Natasha Phillips

Dr. Natasha Phillips is a Post-doctoral Researcher at Queen’s Marine Lab within the School of Biological Sciences at Queen's University Belfast. Her research focuses on the conservation ecology of large marine species including tuna, sunfish, and sharks, with a particular emphasis on spatial movements of endangered species using biotelemetry and biologging technologies. She leads critical programmes on basking sharks and flapper skates under the EU-funded SeaMonitor project (INTERREG programme, supported by the Special EU Programmes Body).

Her work bridges science and public engagement through documentary filmmaking and science communication via Swimming Head Productions, which she co-founded. Phillips has extensive media experience, appearing in Discovery Channel documentaries, National Geographic features, BBC radio, and articles for The Atlantic and The Scientist. She completed media training with LeapFrog Productions in 2020.

Research interests include:

• Conservation strategies for large marine vertebrates
• Biotelemetry applications for endangered species tracking
• Marine ecosystem resilience and human impact mitigation
• Public science communication through digital media

Her interdisciplinary approach combines fieldwork, technological innovation, and outreach to drive actionable conservation outcomes.