Dr Adam Frew

I’m interested in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in understanding what influences their diversity and composition, and the consequences for their host plants. Part of this includes plant interactions with herbivores and pathogens, and the mechanisms plants rely on to deal with these antagonists.

In addition to fungi, plants, and insects, I'm also interested broader ecological processes, Community assembly is very much stuck in my brain these days. 

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A little about me:

I obtained my PhD from Western Sydney University, at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment in 2017, where I studied the impacts of soil fungi and silicon on root-feeding insects. I was then awarded an independent research fellowship at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga (NSW) where I continued to pursue my interests in belowground ecology by exploring aspects of how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affect plant performance and defences. After this fellowship I took up an ongoing faculty position at the University of Southern Queensland teaching into a variety of environmental and sustainability subjects while continuing my research into mycorrhizal ecology.

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I was awarded an ARC DECRA that explores how agricultural management shapes mycorrhizal fungal diversity and how community composition impacts plant defences against insect herbivores. At this point, in 2022, I returned to the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment to build my research group to better understand this amazing group of symbiotic fungi.

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​A few details:​

Positions:

Lecturer in Mycorrhizal Ecology (2022 - present)

Western Sydney University, Australia

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Lecturer in Environment & Sustainability (2019 - 2022)

University of Southern Queensland, Australia

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Research Fellow (2017-2019)

Charles Sturt University, Australia

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Current Editorial Roles:

Editor (2025 - Ongoing) | Plants, People, Planet

Editorial Board Member (2025 - Ongoing) | ISME Communications

Associate Editor (2020 – Ongoing) | Functional Ecology 

Subject Editor (2021- Ongoing) | Soil Biology & Biochemistry

Editorial Board Member (2019 – Ongoing) | Pedobiologia Journal of Soil Ecology​

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Selected Awards:

2024 'Rising Star' by the International Mycorrhiza Society | Recognises early career scientists who have already made a substantial impact in the field of mycorrhizal research.

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2023 'Next Generation Ecologist' by the Ecological Society of Australia | Awarded to an early career ecologist each year recognising excellence in ecological research.

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2021 'Young Tall Poppy, Queensland' by the Australian Institute for Policy and Science | Recognises outstanding young scientists of Australia for their exceptional research and outreach.

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2021 'Thomas Davies Award in Marine, Soil, and Plant Biology' by The Australian Academy of Science | Awarded to early-mid career researchers that demonstrate scientific excellence

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