Tamara completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, Canada in 2000 and a Masters of Science with York University and the Toronto Zoo, Canada in 2004. During her masters degree, she studied the reproductive hormones and behaviour of the endangered Vancouver Island Marmot to assist in improving the captive breeding program. 

Tamara joined the Taronga Conservation Society Australia in February 2005 as a Reproductive Biologist, based in Dubbo at Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Wildlife Reproductive Centre. In 2006, Tamara began a Doctorate of Philosophy in conjunction with the Veterinary Science Department of the University of Sydney and Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Her PhD focusing on developing assisted reproductive technology and increasing knowledge of the basic reproductive biology of the Tasmanian Devils is due to be completed in 2010.

Tamara conducts routine hormone monitoring of a variety of species for management and research purposes and some of her current research interests include:

• Developing spermatozoa collection and cryopreservation techniques for the Tasmanian devil
• Evaluating the reproductive and corticoid (stress) hormones of captive Tasmanian devils to determine factors governing captive breeding success
• Evaluating reproductive and corticoid (stress) hormones in Asian elephants and Indian and black rhinos.