Dr Sumner has been involved in the fields of molecular ecology, phylogenetics and conservation biology for 15 years. She started her research career investigating the Antechinus (marsupial mice) in south-east Australia with Prof. Chris Dickman at the University of Sydney. Dr Sumner’s PhD research involved surveys for reptiles and frogs in fragmented and continuous rainforest sites on the Atherton Tableland in the Wet Tropics of Australia under the supervision of Prof. Craig Moritz at the University of Queensland. Research concentrated on molecular ecology and genetic diversity of Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae, a rainforest endemic skink.
Dr Sumner joined Museum Victoria in 2006 as an ARC postdoctoral researcher collaborating with Prof. Scott Keogh from the Australian National University. She is researching the Eulamprus quoyii group of water skinks as a model system in south-eastern Australia to address questions concerning how the history of the Great Dividing Range has shaped the evolutionary history of animals in the area. Geological events such as the uprising of the Great Dividing Range, and climatic events such as ice ages have shaped the current distribution of species. Her study aims to clarify the number and distribution of species in this group and determine comparative dispersal ability in relation to habitat area.
Other ongoing projects include the population biology and molecular ecology of the endangered broad-headed snake, Hoplocephalus bungaroides,and phylegeographic patterns in the central netted dragon, a desert adapted dragon lizard. Dr Sumner also supervises students on molecular ecology and conservation projects.