Dr Schneider is an environmental scientist interested in understanding the role of past climate changes and human activities on tropical and temperate ecosystems. Her research focuses on the geochemistry of freshwater lake sediments to reveal long-term interactions between humans, climate and metal contamination using the information stored in the bottom of lakes. This information sheds light on past climate changes, the role of human colonisation in the landscape, the magnitude of impacts from industry and other processes.

• Geochemistry
• Biogeochemical cycle of Hg
• Environmental contamination by ancient Empires and populations
• Palaeoclimatology
• Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction

Dr Schneider is the founder and convenor of Mercury Australia (www.mercury-australia.com.au), a research network that unites researchers investigating the historical and contemporary uses and impacts of mercury and their implications for regulation and governance in the Southern Hemisphere, with special emphasis in the Asia and the Pacific.

Her research interest focuses on advancement of our knowledge of the historical uses and contemporary sources of mercury in the Southern Hemisphere, with particular attention given to Australia to ratifying the international Minamata Convention and complying with this treaty. 

• A Long-term History of Mercury in Australasia through Innovative Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction. Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). Australian Research Council.
• Mercury Australia: Building a research network to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury in Australia. Asia-Pacific Innovation Program (APIP) - Strategic Research Collaboration
• Using lake sediment geochemical reconstruction to investigate mercury emissions from power stations and to evaluate and develop regulatory and governence responses. Asia-Pacific Innovation Program (APIP) - Research Development
• Measuring Australian mercury (Hg) levels and developing regulations and governance to reduced their emissions . Asia-Pacific Innovation Program (APIP) - Research Development
• A multidisciplinary application of mercury studies in archaeology and environmental sciences. Asia-Pacific Innovation Program. ECR Research Development Award.