Michelle Taylor

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.