Publications Student profiles Anna Purcell
Anna Purcell
- Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in Marine Science
- Courses
- Future Students
- Current Students
- Research and Teaching
- Partners and Community
- About JCU
- Reputation and Experience
- Celebrating 50 Years
- ALTAR
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre
- Living on Campus
- Advanced Prawn Breeding Research Hub
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- Applying to JCU
- Alumni
- AMHHEC
- JCU Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Australian/NZ Students
- Australian Lions Stinger Research
- Boating and Diving
- ATSIP
- Employability Edge
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Careers at JCU
- Careers and Employability
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- Chancellery
- CMT
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- WHOCC for N&M Education and Research
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- COVID-19 Advice
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Diploma of Higher Education
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Research Division
- Services and Resources Division
- Education Division
- Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine
- Economic Geology Research Centre
- Elite Athletes
- eResearch
- ERC
- Estate
- Financial and Business Services Office
- Fletcherview
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- GetReady4Uni
- Give to JCU
- Governance
- Information for JCU Cairns Graduates
- Graduate Research School
- Graduation
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Indigenous Engagement
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- International Schools
- International Students
- JCU Connect
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Events
- JCU Global Experience
- JCU Ideas Lab
- JCU Job Ready
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Prizes
- JCU Sport
- JCU Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- CEE
- LearnJCU
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- MARF
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- New students
- Off-Campus Students
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Virtual Open Day
- Orpheus
- Outstanding Alumni Awards
- Parents and Partners
- Pathways to university
- Planning for your future
- Placements
- Policy
- PAHL
- Publications
- Professional Experience Placement
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Safety and Wellbeing
- Scholarships
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- Staff
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TARL
- TESS
- TREAD
- TropEco
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- Work Health and Safety
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
The horizons have broadened for Master of Science graduate Anna Purcell. After majoring in Aquaculture Science and Technology, her job opportunities have grown in the booming industry. Anna graduated at the end of 2016 and now works as a research assistant at MACRO (Centre for Macroalgal Resources and Biotechnology) where she is working on liquid fertilisers made from algae.
“Both my partner and I studied aquaculture and we have never looked back,” she says. “There are more opportunities in aquaculture. I learnt a lot about things that I never knew about before.”
Originally from Sydney, Anna studied a Bachelor of Marine Science at another university. After graduating, she found it difficult to secure volunteer work or a job.
“It’s very competitive,” she says. “You can volunteer for ages and not get a job from it.”
Growth in the aquaculture industry and solid job prospects attracted Anna and her partner to study Aquaculture Science and Technology. They considered their options before making the move to Townsville.
“We decided to come to JCU because it was warmer and more tropical,” she says. “It’s very friendly. We love it so much here we just bought a house.”
Moving to Townsville also offered Anna the chance to learn more about aquaculture in the Pacific, including studying the trends and opportunities for the aquaculture of sea cucumbers and sea urchins. As well as training in the principles and techniques of tropical aquaculture, Anna also studied biosecurity and environmental regulations. The course emphasises practical learning and Anna made the most of the experience to raise Barramundi larvae from eggs all the way to their juvenile stage.
“That was something we did during the course that was very applicable to commercial aquaculture,” she says. “The course is very hands-on and practical. There is a broad future for aquaculture in Australia. It is a big developing industry for Australia and overseas.”
Being part of a smaller cohort, having easy access to her lecturers and gaining practical experience are highlights of Anna’s time at JCU.
“I studied Marine Biology at a huge university and I never really felt like I knew my lecturers,” she says. “At JCU, the class sizes are smaller, there is more of a personal learning experience and the academic staff are great.”