I am a post-doctoral researcher in polar marine ecology. I have a PhD in polar marine microbiology from University Technology of Sydney (UTS), with the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). I study how projected climate change impacts alter the community composition, physiology and nutritional value of polar microalgae, and how these changes influence energy cycling in the polar marine system. I am particularly interested in working with natural sea-ice microalgal communities. To answer these questions, I combine Arctic fieldwork campaigns with a mix of analytical tools ranging from particle accelerators to molecular methods, to classical taxonomy. I am also a passionate advocate for women and diversity in field research and science.
Undervisning
I supervise students in project courses and degree projects.
Forskning
My research interests are within polar microbial ecology. I am currently focused on how rapid losses of polar sea ice are reshaping the microalgal communities that underpin polar marine food webs. I am investigating how shifts from more stable multi-year sea ice to thinner, melt-prone first-year sea ice influence the nutritional quality of sea-ice microalgae, with a particular focus on the crucial autumn freeze-up period. My work aims to understand how changing ice conditions alter energy supply to the marine ecosystem, and clarify the connections between ice-associated and open-water primary production as sea-ice decline continues.
