Murphy is currently a senior research scientist based at the National Herbarium of Victoria.
Murphy's research is molecular based, investigating systematics, taxonomy, classification and biogeography of flowering plants.
Murphy's taxa of interest include Acacia, Persoonia, Adansonia, Vachellia farnesiana and grasses.
A phylogenetic analysis of the Mimosoideae (Leguminosae) based on chloroplast DNA sequence data.
Phylogenetic analysis of Australian Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) using sequence variations of an intron and two intergenic spacers of chloroplast DNA.