marissa parrott

research affiliate
reproductive biologist, wildlife conservation and science, zoos victoria

As the Reproductive Biologist for Zoos Victoria, Marissa works across Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Melbourne Zoo and a variety of field locations to improve threatened species reintroduction and captive breeding success and to lead reproductive and behavioural research projects. Her experience includes 18 years in wildlife fieldwork, 5 years in molecular genetics laboratories and 14 years in captive breeding programs. Marissa has worked with Tasmanian devil research and conservation for over 10 years and is a member of the research committee of The Carnivore Conservancy. She has also been involved in a variety of wildlife and conservation programs in Australia, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Marissa was recently named an Australian Science Hero by the Australian Office of the Chief Scientist and is a member of Homeward Bound, a competitive global leadership initiative for women in STEM set in Antarctica. She sits on a number of threatened species recovery teams and has a strong focus on endangered native marsupial, rodent and frog species to aid Zoos Victoria’s commitment that no Victorian terrestrial vertebrate species will go extinct.