-be Doctor, Ryan Tisdale, has gone on a publishing spree with three chapters out this year alone: Spectral properties of brain activity under two anesthetics and their potential for inducing natural sleep in birds. Frontiers in Neuroscience 12,Continue reading “End of Year Wrap-up”