Rate My Professor Geoff MacFarlane

Associate Professor Geoff MacFarlane serves as an ecotoxicologist in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences, focusing on environmental science and management at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He earned his PhD and Graduate Certificate of Higher Education from the University of Technology Sydney, along with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Newcastle. Joining the university in 2001 as an Associate Lecturer, he advanced to Lecturer from 2003 to 2007 and currently holds the position of Associate Professor. His research centers on marine ecotoxicology and aquatic toxicology, examining the effects of contaminants including heavy metals, estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on estuarine and marine species. Specific investigations include biomarker responses in Sydney rock oysters, metal tolerance mechanisms in saltmarsh halophytes and mangroves, impacts on sexual selection in semaphore crabs, and threats to shorebirds from PFAS contamination.

MacFarlane has supervised 15 completed PhD students and two ongoing projects, receiving accolades such as the University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor's Supervision Award, finalist status in the 2023 Research Supervision Excellence Award, NUPSA Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year, Carrick Institute citation for outstanding contribution to student learning, and Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Academic Teaching Excellence Award. He has obtained funding from Australian Research Council Discovery and Linkage Grants (2004, 2006, 2009, 2020, 2023, 2024) and partners like Hunter Water Corporation. Key publications encompass the chapter 'Zooremediation of contaminated aquatic systems through aquaculture initiatives' (2009), 'Environmental DNA as a tool for detecting ocean outfall impacts and environmental gradients in coastal ecosystems' (Science of the Total Environment, 2026), 'Integrating omics into biomarker-based strategies for enhanced marine pollution biomonitoring' (Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2026), and 'Lipidomic alterations in oysters caused by environmentally relevant exposure to microplastics and estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals' (Ecotoxicology, 2026). He acts as Deputy Chair of the Animal Care and Ethics Committee, Program Convenor for the Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management and environmental masters programs, and Associate Editor for Marine Pollution Bulletin and Ecotoxicology.