Education:
- PhD Earth Sciences (2013) – University of Cambridge, UK
- MSc Marine Biology with Distinction (2002 – 2003) – Bangor University, UK
- BSc Marine Biology with Oceanography (1999 – 2002) – Bangor University, UK
Employment history:
- Assistant Professor in Sustainable Aquaculture -Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, USA (2018 – present)
- Lecturer in Marine Biology – School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, UK (2016 – 2018)
- Teaching & Learning Support – School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, UK (2015 – 2016)
- Post Doctorate Researcher – School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, UK (2012 – 2015) – NERC Standard Grant No. NE/J007544/1
- PhD Student – British Antarctic Survey & Cambridge University, UK (2008 – 2012)
- Support Scientist – Scottish Association for Marine Science, UK (2005 – 2008) – Project SPIINES2
- Hyperbaric Chamber Attendant – SAMS Diving Centre, UK (2007 – 2008)
- Benthic Macro Fauna Processor – Hebog Environment, Menai Technology, UK (2004)
- Aquaculture Technician – Indian Ocean Aquaculture, Mozambique (2003 – 2004)
- Research Technician – Bangor University, Centre of Arid Zone Studies, UK (2002 – 2003)
Current & recent funding:
- Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center (Principle Investigator) – “Expanding green sea urchin production by removing key aquaculture challenges“. 2020-2022 – $100,000.
- Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Grant (Advisor) – “Enhancing our understanding on how sea urchins actively remove micropalstics from their body“. 2020 ∼ $1,000.
- Rhode Island Science & Technology Advisory Council (Principle Investigator) – “A species-specific approach to enhance models for planktivorous fishes“. 2020 – $80,000.
- Rhode Island Science & Technology Advisory Council (Co-Principle Investigator) – “Establishing the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics within Narragansett Bay“. 2020 – $79,891
- Rhode Island Sea Grant (Co-Principle Investigator) – “Are microplastics a vector for organic pollutants and disease in marine food webs?”. 2020-2022 – $444,181.
- URI2 Undergraduate Research Project Grant (Advisor) – “Histology of the Gonad Tissues of a Commercially Relevant Sea Urchin: Arbacia punctulata”. 2020 – $1,400.
- URI2 Undergraduate Research Project Grant (Advisor) – “Establishing the effect of differing food treatments on the energy budget of commercially relevant sea urchins“. 2019-2020 – $1,000.
- RI C-AIM (EPSCoR, NSF) seed grant (Principle Investigator) – “Addressing predictive modeling knowledge gaps to improve information used in decision making.“ 2018-2019 – $25,000.
- USDA RIAES Hatch (Co-Investigator), 2018-2023 – $4.6m.
Recent invited presentations:
- ‘Addressing predictive modeling knowledge gaps to improve information used in decision-making.’ – Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Institute, USA – May 2019.
- ‘A slow-growing perspective on multi-generational responses to future change.’ – Honorarium Seminar Speaker,Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, Southern Connecticut University, USA – Mar. 2019.
- ‘A slow-growing perspective on multi-generational responses to future change.’ – Physiomar, University of Cambridge, UK – Sept. 2017.
- ‘A meta-analysis of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture: extractive species growth is most successful within close proximity to open-water fish farms.’ – 7th International Oyster Symposium, Bangor University, Wales, UK – Sept. 2017.
- ‘Use of mesocosms in climate change research’ – Global change in coastal marine ecosystems: science, policy, and sustainable development Workshop, Santos, Brazil (2015).
Recent presentations:
- ‘The impacts of microplastics on a largely overlooked marine invertebrate – the sea urchin’. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, USA – Oct. 2019.
- ‘A slow growing perspective on multi-generational responses to future change.’ North East Aquaculture Conference, USA – Jan. 2019.
- ‘A slow growing perspective on multi-generational responses to future change.’ World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montreal, Canada – May 2018.
- ‘Metabolic responses of two species of brachyuran crustaceans to multiple-stressors’. World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montreal, Canada – May 2018.
Recent outreach:
- BBC Science Cafe Interview with Adam Wharton discussing why starfish were stranded on our shores after big storms. Apr. 2018.
- Articles for The Conversation: ‘Starfish can see in the dark’& ‘Why thousands of starfish have washed up on the shore’. Feb. – Mar. 2018.
Teaching & supervision:
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
- Winner of the ‘Open’ Category for the Student Led Teaching Awards (2015) & nominated for ‘Best Feedback’ (2016).
- Supervised a large number of undergraduate & postgraduate students since 2010.
Professional involvement & membership:
- Member of: British Ecological Society; National Shellfish Association; Society of Experimental Biology; World Aquaculture Society.
- SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Ocean Acidification Action Group – 2012–present.
- British Ecological Society Grants Committee & Peer Review College – 2013–2019.
- APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists) Representative for the SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Antarctic Thresholds – Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation group (AnT-ERA) – 2011–2018.
- Co-convener for Session Theme 9: Ocean Acidification (with Richard Bellerby & James Orr) at the XXXII SCAR Open Science Conference – Oregon, USA – July 2012.
- Committee Member of the UK Polar Network (British branch of the Association for Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)) – Secretary (previously Workshops & Events) – 2011–2013.