Alan Jamieson

Alan Jamieson is a Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and the UWA Oceans Institute. He is the founding Director of the Minderoo UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, specializing in deep-sea exploration and hadal zone studies. His career spans over 20 years, with positions at Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen (2000–2016) and Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (2016–2021).

Education:

• PhD in Zoology, University of Aberdeen (Award Date: 4 May 2004)
• BSc in Design for Industry, Robert Gordon University (Award Date: 1 June 1999)

Research Interests: Alan’s work focuses on the Hadal Zone (6000–11,000 m), exploring its unique ecosystems, biodiversity, and anthropogenic impacts. He combines natural history, marine ecology, geology, and technology development to study trench environments and their ecological connectivity. His expertise extends to deep-sea technology, such as Hadal-Landers, and understanding challenges posed by extreme pressure and remote locations.

Articles Trends: His recent publications emphasize hadal biodiversity, fish behavior in abyssal environments, and the intersection of deep-sea science with culture and media. Themes include global distribution of supergiant amphipods, sediment variability in abyssal plains, and innovative uses of subsea technology.

Awards:

• Australian Academy of Science 2024 Thomas Davies Award

Advising & Grants: Alan has secured multiple grants, including:

• ODR subcontract from Minderoo (2023–2025)
• Inkfish Open Ocean Program (2022–2027)
• Exploring the abyss within Australian Marine Parks (2022–2025)

While no formal advisees are listed, his role as Chief Scientist and Director implies leadership in collaborative research teams.

Labs & Expeditions: He leads the Minderoo UWA Deep Sea Research Centre and is Chief Scientist of the DSSV Pressure Drop, notably during the Five Deeps Expedition (2018–2019) and Ring of Fire expeditions (2020–present). He has conducted 14 submersible dives, including 8 to hadal depths and 2 exceeding 10,000 m, making him the first British person to reach such depths.