Senior Research Fellow
University of Melbourne
Topic: Ecology of flu in wild avian hosts
Dr Michelle Wille’s primary research focus is the dynamics of wild bird viruses: the ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses in waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds, which utilize a range of migratory strategies to disseminate viruses. She is currently working on the dynamics of avian influenza in in Australia and Antarctica through detection, isolation and characterization of viruses, but also using serology. Beyond influenza A, she is starting to assess viromes in wild birds, with a particular interest in ecological drivers of observed patterns. Current projects are being undertaken in collaboration with Aeron Hurt at WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza, Marcel Klaassen at Deakin University and Edward Holmes at University of Sydney.