Dr Christopher Keneally
Post Doctoral Research Fellow (A) (with PhD)
View researcher profile

Organisation unit

College of Science School of Biological Sciences

Location

Adelaide University
Profile of Dr Christopher Keneally

Available for media comment

Climate change
Earth sciences
Marine & coastal environment
Natural disasters & hazard management

My skills

Biogeochemical Cycles
Ecology Fieldwork
Microbial Ecology
Microbiology
Water Quality
Google Scholar
ResearchGate
OrciD

About me

I am an environmental microbiologist in the School of Biological Sciences at Adelaide University. I study how microbes shape the health and function of humans, animals, plants, and the ecosystems around them, mostly focusing on aquatic environments. 

Microbial communities drive processes such as carbon and nutrient cycling, making them central to global climate, water quality, and ecosystem health.

My research examines which microbes are present, what they are doing, and how they respond to (and influence) environmental change. I use this microbial lens to understand things like greenhouse-gas emissions, overall ecosystem health, and to help identify the conditions that support successful habitat restoration and long-term ecosystem function.

  • 2026 Brian Moss Student Competition (National Stage Winner), International Society of Limnology (SIL), Australia
  • 2025 Research Award Postgraduate Research Service Prize, The University of Adelaide (School of Biological Sciences), Australia
  • 2024 Award PhD Publication Award, The University of Adelaide (School of Biological Sciences), Australia
  • 2024 Associate Professor George Ganf Prize in Aquatic Science, The University of Adelaide, Australia
  • 2024 The Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award (High Commendation), Australian Academy of Science, Australia
  • 2021 Ingenuity Communications Award (3rd Prize), The University of Adelaide, Australia

  • 2026 - ongoing Post Doctoral Research Fellow (A) Adelaide University
  • 2024 - 2025 PostDoc, The University of Adelaide
  • 2021 - 2024 PhD Candidate, The University of Adelaide
  • 2020 - 2024 Contract Lecturing & Demonstration, The University of Adelaide
  • 2019 - 2020 Research Assistant, The University of Adelaide

Coursework teaching

  • ENV BIOL 3004: Freshwater Ecology III (2020-2026) - Guest lectures, Demonstrating/tutoring
  • ENV BIOL 2502 - Ecology II (2024-2025) - Guest lecturer
  • BIOLOGY 1101: Molecules, Genes, & Cells (2022-2023) - Demonstrating & tutoring
Informal supervision

  • PPR3: Principles and Practices of Research (2021 & 2024) - Supervision of undergraduate research students

Committee Memberships
  • 2026 - 2027 Organising committee, Australian Freshwater Sciences Society Conference, Adelaide
  • 2024 - 2025 Organising committee, 20th World Lakes Conference, International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), Japan
  • 2024 - ongoing Member, Biology Society of South Australia (BSSA) 
  • 2022 - 2023 President, BSSA
  • 2021 - 2022 Secretary, BSSA
Editorial Boards
  • 2026 - ongoing Editor, Water and Sustainability, Wiley
Memberships
  • 2025 - ongoing Member, Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON), United States
  • 2024 - ongoing Member, Applied Microbiology International, United Kingdom
  • 2024 - ongoing Member, Association for the Sciences of Limnology & Oceanography (ASLO), United States
  • 2021 - ongoing Member, Australian Freshwater Sciences Society, Australia

Available for media comment
  • Climate change
  • Earth sciences
  • Marine & coastal environment
  • Natural disasters & hazard management
Last updated on 24/09/2026 by Christopher Keneally