Paige Maroni

Paige Maroni is an Adjunct Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and the UWA Oceans Institute. Her work focuses on deep-sea biodiversity, evolutionary biology, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences (2023) and prior degrees from Murdoch University.

Education:

• PhD (2023): The diversification and evolution of a marine radiation of Antarctic sea slugs, UWA
• BSc Honours (2018): Sexual conflict in West Australian Riffle Bugs, Murdoch University
• Bachelor of Science (2016), Murdoch University

Research Interests:

Marine biodiversity, deep-sea ecology, climate change impacts, evolutionary adaptations, and taxonomic studies of invertebrates. Her work integrates molecular genetics, morphological analysis, and field observations to understand species distribution, connectivity, and conservation challenges.

Recent Research Trends:

Her articles explore global distributions of deep-sea species (e.g., supergiant amphipods), genetic connectivity in coral-associated gastropods, and novel taxonomic classifications (e.g., Plasticus sacculi). She also advocates for evidence-based policies in deep-sea governance through collaborations like the Deep Ocean ECOP Task Team.

Awards:

• Recipient of the Australian Academy of Science 2024 Thomas Davies Award

Grants & Projects:

• ABRS Early Career Research Award (2024)
• Macquarie Island Conservation Foundation Grant (2025–2026)
• Australian Academy of Science Collaboration Grant (2023–2024)

Labs/Teams:

Collaborates with the UWA Oceans Institute and leads initiatives under the Deep Ocean ECOP Task Team.