Neil James

Neil James is a Research Fellow at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) of the University of the Highlands and Islands. He specializes in renewable bio-energy, climate change adaptation, and marine plastic pollution. As project coordinator for the Circular Ocean initiative, he leads efforts to address marine plastic waste through a circular economy approach, winning the EU RegioStars 2016 award. His research also focuses on zooplankton ecology, macroecology, and the impacts of temperature on planktonic ecosystems.

Education: Doctor of Philosophy (2009) from the British Antarctic Survey, specializing in planktonic food-web dynamics under temperature influences.

Research Interests: Combines ecological studies with applied solutions to environmental challenges. Key areas include bioenergy deployment in remote communities, plastic contamination mitigation, and circular economy frameworks for fishing gear. His work bridges macroecological patterns and practical policy solutions, emphasizing transnational collaboration.

Grants & Projects: Led Circular Ocean (€1.5M EU-funded), BioPAD, and RASLRES projects. Current focus includes marine debris impacts on seabirds and marine mammals, with recent studies on oil spill effects on island bird communities.

Awards: EU RegioStars 2016 Public Choice Award (Circular Ocean Project), Sustainable Growth Category finalist.

Roles: Postgraduate coordinator at ERI, responsible for student and staff support in postgraduate activities. Manages operational and financial aspects of EU-funded projects.