Verena Schoepf

Verena Schoepf is a Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the Oceans Graduate School and the UWA Oceans Institute. She leads Research Program 2, focusing on coral reef ecosystems and climate resilience. Previously, she was part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (2005–2022) at James Cook University. Her research emphasizes coral heat tolerance in extreme environments like the Kimberley region and mechanisms of coral calcification under climate stressors.

Education: BSc and MSc in Biology/Zoology from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and a PhD in Geological Sciences from The Ohio State University, USA.

Research interests include coral physiology, environmental change, and the interplay between coral reefs and human societies. She has contributed to studies on coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and the use of DNA techniques to understand coral resilience. Recent work includes a 2022 study on coral heat tolerance variability and a 2022 analysis of climate impacts on fisheries and poverty-stricken communities.

Labs/Teams: Part of the ARC Centre of Excellence alumni network and the UWA Oceans Institute. Collaborates with partner institutions on coral reef conservation and climate adaptation strategies.