Laura Leiva

Laura Leiva is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg since 2025, affiliated with the Marine Conservation Status group under Research Areas Biodiversity Change and Ecosystem Functions.

Her academic qualifications include:

• PhD in Marine Biology from Alfred Wegener Institute Helgoland and University of Bremen (2018-2022)
• MSc in Geobiology and Paleobiology from Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany (2015-2017)
• BSc in Life Science from National Taiwan University, Taipei (2008-2012)

Her research investigates how marine species declines—particularly mass mortality events—affect ecosystems through molecular tools and fieldwork. She examines population structure, resilience, and recovery potential of key herbivores like sea urchins, analyzing how these events reshape coral reef ecosystems under climate change and anthropogenic stressors. This work integrates marine ecology, conservation biology, and climate adaptation science to address biodiversity loss in oceanic environments.

Prior professional experience includes Scientific Communication & Strategy roles at siTOOLs Biotech, Munich (2022-2025) and Research Assistant positions at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama (2012-2015).