Daryl Nielsen's life for the last four years has been dominated by mud, water and microscopes in his quest for a better understanding of life in the Australian billabong.

Daryl's intellectual and physical toil, as well as his filthy washing, will be rewarded when he receives a PhD from Charles Sturt University on Friday 28 April for groundbreaking research into the effects of river flooding on biodiversity in nearby billabongs.

Dr Nielsen's research involved the establishment and examination of sixteen artificial billabongs over four years to investigate the effects of different flooding times on large and tiny plants and animals that live in flooded wetlands along the Murray River.

According to one of his supervisors, CSU ecology researcher Associate Professor Nick Klomp, Daryl's work has been eagerly received by Australian researchers and managers, who have incorporated his findings into conservation and management strategies for the Murray River. His other supervisor was Dr Terry Hillman, director of the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.

Dr Nielsen's work has also been recognised by the international scientific community, with his results published in five international scientific journals.

Dr Nielsen will receive his doctorate on 28 April at the University's afternoon Graduation ceremony, which commences at 2.30pm in the Albury Convention and Performing Arts Centre, Swift St, Albury.