Nikolas Johnston

🔬 Research Scientist & Lecturer at the University of Wollongong| Insect Genomics & Forensic Entomology 🦟

I’m passionate about flies! These insects have incredible mechanisms to respond to complex challenges such as feeding on decomposing tissue. My research leverages these insects, their biology and genomics to solve real-world problems. This includes identifying powerful new antibiotic compounds produced by blowflies, utilising the growth rate of maggots to help solve crimes and investigating how these flies can act as alternate pollinators. I’m also actively engaged in teaching and outreach, and I enjoy making genetics, and bioinformatics accessible to students and colleagues.