Tasmin Rymer

I am a passionate animal behaviourist with a fondness for rodents, although my research is diverse, ranging from behavioural ecology of reptiles to taxonomy of snails to venom variation in spiders.

I studied a BSc majoring in Zoology and Ecology, Environment and Conservation at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, South Africa, and followed this with a BSc Honours in Zoology, focusing on the behavioural ecology of Kalahari tree skinks Trachylepis spilogaster. I then moved to the University of Pretoria, South Africa, to study an MSc with specialisation in Mammalogy, focusing on population modelling and dynamics of Africa's largest antelope, the Eland Taurotragus oryx. I returned to Wits to study my PhD under the supervision of Prof. Neville Pillay. My project focused on the ontogeny and function of paternal care behaviour in the African striped mouse Rhabdomys pumilio.

I moved to James Cook University in 2012, where I am currently employed in the College of Science and Engineering as a senior lecturer. My current research focuses on the behaviour of Australian mammals, including the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes and the platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus, and the social behaviour of a native tarantula Coremiocnemis sp.

I have an extremely diverse teaching profile, stemming back over 20 years. I have taught subjects as broad as savannah ecology to as specialised as microscopy. At JCU, I have been instrumental in the development and delivery of three core subjects in the Bachelor of Science Zoology and Ecology Major, and have played a significant role in the delivery of first year core Bachelor of Science subjects, as well as other elective subjects in the Zoology and Ecology Major.

My service roles at JCU are extensive. My most recent significant role has been to take on the challenge of Associate Dean of Research Education in the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). This role has a strong focus on supporting higher degree by research (HDR) students through their academic journey. In addition to this role, I serve on the JCU animal ethics committee, advocating for appropriate animal welfare. Within CSE, I play a pivotal role on the Learning and Teaching Committee (which I have been a member of since 2012), and am actively working to support the pedagogy, as well as working actively in curriculum development and design. I am also a first year experience coordinator, providing support for all CSE first year students. I am also the Zoology and Ecology major advisor in Cairns, assisting students with the development of study plans, assessing credit approvals for prior learning, and facilitating assessments of subjects from study abroad students. I have also been a marketing representative with CSE for several years, playing an instrumental role in events such as Open Day, Uni-X and the Careers Expo.