Dr Barry Richardson

Dr Barry Richardson: describing Australian jumping spiders

Dr Barry Richardson is finding, describing and mapping the distribution of the jumping spider fauna of Australia.

• 9 April 2010 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Richardson is presently studying the taxonomy and biogeography of jumping spiders.

He is also working collaboratively on several projects related to the community ecology of insects.

Background

Dr Richardson has conducted research on the processes of evolution through studies of biochemical adaptation and the ecological genetics of a wide range of organisms.

He has a background in:

• molecular biology and protein biochemistry
• biochemical adaptation
• ecological genetics of animals, plants and microorganisms
• phylogenetics and taxonomy of animals
• ecology and behaviour of mammals
• endangerment theory
• conservation genetics
• conservation policy
• environmental computing systems. 

He is also experienced in the processes and issues involved in managing a national granting agency.

Academic qualifications

Dr Richardson has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of NSW (UNSW), Sydney, Australia
• Doctor of Philosophy, also from the UNSW.

Achievements

Dr Richardson has supervised more than thirty graduate students and published two books and more than one hundred research papers.

He recently retired from the position of Professor and Director of the Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research at the University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Dr Richardson was the recipient of the Whitley Medal in 1989 for Fauna of Australia Vol. 1B Mammalia  as the best book on Australian mammals.

Find out more about the Australian National Insect Collection overview.