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Jennifer DonelsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Marine Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Phenotypic Plasticity
• +4 more

Jennifer Donelson is an Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow at James Cook University , affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. Her research investigates how marine fish respond to climate change through acclimation and transgenerational plasticity , utilizing advanced temperature-controlled aquarium systems. PhD in Marine Ecology (2012) from James Cook University Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Technology Sydney (2013-2016) Collaborative fellowship between KAUST (Saudi Arabia) and Coral Reef Studies Centre Her work spans thermal ecology , phenotypic plasticity , and parental effects , with publications analyzing developmental acclimation , epigenetic responses , and behavioral changes under ocean warming. Key projects explore gene expression , metabolic adaptation , and conservation strategies for coral reef ecosystems. Jennifer’s recent 15+ peer-reviewed articles focus on topics like multi-generational thermal exposure , marine heatwave impacts , and molecular acclimation in reef fish. Notable awards include her ARC Future Fellowship for climate change research. Contact: Office in Building DB-32 Room 118, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. Twitter: @DrJDonel

Sue-Ann WatsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Marine Ecology
• Global Change Biology
• Ocean Acidification
• +7 more

Sue-Ann Watson is an Associate Professor in the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University and Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates at the Queensland Museum Network. Her research focuses on marine organisms' responses to environmental change, particularly ocean acidification and warming. She holds a BSc (Hons) from the University of Nottingham, an MSc from the National Oceanography Centre (University of Southampton), and a PhD from the University of Southampton and British Antarctic Survey. Watson has received numerous awards, including the Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year (2014), ARC Future Fellowship (2024), and Queensland Women in STEM Prize (2023). Her research spans marine invertebrate ecology, physiology, and behavior, with a focus on global change impacts. Key areas include predator-prey dynamics, shell evolution, and latitudinal gradients in marine organisms. She has published extensively on ocean acidification effects on molluscs, cephalopods, and coral reef fish behavior. Watson collaborates internationally and has been featured in media such as the New York Times and ABC News for her groundbreaking work. Affiliations: James Cook University, Queensland Museum Network, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Education: BSc (Hons) Biology, University of Nottingham MSc Oceanography, University of Southampton PhD Marine Biology, University of Southampton Her research combines fieldwork and laboratory experiments to assess how marine organisms acclimate/ adapt to stressors like ocean acidification, warming, and light availability. Recent work includes studies on giant clams, cephalopods, and crown-of-thorns starfish. Watson's contributions to climate change science have been recognized through awards like the AMSA Emerging Leader in Marine Science (2023) and Women in Leadership Australia Scholarship (2019–2020).

• Marine Geology
• Ocean Mapping
• Submarine Geomorphology
• +3 more

Robin Beaman is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in marine geology and ocean mapping, focusing on submerged geological features and their ecological implications. Research Interests : Drowned reefs, mesophotic coral ecosystems, submarine canyons, turbidite sediment flows, underwater landslides, and deep-water marine life Projects : GBR Marine Park mapping, Queensland Coastline Capture, Crowdsourced bathymetry, and Antarctic marine census initiatives His work develops 3D depth models of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, integrating geological and ecological data. Recent publications focus on Halimeda bioherms, carbonate platform drowning, and benthic community distributions across depth gradients. While no awards are listed, his research spans interdisciplinary collaborations with academic, government, and industry partners.

• Genomics
• Genetics
• Animal Breeding
• +3 more

Hendrik-Jan Megens is an Assistant Professor in Animal Breeding and Genetics at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Netherlands, affiliated with the Wageningen Institute for Advanced Studies (WIAS). His dr.ir. title reflects a Dutch engineering doctorate, and he maintains an active research profile with over 200 publications and 51 datasets. His work integrates genomic analysis with conservation and aquaculture applications across vertebrate species. Research interests focus on: Genomic consequences of inbreeding in fragmented populations Environmental adaptation mechanisms in aquaculture species Structural variants in chromosome evolution Functional annotation of deleterious mutations Epigenetic regulation in reproductive transitions Genotype-environment interactions in growth traits Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal dual expertise in wildlife conservation (European wild boar, sharks) and aquaculture genomics (tilapia, seabream, oysters). Key trends include application of long-read sequencing (Pore-C) for structural variant detection, pCADD-based prioritization of causal mutations, and investigation of polyploidy effects in teleost fish. His work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with practical breeding challenges. Megens has co-supervised 12 research projects including five PhD candidates: S. Ousley: Super corals project (reef restoration genomics) G. Kuguru: Black tipped reef shark diversity (Maldives) A. Blasweiler: AquaFAANG (fish health immunology) X. Yu: Nile tilapia adaptation architecture H. van Kruistum: Livebearing fish reproductive genomics He leads projects on genomic tools development (pCADD) and contributes to international consortia like the European Reference Genome Atlas. His team collaborates across WUR's Animal Breeding and Genetics group, focusing on translating genomic findings into conservation strategies and sustainable aquaculture practices through field studies and computational pipelines.

• Genomics
• Marine Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +5 more

Gary Bernardi is a Researcher affiliated with the Yale School of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine. He holds a Master of Science (MS) from Quinnipiac University (2011) and is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner's Certification Program. His research focuses on genomics, marine biology, and evolutionary processes, with notable contributions to fish taxonomy, coral adaptation, and invasive species genomics. He has also engaged in interdisciplinary work analyzing labor actions in academic life sciences departments. Key research interests include genomic studies of extremophile organisms (e.g., Lake Magadi tilapia), phylogenetic classification of marine species (e.g., blennioid fishes), and invasion biology of species like the lionfish in the Mediterranean. His work integrates genomic data with ecological and evolutionary frameworks to address biodiversity and conservation challenges. Publications highlight collaborative efforts in global marine ecosystems, from the Tropical Eastern Pacific to Micronesian coral reefs. While no formal awards are listed, his contributions to both biological and academic policy research reflect a dual commitment to scientific discovery and institutional reform. No grants, advising roles, or lab affiliations are explicitly detailed in the provided text.

Santiago HerreraView profile

Associate Professor

• Deep Sea Molecular Ecology
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) Biodiversity
• Evolution and Behavior
• +2 more

Santiago Herrera serves as Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Lehigh University, where he leads the Deep-Sea Molecular Ecology Lab. His interdisciplinary research bridges oceanography, molecular biology, and computational analysis to study deep-sea ecosystems. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the Argentine Deep-Sea Studies Group (GEMPA), he has participated in over 45 oceanographic expeditions spanning all major ocean basins. His research focuses on deep-sea molecular ecology , environmental DNA biodiversity , and evolutionary processes in extreme marine environments. Herrera's lab employs high-throughput omics techniques, oceanographic field work, and computational modeling to investigate how environmental variability shapes deep-sea biodiversity across temporal and spatial scales. Current projects emphasize eDNA applications, comparative genomics, and ecosystem responses to anthropogenic stressors. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on Developing molecular tools for coral biodiversity assessment Understanding connectivity in deep-sea populations through physical-biological modeling Characterizing symbiotic relationships in extreme environments Assessing impacts of climate change and pollution on deep-sea ecosystems Scientific recognition includes: Early-Career Research Fellowship from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Faculty Research Award from Lehigh's College of Arts and Sciences Frank Hook Professorship Herrera actively mentors graduate and undergraduate researchers, with former students pursuing advanced degrees at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Harvard Medical School, and Texas A&M University. His lab collaborates extensively with physical oceanographers, geochemists, and resource managers to address conservation challenges in vulnerable marine ecosystems. Current fieldwork includes expeditions to the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Mar del Plata Canyon, and American Samoa using submersibles like HOV Alvin and ROV SuBastian.

Marie StraderView profile

Assistant Professor

• Ecological Epigenetics
• Marine Invertebrate Biology
• Climate Change Adaptation
• +3 more

Marie Strader is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, leading the Strader Lab. Her research focuses on ecological and evolutionary responses of marine invertebrates to environmental change, particularly through integrative approaches combining epigenetics, physiology, and genomics. She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Oregon (2010) and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin (2017), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of California, Santa Barbara (2017–2019). Her research emphasizes three core themes: ecological evolutionary epigenetics, genetic basis of responses to multiple stressors, and phenotypic plasticity in global change contexts. She uses marine models like corals, sea urchins, and jellyfish to explore how organisms adapt to rapid environmental shifts. Key topics include DNA methylation’s role in transcriptomic plasticity, transgenerational effects of parental environments, and symbiotic relationships influencing resilience. Strader’s work has advanced understanding of coral reproductive behaviors via ROV observations, coral mucus composition post-bleaching, and CRISPR/Cas9 applications in coral genome editing. Her lab collaborates broadly, addressing critical questions in marine conservation and climate adaptation. Notable contributions include studies on transgenerational plasticity, coral heat tolerance through selective breeding, and the molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic relationships. Her research bridges laboratory experiments with field observations, aiming to inform strategies for marine ecosystem resilience.

Jodie RummerView profile

Professor

• Marine Biology
• Fish Physiology
• Climate Change Impacts
• +4 more

Prof. Jodie Rummer is a Professor of Marine Biology at James Cook University (JCU), specializing in fish physiology and climate change impacts. She leads the RummerLab and the Physioshark project, focusing on coral reef and shark conservation. Her work bridges physiology, ecology, and evolution to address anthropogenic stressors on marine life. Education: PhD in Zoology, University of British Columbia (2010) MSc in Biology, University of West Florida (2004) BSc (Honours) in Marine Biology, University of West Florida (1999) Research Interests: Investigates physiological adaptations of marine organisms to environmental stressors like temperature, ocean acidification, and hypoxia. Key areas include climate change resilience in sharks, coral reef fish performance, and conservation physiology. Collaborates globally, including in French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef. Publications & Awards: Over 150 peer-reviewed papers, with an h-index of 45. Notable awards include the UNESCO-L'Oréal Women in Science Fellowship and the Society for Experimental Biology's President's Medal. Her work informs conservation policies and UNESCO initiatives. Awards & Grants: ARC Early Career Discovery Fellow (DECRA), Vice President of the Australian Coral Reef Society, and editorial roles in major journals. Advocates for academic freedom and science communication. Labs & Teams: RummerLab and Physioshark focus on field and lab-based research in French Polynesia and the Great Barrier Reef. Collaborates with institutions like CRIOBE and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Heather VeilleuxView profile

Research Fellow

• Climate Change Biology
• Marine Biology
• Genomics
• +3 more

Dr. Heather Veilleux is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (James Cook University) and the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on genomic and epigenetic mechanisms enabling coral reef fish to acclimate to climate change, with a special emphasis on transgenerational acclimation and molecular responses to warming. She employs next-generation sequencing, qRT-PCR, and environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to study climate impacts on marine organisms. Her work bridges molecular biology and ecological adaptation, addressing critical questions about species resilience in a changing climate. Veilleux’s academic career includes a PhD from James Cook University (2015), followed by postdoctoral research at JCU and collaborations with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). She has also conducted eDNA studies to detect invasive species in Australian waters and Arctic grayling in Canada. Her teaching includes coordinating undergraduate labs in biochemistry and molecular ecology. Her research interests span climate change biology, marine genomics, epigenetics, and conservation biology. She has contributed to projects on thermal tolerance in corals, Arctic grayling habitat analysis, and synthetic musk toxicity in aquatic organisms. Veilleux’s interdisciplinary approach integrates fieldwork, molecular techniques, and computational analysis to advance understanding of climate adaptation in marine ecosystems.

• Animal Vision
• Color Perception
• Evolutionary Biology
• +3 more

Prof Daniel Colaco Osorio is a Professor of Neuroscience (Ecology and Evolution) at the University of Sussex, affiliated with the School of Life Sciences. He serves as Deputy Head of the School and Director of Taught Programmes. Osorio holds a BA and MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (specializing in Zoology) and a PhD in Neurobiology from the Australian National University (ANU), focusing on insect visual physiology. His postdoctoral work spanned Cambridge and ANU before joining Sussex in 1992. His research explores animal vision, particularly color perception and object recognition in species like butterflies, primates, birds, and cephalopods. He also holds a patent for color measurement in images, derived from his theoretical work on animal vision, with potential medical applications. Osorio sits on the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s research committee and contributes to ethical guidelines for cephalopod welfare under EU legislation. He chairs the Ethics Committee for Merlin Entertainments’ aquaria/zoo operations and co-authored guidelines for cephalopod research ethics. Research interests span visual ecology, evolutionary signaling, and the neural mechanisms underlying camouflage and color discrimination. Notable grants include studies on cephalopod visual behavior, avian spectral processing, and the evolution of trichromacy in primates. He organizes courses like 'Receptors and Senses' and 'Seminars in Neuroscience.' Osorio’s recent work bridges biology and technology, applying vision science to medical imaging and legal frameworks. His lab collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to understanding sensory systems across species.

Katherine AmatoView profile

Associate Professor

• Gut microbiota
• Primate ecology
• Human evolution
• +3 more

Katherine Amato is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on the role of gut microbiota in host ecology and evolution, using non-human primates as models to understand microbial contributions to nutrition, energetics, and health. She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2013) and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Amato is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program and the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems. Professional roles include President of the Midwest Primate Interest Group, Associate Editor at Microbiome , and Editorial Board member at Folia Primatologica . Her key research areas include microbiome adaptation to environmental stress, host genetics-microbiome interactions, and the evolutionary origins of human fermented food consumption. Education: A.B., Biology (Dartmouth College); Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology (UIUC) Affiliations: CIFAR Fellow (Humans & Microbiome Program) Her work bridges biological anthropology and microbial ecology, exploring how microbiomes buffer hosts against nutritional challenges and shape inter-specific metabolic differences. Recent studies investigate global human microbiome variation and its links to local adaptation. She teaches courses such as Primate Behavior and Ecology , Human Microbiome and Health , and Microbiome Analysis . Notable contributions include identifying fermented food consumption in wild primates and its ecological drivers, and highlighting microbiome disparities linked to health inequities. Her lab employs multi-omics approaches to study microbiome dynamics across species and environments.

Michelle TaylorView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Deep-Sea Ecology
• Marine Biology
• Population Genetics
• +3 more

Dr. Michelle Taylor is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex , affiliated with the School of Life Sciences . Her research spans molecular to ocean-level scales, focusing on deep-sea ecosystems , including corals, hydrothermal vents, and seamounts. PhD in Marine Genetics (Imperial College London, 2011) MRes in Marine Science (Imperial College London, 2008) BSc (Hons) in Zoology (University of Leeds, 2001) Her work employs phylogenetics , barcoding , and next-generation sequencing (RAD-seq, RNA-seq, UCEs) to study evolution , speciation , and genomic connectivity in understudied deep-sea habitats. Recent projects address deep-sea mining impacts and conservation frameworks for vulnerable ecosystems. Her 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) emphasize deep-sea population genomics , seamount ecology , and coral resilience through interdisciplinary methods. Grants highlight collaborations with Natural England , NERC , and Darwin Initiative . She supervises PhD candidates in Marine Biology and Biological Sciences , including Oenone Scott , Grace Long , and Jason Burk . Her lab integrates molecular tools with global conservation strategies to address urgent marine sustainability challenges.

Phillip S. LobelView profile

Professor

• Fish Biology
• Marine Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• +4 more

Phillip S. Lobel is a Professor of Biology at Boston University, specializing in fish biology, marine ecology, and conservation. His research focuses on fish behavior, bioacoustics, and coral reef conservation, with fieldwork spanning Johnston Atoll (1983–2003) and Belize (2003–present). He developed innovative acoustic monitoring methods to study fish reproduction and environmental impacts. His work integrates ecological, physiological, and genetic approaches to address climate change, habitat degradation, and species discovery. Education: PhD in Biology from Harvard University (1979). His research spans fish acoustics, predator-prey dynamics, and environmental impact assessments. He has pioneered underwater recording techniques and explored sound production in fish species worldwide. Research interests include fish sound production mechanisms, coral reef conservation, and the effects of environmental changes on marine life. Recent studies emphasize bioacoustics applications in biodiversity monitoring and climate resilience. He has contributed to taxonomic descriptions of new fish species and explored hybrid zones in Pacific reef fish populations. His publications highlight advancements in acoustic ecology, such as underwater speaker comparisons and thermal tolerance studies in tropical gobies. He advocates for closed-circuit rebreathers in marine research. His work bridges basic science and applied conservation, addressing global challenges like coral bleaching and military atoll management.

Maria DornelasView profile

Professor

• Biodiversity
• Community Ecology
• Macroecology
• +3 more

Prof Maria Dornelas is a Professor in the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, UK. She leads research in biodiversity dynamics, focusing on community ecology, macroecology, and biogeography, particularly in tropical and marine systems such as coral reefs, freshwater fish, and mangrove ecosystems. Her work integrates ecological theory, data synthesis, and field studies to understand biodiversity changes over intermediate spatiotemporal scales. Her research emphasizes biodiversity time series analysis, with contributions to databases like BioTIME and BioDeepTime. She has supervised PhD student Cher Chow and collaborated globally on projects funded by organizations like the European Research Council and The Leverhulme Trust. Awards include membership in the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland (2016). Key research themes include temporal biodiversity change, habitat complexity impacts, and climate-driven ecological shifts. Her publications explore topics like coral reef resilience, species migration timing, and global biodiversity homogenization. Prof Dornelas actively contributes to biodiversity conservation policy, co-developing observing systems to guide ecological action. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges ecology, paleontology, and applied conservation.

• Wave Energy
• Marine Renewable Energy
• Electrical Engineering
• +3 more

Jan Sundberg is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Uppsala University, specializing in ecological aspects within the Department of Electrical Engineering at The Ångström Laboratory. His research spans two distinct but equally significant fields: wave energy technology and marine renewable energy systems, and earlier work in avian ecology focusing on yellowhammers. His research interests center on the intersection of electrical engineering and environmental science, with particular focus on wave energy conversion systems, ecological impact assessment of marine renewable energy installations, and underwater acoustic monitoring techniques. Sundberg has made significant contributions to understanding how wave energy converters interact with marine ecosystems, including fish behavior, marine mammal responses, and benthic community development around energy infrastructure. Analysis of Sundberg's publication record reveals a clear evolution of research focus. Beginning with ornithological studies in the 1990s examining yellowhammer mating behaviors and plumage coloration, his work transitioned toward renewable energy research in the early 2000s. Since 2005, his publications have predominantly focused on wave energy technology, with particular emphasis on environmental monitoring using sonar systems, ecological impacts of marine energy installations, and operational characteristics of wave energy converters. His most recent work (2020-2023) demonstrates sophisticated approaches to monitoring marine life interactions with renewable energy infrastructure using advanced sonar technologies. Sundberg has been actively involved with the Lysekil Research Site in Sweden, a key facility for wave energy research where he has contributed to numerous studies examining noise emissions, ecological impacts, and operational characteristics of wave energy converters. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with marine biologists, environmental scientists, and engineering specialists.