We are pleased to announce that the recipient of this year’s Daniel Gilmore Scholarship is Emily Blackburn, who is currently completing her Honours at Monash University.

Emily’s project focuses on the genetics and conservation of the lowland and critically endangered Leadbeater's possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri.

The aim of Emily’s research is to identify the optimal combination of individuals for genetic mixing, sourced from both wild and captive possums, to maximise genetic diversity for a new translocated ‘insurance’ population at Haining Farm, to help save the Leadbeater’s Possum from extinction.

Emily collecting Leadbeater’s Possum samples in the field

Working under the supervision of Dr Maria Byrne, Emily will analyse and compare Leadbeater’s Possum samples, applying genomic approaches to better understand diversity loss over time, and help to inform the selection of individuals for a planned genetic rescue translocation of the species to an insurance population at Haining Farm, Victoria. It was also a highly significant place for Dan Gilmore.

"I’m incredibly passionate and excited about this project and can’t wait to see its real-world impact", she said.

"Receiving this scholarship is a huge honour and will help me to dedicate myself fully to my research. Knowing how special Leadbeaters were to Dan makes it even more meaningful to be honouring his legacy through my project."

The Scholarship was established in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Dan, whose passion for the natural world inspired us during his 21 years with Biosis. It is open to Honours students in Australia studying wildlife ecology. The next round of applications will open in September 2026.

Congratulations Emily!

Biosis hopes this scholarship will allow you to continue contributing meaningfully to the conservation of one of Australia’s unique and charismatic species, the Leadbeater's Possum.

Emily conducting sampling in the lab