Shauna Murray

Shauna Murray is a Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), specializing in marine biology and molecular ecology. She leads the Seafood Safety: Marine Algal Biotoxins research program, focusing on harmful algal blooms, phytoplankton ecology, and toxin dynamics. Her work integrates molecular genetic techniques to improve water quality monitoring and supports industries like shellfish aquaculture through innovative tools such as the DinoDtec detection system.

Research Interests: Her expertise spans marine biotoxins, climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, and the evolution of harmful algal species. Key areas include ciguatera poisoning, dinoflagellate genomics, and the development of predictive models for harmful algal blooms.

• Leads the Food Agility CRC project for shellfish safety using eDNA and real-time sensors.
• Developed the DinoDtec commercial product for saxitoxin detection, used globally in aquaculture.
• Recipient of $8.5M in research funding, including ARC grants and industry partnerships.

Awards: Recognized with the UTS Vice Chancellor’s Research Impact Award (2023 finalist), ARC Future Fellowship (2012), and the Prescott Prize (2015).

Teaching & Leadership: Serves as Program Director for the BSc Marine Biology and Climate Change program and coordinates courses like Ecological Genetics and Molecular Ecology.