Jordan McCarthy

Area of study / field of expertise
Using indigenous terrestrial micro-invertebrates to assess environmental impacts of soil pollution in Antarctica

Previous education
Bachelor of Environmental Science, RMIT University
Bachelor of Science (Applied Science) (Honours), RMIT University

Jordan’s PhD investigated the effects of pollutants on microinvertebrates in Antarctic soils. Previously Jordan completed a Bachelor in Environmental Science, with a focus on environmental chemistry, ecology, and ecotoxicology. This included a research project investigating soil salinity on grazing land on Phillip Island and a study tour in the Costa Rican rainforest. Jordan’s Honours project in association with Defense Science and Technology Group involved looking into marine biofouling organisms and designing a microtextured surfaces to inhibit their growth. The goal of this research was to design a surface to replace toxic antifouling paints.

Jordan started his PhD with Suzie Reichman at RMIT in 2017.  He transferred over to the University of Melbourne in 2020 to join Suzie as part of the Centre for Anthropogenic Pollution Impact and Management (CAPIM) at University of Melbourne. He has worked closely with the Australian Antarctic Division’s Human Impacts Group and hopes his project will contribute to the ongoing protection and remediation of human impacted soil in Antarctica. To date he has successfully established laboratory cultures of limnoterrestrial rotifers and tardigrades isolated from Antarctic moss and soil and is refining ecotoxicological testing procedures for these critters to round out his research.