Kay is a plant evolutionary biologist at Monash University with a long-standing interest in how plants adapt to changing environments. Her research focuses on climate adaptation, invasive species, and the genetic diversity of plant populations, using a combination of fieldwork, experiments, and genomic approaches. She is particularly interested in how this knowledge can be applied to conservation and restoration, including how we can better manage and use native plant diversity in a changing climate. Her work includes studies of Australian native species and grasses, and she enjoys connecting fundamental evolutionary biology with practical outcomes for biodiversity and land management.