Tiffany Kosch
Director, Amphibian Genomics Consortium; Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Focus regions: Australasian
Dr Tiffany Kosch is the Director of the Amphibian Genomics Consortium (AGC) and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She pioneered the conservation approach known as Targeted Genetic Intervention (TGI), which leverages genetic techniques to help species adapt to intractable threats like climate change and disease. Since earning her PhD from East Carolina University (USA) in 2012, Tiffany has held research fellowships at Massey University (NZ), James Cook University (AUS), and Seoul National University (KOR). Her work integrates genomics, synthetic biology, quantitative genetics, and animal breeding to enhance species' adaptation. Tiffany's research primarily focuses on improving reintroduction success for Australian frogs, such as the functionally extinct Southern Corroboree frog that is at risk due to chytridiomycosis. She is currently investigating the efficacy of TGI strategies, including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and genomic selection, to promote self-sustaining populations of this species. The Amphibian Genomics Consortium, which she launched in early 2023, now has more than 450 members from 49 countries.