I am a visual neurobiologist, working on the relationship between sensory and visual processing and animal behaviour. My work is highly comparative and involves a wide range of animals, such as ants and crabs, crocodiles, lizards, fish, sharks, dunnarts and deep-sea amphipods. We develop tools to measure and predict how animals see their world.

Born and brought up in Switzerland, I studied biology at the University of Zürich with a focus on Ethology (animal behaviour). I was particularly interested in cognitive and social processes. In 1994 I came to Australia to do my PhD in the Developmental Neurobiology group at the Australian National University. My project explored the relationship between the structure and function of the tammar wallaby's visual system. The unusual photoreceptor topography I observed in the eyes of wallabies sparked my interest in visual ecology and I began to work on the ecology of visual information processing in fiddler crabs. In 2012, I joined the University of Western Australia, where I currently focus on vision in deep sea amphipods. The highly structured and unusually difficult visual environment these animals live in, allows us to explore the evolutionary drivers for visual system traits. Understanding deep sea visual systems also permits us to predict behavioural traits and association preferences of these hard to study animals.

- Member Executive Board Schoold of Biological Sciences
- Chair Research Committee School of Biological Sciences
- Member Learning and Teaching Committee School of Biological Sciences
- Honours/Masters projectc coordinator School of Biological Sciences

- 2025-2028 “Discovery in the Largest Frontier: Advanced imaging and genomics of open ocean animals” Hemmi, Ames, Katija (Sasakawa Peace Foundation)  $4200,000

- 2024-2027 “Unlocking the mechanisms of vibro-acoustic communication in termites” Oberst, Evans, Hemmi, Lai, Ruppert, Nowotny (ARC DP240101536)  $700,651

- 2021-2023 “Robust measures of antipredator behaviour in Australia’s critical weight range mammals” Mitchell, Phillips, Valentine, Hemmi, Wayne, Harrison (Herman Slade Foundation, HSF 21054)  $ 63,000

- 2020-2021 “Evolution of Hyperiid Visual Systems” Osborn, Hemmi – Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH, 33CORA20OSBORN)  $214,000

- 2020-2024 “Going Wild: Neural processing in freely moving animals” Hemmi, Partridge, Tomsic – ARC DP200102642  $475,000

- 2020-2021 “Evolution of Hyperiid Visual Systems” Osborn, Hemmi – Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH, 33CORA20OSBORN)  USD$214,000

- 2018-2022 “Polarization vision: insights from biological systems for imaging solutions“ Hemmi, Partridge, How – ARC DP180100491 $394,402

- 2016-2018 “RoboCrab: An integrative approach to understanding natural escape decisions“ Hemmi, Partridge, Webb – ARC DP160102658 $437,500
- 2016 “Xenotec OcuScience ERG System (Electroretinogram) “
Chen, Hunt, Forrester, Degli-Esposti, Hemmi, Andoniou, dos Santos Carvalho - NHMRC
- 2014-2016 “Transcriptome sequencing and functional characterisation of craniate non-visual sensory systems and their adaptation to diverse light environments” Davies, Hunt, Carter, Hemmi & Partridge– ARC DP140102117 $380,000
- 2013 “A case of mistaken identity? Why do sharks attack humans?” Hart, Hemmi & Ryan– SWRRFI research grant $11,000
- 2011-2014 “Neuro-ecology: information processing under natural conditions” FT110100528 Hemmi – ARC Future Fellowship $711,993
- 2010-2013 “Insect Hovering Flight” Zeil, Hemmi – Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) $219,000
- 2010 Three month visiting fellowship grant for Dr J. Douglass – ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science $8,000
- 2009 Two month visiting fellowship grant for Mr. Olle Lind – Centre for Visual Sciences $4,500
- 2008 Two month visiting post-doc Fellowship grant for Dr. Richard Peters – Centre for Visual Sciences $8,000
- 2007 Three month visiting fellowship grant Dr. Tobias Merkle – Centre for Visual Sciences $8,000
- 2007 Three high intensity tuneable light sources and accessories – ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science $85,000
- 2005-2007 “To flee or not to flee: surviving on incomplete information” DP0558038 Hemmi, Zimmer, Zeil, ARC Discovery Project $265,000
- 2005 Synchronized, medium Hi-Speed Firewire 3-Camera system- Centre for Visual Sciences $16,000
- 2003 Ocean Optics spectrograph Hemmi, Zeil - IAS-PPF Fund for Biotechnology $8,000

2019 - 2024

Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia

2016 - 2019

Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia

2012 - 2016 ARC

Future Fellow, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia
2008 – 2011
Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, The Australian National University, Group leader Visual Neuroethology, Research School of Biology.

2003 - 2007
Research Fellow, Research School of Biological Sciences, Visual Sciences, The Australian National University. From 2007, Group leader Visual Neuroethology, Research School of Biology.

2002 - 2003
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Centre for Visual Sciences, The Australian National University.

2000 - 2002
Fellowship for advanced researchers, Swiss National Science Foundation, Visual Sciences, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University.

1999 - 2000
Fellowship for prospective researchers, Swiss National Science Foundation, Visual Sciences, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University.

1998 - 1999
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Centre for Visual Sciences. Visual Neurosciences, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University.

Coordination & Teaching
ANIM3320 “Comparative Neurobiology”, 3^rd year course

ANIM3363 "Environmental Physiology: , 3^rd year course

Honours & Masters Project Coordinator School of Biological Sciences
- BIOL4446/5556 “Research Presentation skills”
- BIOL5332-5/5552-5 “Research Dissertation Parts 1-4”

Teaching
BIOL1130 “Fronitiers in Biology”, 1^st years

ANIM2209 “Field course in Zoology”, 2^nd years

ANIM3364 “Behavioural Ecology”, 3^rd years

ANIM5510 "Biology of Australian Marsupials" MSc

Vision
Deep sea vision and behaviour
Neural control of behaviour
Animal behaviour
Sensory ecology

I try and understand the interaction between vision and visual behaviour in animals. I focus on how animals see their world in terms of sensitivity, colour, polarisation, and resolution and how visual information drives behavioural capabilities and limits.

Expertise:

• Analysis of animal behaviour: Field and laboratory work
• Micro-CT imaging and analysis
• Spectrographic imaging and measurements
• Quantitative video film analysis, Multiple camera calibration
• Immunocytochemistry (retinal wholemounts)
• Microspectrophotometry (MSP)
• Electrophysiology: Electroretinogram recordings (ERG), Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP), Patch clamp and Intracellular recordings
• Extensive experience in multivariate statistical analysis and experimental design including: Generalised linear regression, Generalised Linear Mixed Models, Permutation analysis