Header photo credit: Nicole Miller

Jill Bradley Memorial Award for Student Posters

Jill Bradley was the founder of Agrisea New Zealand. A true leader in her field, she had a passion for the ocean and loved to share her knowledge, inspire and encourage entrepreneurial pursuits of all she met. The Jill Bradley Memorial Award supports rangatahi and young people in their seaweed research endeavours by awarding $1,000 for the winner of the student poster session and $500 for the runner up.

During our Summit, selected students are given 3 minutes to present an elevator pitch about their research during a Poster Pitch session. Please visit the students and their posters on the day to learn more about their work.

Rasika Gunarathne, PhD student, University of Auckland

Monoara Akter Lima, PhD student, PhD candidate in Environmental Science at Auckland University of Technology

Nazmun Naher Rima, PhD student, PhD Candidate Auckland University of Technology

2026 Student Posters

Karl Luigi Guarin, PhD student, University of Auckland

Green Extraction of High-Value Bioactives from Undaria pinnatifida Using Novel Deep Eutectic Solvents

Karl is a student researcher focused on sustainable bioprocessing and the development of innovative technologies to unlock value from marine resources. His poster explores the use of green solvent systems to extract high-value bioactive compounds from the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida. By combining invasive species management with sustainable extraction technologies, Carl's research demonstrates how environmental challenges can be transformed into opportunities for the circular bioeconomy.

Huia Webby, Master student, Victoria University of Wellington

Chemical diversity, palatability and species delimitation of two introduced red algae in Wellington, New Zealand

Huia is a student researcher exploring the chemical ecology of introduced seaweeds and their interactions with New Zealand's marine ecosystems. Her poster investigates the chemical composition of the introduced red algae Schizymenia apoda and Schizymenia dubyi, with a focus on identifying bioactive compounds that may act as natural chemical defences against native herbivores. By combining advanced analytical techniques with grazing experiments, Huia's research provides new insights into the ecological success of introduced seaweeds and their potential as a source of novel natural compounds.

Irvin Fonseca Barahona, PhD student, University of Auckland

Unlocking the Value of Invasive Undaria: Greener Supercritical CO₂ Extraction of Fucoxanthin

Irvin is a student researcher with an interest in sustainable extraction technologies and the development of high-value products from marine resources. His poster investigates the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a clean and environmentally friendly method to extract fucoxanthin from the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida. By exploring the application of this technology across several New Zealand seaweed species, Irvin's research highlights the potential to transform underutilised marine biomass into valuable ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and functional ingredient industries while supporting a more sustainable blue bioeconomy.

Laura Forrest, Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture, NMIT

Sustainable production of giant kelp

Laura is a postgrad student at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology with a strong interest in sustainable seaweed aquaculture and the role of marine resources in the blue economy. Her poster explores the sustainability of cultivating Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp), examining the ecological, economic, and governance factors that influence its future development. Through this work, Laura highlights both the significant opportunities and some of the key challenges associated with expanding giant kelp aquaculture as a sustainable industry.

Rasika Gunarathne, PhD student, University of Auckland

Development and Optimisation of an Enzymatic Approach for Producing Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida

Rasika is a PhD researcher investigating sustainable ways to unlock the health benefits of marine bioactive compounds. Her poster focuses on the enzymatic production of low molecular weight fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida, using environmentally friendly bioprocessing techniques to improve its potential for functional food and nutraceutical applications. By combining marine biotechnology, food chemistry, and bioengineering, Rasika's research is helping to develop innovative, sustainable pathways for producing high-value ingredients that may support metabolic health.

Monoara Akter Lima, PhD student, PhD candidate in Environmental Science at Auckland University of Technology

A Biorefinery approach to valorising New Zealand brown seaweeds: Optimising production of seaweed components for yield and bioactivity

Monoara Akter Lim is a PhD student working in the field of sustainable bioprocessing and seaweed valorisation. Her research focuses on developing biorefinery approaches to efficiently utilise New Zealand brown seaweeds and recover their valuable bioactive components.

Nazmun Naher Rima, PhD student, PhD Candidate Auckland University of Technology

Tuning the Mechanical Properties of Alginate Based Hydrogels: An Integrated Approach to Valorising Brown Seaweed Derived Polysaccharides

Nazmun Naher Rima is a PhD student working in the field of biomaterials and sustainable materials development. Her research focuses on the valorisation of New Zealand brown seaweeds to develop alginate-based composite hydrogels with tuneable properties.

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