Dr Anusuya Willis

Dr Anusuya Willis is the Director of the Australian National Algae Culture Collection (ANACC), CSIRO, based in Hobart, Tasmania. Her expertise lies in algal physiology and genomics, with a particular focus on cyanobacteria—their diversity, adaptation, and speciation. Anusuya’s research integrates molecular biology and algal physiology to understand how algae respond to environmental change, and how these responses can be harnessed to support water quality management and ecosystem resilience. Her work spans both fundamental and applied science. She leads a multidisciplinary team investigating the physiological and genetic traits of algae and cyanobacteria, aiming to uncover diversity and mechanisms of resilience in freshwater and marine environments. Under her leadership, ANACC provides national research infrastructure for algal isolation, culturing, and genomic and physiological characterisation, supporting research in biodiversity, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring.