James Thorburn

Dr. James Thorburn is an Associate Professor in Marine Ecology at Edinburgh Napier University's School of Applied Sciences, where he leads research on the spatial ecology and biology of large marine vertebrates. His work focuses on conserving threatened elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays) through field research, spatial modeling, telemetry, and habitat assessment, aiming to inform evidence-based conservation policy. He serves as Principal Investigator on national projects, collaborating with academic, NGO, and government partners, while shaping international conservation strategies.

• PhD: University of Aberdeen on movement and connectivity of spurdog and tope sharks
• Leadership: People, Culture and Environment Lead; convenor of Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body
• Projects: SIORC Report (NatureScot, £20,001), Tiree Tope (NatureScot, £15,568), BlueFish (Scottish Government, £496,331)

His recent publications address critical topics in elasmobranch conservation, including habitat assessment for endangered batoids, particle algorithms for tracking, AUV-based ecological studies, and ethical research methodologies. His research supports strategic leadership in institutional governance and mentoring early-career scientists, with a strong emphasis on public engagement and science communication.