Postgraduate students

Research project: exploring the role of early on-farm pathogen detection as a means to manage and ultimately prevent disease outbreaks in aquaculture systems. Her project will determine if early pathogen detection using eDNA, eRNA and environmental proteins can help us understand the disease outbreak triggers of Cryptocaryon irritans (Marine Ich) in barramundi aquaculture.

Research project: Developing sperm technologies and intensive breeding techniques for commercial production of redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus).

Research project: examining how to strengthen collaborations between civil society organisations (CSOs) and higher levels of governance in the context of marine resource management.

Research project: The apparition of toxin genes in Australia: where do they come from, how to predict gene expression and what are the main triggers for gene expression? Angelique is looking at historical samples over 30 years, collected from different aquaculture species in the hope to detect toxin genes.

Research project: investigating the mass mortality events of abalone populations, which mainly occur during summer months and referred as ‘summer mortality’. He is exploring the genetic mechanisms that might be responsible for heat resistance.

Research project: enhancing the productivity in Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) production through advanced selective breeding and quantitative genomics tools. His research aims to improve sustainable waste management and develop alternative protein sources for food and feed.

Research project: the domestication and genetic selection of the methane busting seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis. The project aims to develop innovative and scalable algal cultivation techniques. Anna is a researcher responsible for seaweed production and cultivation within the ARCSTA hub.

Research project: Studying the interactions between Indian Ocean humpback dolphins and fisheries along the west coast of India.

Research project: examining the spatial and trophic ecology of sharks and rays within mangroves, and the importance of mangrove ecosystems to elasmobranchs. Her project will reveal how sharks and rays use mangrove habitats where have been globally lost mainly due to human use and climate change.

Research project: optimising commercial traits through genome editing in farmed barramundi. Her specific focus is using genomic techniques to better understand the biology behind important commercial traits such as pigmentation and growth.

Research project: ciguatera fish poisoning along the Great Barrier Reef using molecular methods.

Research project: how dynamic changes in bacterial communities in Australian shrimp farms can be strong determinants of productivity outcomes. Her current project aims at finding bacterial signatures that can be used as early predictors for changes in productivity in two Australian shrimp commercial species.

Research project: the molecular and immunological aspects of seafood allergies, particularly within Singapore and Southeast Asia. Her research aims to identify and characterize allergens in commonly consumed seafood to improve seafood safety, with important implications for allergy diagnostics, management, and treatment.

Research project: the assessment and protection of the reef sharks and rays that inhabit the northern Great Barrier Reef. She is developing the first standardised methodology of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) as a means to collect nocturnal data on reef sharks and rays, overcoming the safety limitations of scuba diving.

Research project: the human dimensions of elasmobranch conservation, exploring the cultural connections that fishing communities in South East Asia have to sharks and rays. She hopes her work will help develop culturally appropriate and sustainable management strategies for successful elasmobranch conservation.

Research project: Tracing the impacts of Dietary Starch on growth, physiology and health of Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)

Research projects: 1) The biology, ecology, and life-history of Carcharhinus sealei, C. tjutjot, and Neotrygon orientalis: three small-bodied elasmobranchs that are heavily fished in Southeast Asia. 2) Fishery port surveys in Singapore for insights to landings and imports of whole, fresh elasmobranchs.

Research project: Habitat partitioning in Moreton Bay bug species to inform fisheries management.

Research project: the Life history strategies of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in heavily modified Floodplains.

Research project: Inflammatory disorders, allergies, Vitamin D, Tumor Microenvironment.

Research project: the Effects of dietary level of Phosphorus on growth and skeletal formation in giant grouper.

Research project: Cryopreservation methods for gametes and embryos of groupers and pearl oysters.

Research project: Morality and climate change adaptation in coastal communities.

Research project: Understanding the use and potential of hukum adat (customary law) for marine resource management in Indonesia: building a knowledge-base for the implementation of Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs).

Research project: the Nutritional Requirement Study and Optimised Feed Development for Red Snapper

Research project: investigating the pathogen-host-environment relationship of Scale Drop Disease in Asian Seabass. He is hoping that his research will uncover information about how the disease progresses and how it spreads so that it may be applied in future studies, such as treatment and vaccine trials.

Research project: investing fish health and how, when and why disease occurs during barramundi production.

Research project: Optimising marine protected areas for nature and people.

Research project: Addressing Collective Action Challenges for Sustainable and Equitable Governance of Coastal Wetlands.

Research project: A benefit-cost comparison of coral reef restoration policies and exploring their application in different local government contexts in the Philippines.

Research project: The sustainability of coral reef fishery in Indonesia. Adityo is an experienced Marine and Fishery and project management practitioner with over 13 years of expertise, skilled in research, data analysis, curriculum development, and training delivery. He has a strong focus on Marine Protected Areas and Fishery management.

Research project: Integrating Citizen science into long term monitoring of fisheries, what value does it serve in capturing trends through time.

Studying a Masters in Marine Biology in Fisheries Science

Research project: Using aerial drones to look at special temporal distribution patterns of rays as well as their behaviours to examine their habitat use, which habitats are important, and exactly what the rays are doing in these ecosystems.

Research project: to explore eDNA based methods to assess the distribution of C. tritonis on the GBR, to advance the understanding of its conservation status, and to understand predator-prey dynamics between C. tritonis and Crown-of-Thorns Starfish.

Renee is researching fish allergy through cutting-edge proteomics techniques. Her work comprehensively assesses the allergenic risks associated with commonly consumed fish species in Singapore and their cell-based alternatives.

Roni’s research project will broadly focus on aspects of male reproduction and sex change in barramundi, resulting in industry applications to better control the sex-change process in barramundi, along with key new knowledge on gene regulation and hormone regulation throughout sex-change in the species.

Research project: Understanding final oocyte maturation and ovulation in barramundi - a pathway to enhanced breeding performance

Deciphering Cryptocaryon disease resistance in barramundi (Lates calcarifer): genetic architecture, interactions, and advanced genomic selection modelling

Hannah is a part-time PhD student with JCU and also works for the Pacific Community (SPC) based in Noumea, New Caledonia. Hannah's work with SPC provides technical and scientific support to Pacific Island Countries and Territories to assist in the management of their coastal fisheries resources. Her PhD focuses on how community-based fisheries management in the Pacific is monitored.

Myles Phillips began his PhD at James Cook University in 2025, building on an MSc in Natural Resources Management. His research focuses on marine protected area (MPA) design and governance, examining how ecological effectiveness and institutional frameworks interact to support resilient systems. He brings extensive Caribbean experience in conservation, regional coordination, and policy advisory roles across marine research, endangered species protection, and protected area management.

Nicholas is a PhD candidate exploring the intersection of human rights, conservation, and food security, with a particular focus on small-scale fisheries. His research examines how conservation organisations integrate human rights principles into their policies and strategies.

Lucy is a fisheries scientist and coral reef ecologist with a background spanning temperate and tropical systems, where her work has encompassed gear selectivity, stock assessments, and population dynamics. In collaboration with the Tongan Ministry of Fisheries, her PhD research investigates the socio-ecological consequences of the 2022 eruption and tsunami generated by the submarine volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, and their associated impacts on Tonga's co-managed…