Jordan Vink memorable experience living and working in Antarctica

Jordan Vink is one of the stars of the Ferrari Lab. In 2022, she began an industry-connected PhD in soil microbial ecology and ecotoxicology. Her project, developed in collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), uses Casey Station as a case study to develop an Antarctic-specific fungal toxicity test that will directly inform environmental risk assessments and regulatory guidelines in one of the world’s most unique environments.

Making a lifelong dream come true, Jordan joined the AAD expedition to Casey Station last November. She spent three months on our favourite icy continent during the breathtaking,  yet still challenging, Antarctic summer. The expedition aimed to support environmental monitoring activities as part of the A Cleaner Antarctica project as part of the Environmental Stewardship Program. A highly skilled team of members was carefully selected and extensively trained to endure the challenges of freezing fieldwork conditions and prolonged confinement in such an extreme environment.

Jordan returned with many memorable stories from the expedition. She experienced temperatures ranging from -17.4 to 6.7°C, yet still found time to enjoy rewarding moments, including swimming in the ocean to celebrate Australia Day, when the weather was considered “mild” (around 0°C - her words, not ours!). She also took part in survival training exercises, which included digging an “ice coffin” to create a temporary sleeping area for the night. With Antarctica’s endless summer daylight, true dark nights are simply not part of the experience.

Life at Casey Station also offered moments of relaxation and community. The station was equipped with a surprisingly impressive range of recreational activities, from painting and music studios to a well-loved kitchen that quickly became a favourite gathering place.

During the expedition, Jordan contributed to projects involving the collection of water and soil samples, as well as drone operations both above and below the water surface. The team gathered an enormous amount of material that will now support ongoing AAD research aimed at quantifying contamination levels, understanding contaminant fate, assessing ecotoxicological effects on local biota, and evaluating impacts on Antarctic biodiversity.

This important work will contribute to the development of mitigation strategies, remediation tools, and innovative technologies, ultimately supporting the delivery of a comprehensive and actionable Cleaner Antarctica Strategy.

Celebrating Two Ferrari Lab Stars 🎓✨

Ferrari Lab recently celebrated a major milestone with the graduation of two outstanding researchers: Dr. Kristopher Abdullah and Liam Hewitt.

After a long and impressive journey, Kristopher Abdullah, affectionately known among his peers as “His Excellence Dr. Kris”, has officially earned his doctorate. His PhD thesis, “A multi‑omic investigation of hydrocarbon and nitrite bioremediation in Antarctic soils” represents an exceptional body of work. Kris developed a novel metaproteomics pipeline capable of identifying low‑biomass proteins involved in active xenobiotic degradation and nutrient cycling. His research elucidated the microbial pathways and mechanisms responsible for nitrite accumulation in biopiles, as well as its removal from hydrocarbon‑remediated soils. He also applied a multi‑omic framework to evaluate soil washing as a nitrite‑removal strategy.

Beyond its scientific impact, Kris’ work stood out for its clarity and storytelling. His research gained recognition through multiple UNSW oratory competitions and was even featured in Forbes Australia, a well‑deserved distinction. Our warmest congratulations to Dr. Abdullah on this remarkable achievement.

Liam Hewitt’s work represents another exciting chapter in Ferrari Lab’s fungal research: “Isolation of a novel and a known secondary metabolite from a novel Antarctic fungi”. His honours project focused on one of our favourite isolates from our Antarctic collection: a novel Agaricomycete, sourced from soils at Robinson Ridge, Eastern Antarctica. Liam investigated how this fungus responds to a range of abiotic and biotic stressors using an integrated approach combining genetic, phenotypic, and chemical analyses.

To make the study even more intriguing, Liam explored the effects of adding wood as a growth substrate, a factor that significantly increased growth rates, altered morphology, and slowed pigment production. His work also included co‑culture experiments with other Antarctic fungal isolates, in‑depth analyses of biosynthetic gene clusters, and metabolomic profiling of fungal cultures. Given the breadth and depth of data generated, it comes as no surprise that Liam will continue this research as a PhD candidate in Ferrari Lab.

We could not be prouder of these two stars. Stay tuned! Papers arising from their outstanding work will be coming very soon!

Happy coincidence by the A-factor* - Our new paper in our team's hands at the Bunger Hills

A lovely coincidence unfolded yesterday at our study site: two of our co‑authors happened to be there with a freshly printed copy of our new paper in hand. The smiles on Rebecca McWatters and Tim Spedding’s faces say it all.

Beautifully led by Kellynn Tan, this study explores the soil microbial communities of Bunger Hills, East Antarctica, and how they have responded to a 40‑year‑old legacy petroleum spill. Using metagenomics and gas chromatography, we uncovered striking shifts in microbial composition and functional potential in the contaminated soils.
These soils showed reduced hydrogen oxidation and surprisingly higher ¹⁴CO₂ carbon fixation rates, hinting at complex metabolic adjustments to long‑term pollution.

From our datasets, we assembled 300 metagenome‑assembled genomes spanning 16 bacterial and archaeal phyla, including 25 novel candidate species - an exciting contribution to Antarctic microbial diversity.

Overall, our findings highlight the long‑lasting ecological consequences of hydrocarbon contamination in polar environments. While uncontaminated soils selected for autotrophic taxa reliant on inorganic carbon, elevated carbon fixation rates in contaminated soils were associated with energy-intensive degradation processes.

Our study establishes a valuable baseline for monitoring the impact of contamination on Antarctic soil ecosystems.
A proud moment for the whole team!
Read it full at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-026-03299-0

From Ice to Innovation: How UNSW Scientists Are Unlocking Antarctica’s Secrets

Check out the latest article from News UNSW, where Professor Belinda Ferrari dives into the hidden microbial ecosystems of Antarctica and how they might reshape our understanding of life itself.

From the gravelly soils near Casey Station, Prof. Ferrari has uncovered over 20 new microbial species, some with potential for antifreeze proteins and novel antibiotics. Even more astonishing, she discovered bacteria that survive without sunlight, drawing energy from trace gases in the air, a process called atmospheric chemosynthesis. These findings are now informing NASA’s search for life on Mars.

The article also highlights the work of Ferrari Lab former honours student and now UNSW Adjunct Lecturer Alinta Furnell, whose research into Antarctic fungi revealed genetic pathways for producing UV-protective compounds, with exciting applications in biotechnology and skincare.

Antarctica may be cold and remote, but its microbes are rewriting the rules of biology and pointing us toward new frontiers in science.

👉 Read the full story on UNSW News

Into the Ice — Prof. Ferrari’s Antarctic Expedition

We’re proud to highlight a truly inspiring interview featuring our lab head, Prof. Ferrari, whose passion for discovery-based research in environmental microbiology continues to push boundaries.

In her latest interview featured by UNSW Science, Prof. Ferrari shares reflections from her unforgettable expedition to Casey Station in Antarctica, where she studied microbial biodiversity in some of the planet’s most extreme soils. After a decade of working with Antarctic samples in the lab, she finally had the chance to witness the icy landscape firsthand.

If you’ve ever wondered what fieldwork really involves—or if you’ve dreamed of taking your science into remote and beautiful places—this is the read for you.

👉 Read the full interview on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-lab-realities-fieldwork-science-unswscience-pyauc

🧬 Our Lab Featured in The Scientist!

We’re excited to share that our lab work, led by Dr. Belinda Ferrari, was featured in The Scientist magazine in the article “Fantastic Microbes and Where to Find Them.”

The article highlights the challenges of cultivating microbes from extreme environments and how our team developed novel techniques to overcome them. It also showcases some of our favorite organisms—air-eating bacteria—which oxidise atmospheric trace gases like hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and are often associated with high-elevation.

The article also covers Dr. Ferrari’s 2019 expedition to Antarctica, where she observed climate-driven changes, such as the emergence of moss beds. These changes opened up new opportunities to explore microbial niches, leading to the creation of a library of over 300 unique fungal species, now under investigation for their biotechnological potential.

🔬 These discoveries are helping us understand how life adapts to extreme stress—and how we might harness that resilience.

📖 Read the full story here: Fantastic Microbes and Where to Find Them – The Scientist

Celebrating Dr. Angelique’s Incredible Journey with Us

It’s time to express our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Angelique Ray for nearly a decade of dedication, curiosity, and inspiration. From her honours research to a remarkable PhD journey and postdoctoral work, she has been an invaluable part of our team.

Angelique’s passion for Microbiology and Astrobiology spreads to everyone around her —both scientifically and personally. Many students who shared the lab with her not only benefited from her expertise but were also swept up in her enthusiasm for discovery.

Throughout her career, Angelique has achieved remarkable milestones, winning prestigious awards such as the New Colombo Plan Mobility Scholarship and the FEMS Microbiology Ecology Presentation Prize. She has also presented at major international events, including the 8th International Conference on Polar & Alpine Microbiology. Her work even captured media attention, with a standout appearance as a guest interviewee on ABC Radio National’s "The Science Show", discussing Bacteria That Live on Air Alone.

Angelique’s research has made a lasting impact, particularly in advancing our understanding of atmospheric chemosynthesis and Antarctic microbial communities. Her contributions have set a benchmark in the field, making her a reference in this area of study.

And to crown her journey with a golden finish, she has now been awarded a prestigious fellowship—a testament to her brilliance and dedication—the NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center.

While we will dearly miss her energy and enthusiasm in the lab, we are beyond excited to see her career continue to flourish. Angelique, we wish you the very best in your scientific adventures ahead! 🚀🔬

2025: A Year of New Beginnings, Fun, and Scientific Adventures

To mark the end of 2024 and welcome the start of 2025, here’s a snapshot from our Department’s Christmas party. Our lab had an amazing time bowling, and we even brought home a trophy—a gigantic bowling pin! We also enjoyed a delightful picnic by the beach, taking advantage of our university’s location near one of Sydney's most beautiful beaches—definitely a bonus.

As we kick off the year, we are excited to welcome Corinne Haenggi, our new PhD student with a passion for astrobiology, and Liam Hiwitt, who brings a deep interest in fungi to the team. We’re also thrilled to share that our dear colleague Thomas Laird is now officially a PhD candidate as well!

The Ferrari lab team wishes everyone a year filled with joy, exciting science, and plenty of fun!

Investigating Endolithic Microbial Communities in Antarctica

As we step into 2025, we reflect on the exciting conclusion of 2024, which ended with the honourable visit of our collaborator from Italy, Dr. Claudia Coleine - University of Tuscia, Viterbo. Her time with us sparked engaging discussions on the microbiome of Antarctica, the resilience of black fungi, and the persistence of life in extreme environments.

Dr. Coleine has made major contributions to the scientific understanding of microbial life within rocks, known as endoliths. These unique microbial communities are found worldwide and play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles. However, their composition, diversity, and distribution remain largely unexplored—particularly in Antarctica, where they represent the dominant form of life.

This visit was a remarkable opportunity for our lab, setting the stage for new investigations into endolithic microbial communities from Antarctica. We are excited to delve deeper into these communities that thrive at the very limits of what is possible for life to exist on Earth.

Ferrari Lab Shines: Celebrating Kris and Sanjana's Success!

This month, we’re celebrating two stars from the Ferrari Lab!
First up, huge congratulations to Kristopher Abdulla, who competed in UNSW’s School of Science 1 Minute Thesis (1MT) competition. This academic challenge gives PhD candidates just one minute to explain their groundbreaking research and its importance. Kris took to the stage with his talk, "A Clearer Pathway to a Clearer Antarctica," and made it to the podium! Well done, Kris, for shining in both science and public speaking!

Next, a big round of applause for Sanjana Suresh, who delivered a stunning presentation titled "The Colourful World of Antarctic Fungi," summarising key findings from her honours project. Amazing work, Sanjana, for showcasing your talent for science communication and passion for Antarctic fungi!

Go team Ferrari Lab!