Congratulations to 2025 Fellow of the Australian Society for Parasitology, Nathan Bott!
Associate Professor Nathan Bott is internationally renowned for his research on fish parasitology. He obtained his PhD in 2006 from the University of Queensland and is currently Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department, Biology, School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University.
Associate Professor Bott’s innovative, industry-focused research program generates fundamental parasitological knowledge to deliver outcomes for research end-users. His PhD thesis was on digenean parasitism of bivalves and fishes. From there he has expanded into studies of a broad range of parasite (and free-living) groups typically on the basis of the adoption of leading-edge technology. During his initial postdoctoral research at Melbourne University, he worked on molecular detection of parasitic nematodes in livestock, in particular strongylid infections in sheep. Work in South Australia included important studies on exotic marine animals and saw the start of his heavy involvement in the study of blood flukes of ranched tuna. His molecular analysis was critical in the breakthrough finding that the terebellid polychaete Longicarpus modestus is the intermediate host for Cardicola forsteri in Australia. He was instrumental in confirming cosmopolitan distribution of platyhelminths in three species of bluefin tuna and in identifying new parasites or confirming identity of known parasites of tuna, mulloway and striped trumpeter. Once at RMIT University, his research team started a new era of omics research on blood flukes affecting bluefin tuna, leading to the first genome, glycome and transcriptome of those parasites. This research direction included improved detection and diagnosis of blood fluke infection, in particular point-of-care detection using recombinase polymerase amplification coupled with lateral flow test. His research significantly contributed to the success of the Southern Bluefin Tuna industry. From 2008 to 2012, he was one of the main collaborators on a tuna health project, which involved collaboration between 5 research institutions and the Australian Southern Bluefin Association. This research won a number of awards, including 7th Australian Seafood Industry Award in the Research, Development and Extension Award category and B-HERT Best Research and Development Collaboration Honourable Mention.
Nahan Bott is an outstanding PhD supervisor. Despite being employed in an academic position for only just over 10 years, he has supervised 7 PhD students and 8 Honours students to completion and currently supervises 4 PhD students. He is passionate about mentoring students and staff, in particular early career researchers, in a research environment. He has been HDR convenor since 2016 for his department’s PhD and Masters programs. From 2020 to 2022 he guided students and supervisors through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been a key advisor and mentor to dozens of students on a weekly basis by making himself available for weekly briefings with all students within the programs.
Nathan Bott has been an effective mentor to research students, staff and visitors in his group. He promotes diversity and has mentored and supervised many female students and staff, including some returning from maternity leaves. He gives opportunities to enthusiastic ECRs and supports and encourages career development opportunities for members of his group. He has guided and assisted former staff member in finding permanent positions with leading biotechnology companies and government departments. Associate Professor Bott has been mentoring ECRs who have regularly visited his laboratory from other institutions (University of Queensland, University of NSW, University of Tasmania, University of California at San Diego). His contribution to ECR mentoring is evidenced by co-authorship of research papers and invited book chapters and reviews with them.
His research standing in the international community is evidenced by Membership of the Editorial board of Scientific Reports, Nature and the Topic Advisory Panel for Pathogens MDPI. In recognition of his fish parasitology expertise and active participation in marine parasitology research internationally, earlier this year he became a member of the International Committee for International Symposium on Fish Parasites representing Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.
Nathan Bott strives to promote Australia as a centre for parasite research and by fostering international scientific interaction. In 2023 he successfully applied for ASP funding for a Researcher Exchange for Prof Sho Shirakashi from Kindai University Japan to collaborate on blood flukes in Southern Bluefin Tuna and to run a short training workshop for researchers and PhD students. In 2024 he travelled to Japan with two of his PhD students to collect samples of parasites from Pacific Bluefin Tuna and strengthen his collaboration with Kindai University.
Nathan Bott has worked tirelessly for the Australian Society for Parasitology (ASP). He was the Executive Treasurer of ASP from 2019 to 2021, successfully managing the finances of one of Australia’s most financially stable and successful scientific societies. He took oversight of over a million dollars in the Society’s assets and investments in prudential manner. With the COVID-19 pandemic this responsibility took on greater importance with extraordinary financial decisions required to enable the society to continue to function and deliver for members. The strategic decisions Bott made since the start of the pandemic contributed directly to maintaining the Society’s membership base and preserving its positive financial position. During his tenure as ASP Executive Treasurer, he began the complex process of steering the Society’s investment portfolio towards sustainable and ethical investments. This involved a delicate process of managing the Society member’s expectation and gathering information from a variety of sources. He not only provided leadership for his term on the ASP executive, but also supported the ongoing, future prosperity of the society by providing advice and mentoring the next ASP Treasurer. Since 2023 Nathan Bott has been contributing to the Concepts in Parasitology course (CiP), teaching fish parasitology. In 2024 he was instrumental in increasing the diversity of the CiP teaching team by inviting a female parasitologist to co-teach fish parasitology.
Bott has also been involved in outreach, for example, in November 2018 he gave an invited public lecture for the Australian Marine Sciences Association- Showcasing Victoria’s Marine Science event in Melbourne where he educated the public on his research and the life-cycles of marine parasites. He was also session chair for Marine Parasitology at the 14th International Congress of Parasitology in Daegu, South Korea in August 2018.
In view of his outstanding contributions to science, parasitology and the Society, Nathan Bott would be an extremely worthy recipient of the title, Fellow of the Australian Society for Parasitology.
