Peter Caley Email & Phone Number

Canberra

Proven success in undertaking applied research to tackle contemporary problems in the management of natural resources, agricultural systems and human health. Track record of delivering: Quantitative analysis of wildlife monitoring data at the national scale.  Real world biosecurity research, both at the policy level and with industry.  Strong skills in experimental design and risk frameworks supported by benchmark quantitative and computational skills. Applied epidemiology & risk analysis in human, livestock and wildlife disease systems.  Research outcomes to underpin the effective management of invasive and overabundant species, including mammals, plants, and insects. Leadership to a small group of quantitative scientists.

Canberra, Australia

Undertook quantitative research to underpin policy development in the rural sciences, with focus on predicting the distribution and abundance of invasive vertebrate species, and quantifying incursion risks associated with commodity importation.Achievements: - Led project on predicting the effects of climate change on the distribution of vertebrate pests in NSW under climate change (see Caley et al. 2011).  - Applied robust quantitative methods of expert elicitation to inform decision making in the advent of significant range extensions by marine pests (Darbyshire & Caley 2009).

Canberra

As part of a capacity building grant, I undertook research using mathematical modelling to aid the understanding of and provide policy support for the control of infectious diseases, particularly pandemic influenza. I also taught biostatistics course to Masters of Applied Epidemiology students. Achievements:- Illustrated the limitations of border screening of passengers in managing the delay in the importation of pandemic influenza (see Caley et al. 2007). This work directly influenced Department of Health policy. - Demonstrated the major contribution that non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g. social distancing) would achieve in mitigating epidemics, with emphasis on pandemic influenza (see Caley et al. 2008). This was one of the first research papers worldwide to highlight the major role that social distancing could play in epidemic mitigation.

Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra

This postdoctoral project aimed to provide the theoretical basis for more effective and scientifically defendable plant & insect biosecurity risk analyses and to quantify the relative risks posed to plant biosecurity by different import sectors. Achievements:- Evaluated the performance of Australia’s weed risk assessment system (Caley et al. 2006) and developed alternatives (Caley & Kuhnert 2006).- Developed and applied methods for estimating the proportion of introduced plants that will naturalize (Caley et al. 2008).- Evaluated the information content of data collected at the quarantine border for estimating the incursion risk of insects (see Caley et al. 2014).- Undertook a timely revision of the role of modelling in making inference on Mycobacterium bovis infection in brushtail possums (Caley 2006).- Reviewed the evidence of irruptive dynamics in introduced herbivores (Forsyth & Caley 2006).

Palmerston North, New Zealand

In this position I undertook research into the epidemiology and management of bovine tuberculosis (Tb) infection in New Zealand wildlife, including brushtail possums, feral pigs, feral ferrets, feral cats and wild deer. Research has included the use of observations, field experiments, mathematical and statistical modelling to make inferences on key questions such as intra- and inter-specific disease transmission pathways, disease host status, and rates of transmission to livestock. Achievements:- Undertook the original research into quantifying the transmission of bovine tuberculosis from wildlife to domestic livestock (e.g. Caley et al. 1999)- Led research to estimate disease transmission rates within species (e.g. Caley & Hone 2002), between species (e.g. Caley & Hone 2004), and make inference on host status (e.g. Caley & Hone 2005).

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Ecology, Epidemiology & Statistics

PhD centered on quantitative ecology and statistical epidemiology of wildlife disease. The research provided key advice to New Zealand.

Master Of Applied Science, Ecology

MApplSc focusing on the ecology and management of wild pigs in Northern Australia. The research informed the risk posed by wild pigs.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Mathematics & Physics

High School Certificate