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.

In 2025 we have 4 student posters up for this award. Each student is given 3 minutes to present an elevator pitch about their research during our Lightning Talk session. Please visit the students and their posters on the day to learn more about their work.

2025 Student Posters

Janet Reid, University of Otago

Juliet Linzmeier, MSc student, University of Waikato

Kizzie Amoore, PhD student, University of Auckland

Yuanze Sun, PhD student, University of Auckland

2025 Non-Student Posters

Faezeh Ebrahimi, Graduate Researcher at School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFEs), Australia

Cora Hertzer, Researcher at Cawthron Institute, Nelson

Craig Thorburn, Advanced Aquarium Technology (NZ) Ltd

2025 Student Posters

Janet Reid, University of Otago

Algal vs Wood nanocellulose: the impact of nanocellulose source on the mechanical properties of hydrogel composites

Janet is a third year PhD student at the University of Otago and Scion Research (part of the New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute. Her project was inspired by the AgriSea nanocellulose biorefinery project, a collaboration between AgriSea and Scion Research that has developed a novel way of extracting nanocellulose from waste kelp. Janet’s work is exploring the use of seaweed nanocellulose for biomedical applications, such as hydrogels for wound dressings and scaffolds for growing engineered tissue replacements.

Juliet Linzmeier, MSc student, University of Waikato

Learnings from hatchery experiments on Ecklonia radiata - how light and nutrient regimes affect seedling success + outlining a pathway toward scalable, low-cost seaweed farming in Aotearoa

Juliet completed her Master of Environmental Science at the University of Waikato, where her research helped lay the groundwork for Aotearoa New Zealand’s emerging seaweed aquaculture industry. Based at the Coastal Marine Field Station in Tauranga, she worked hands-on in the hatchery to address one of the sector’s key bottlenecks: producing reliable juvenile seaweed.

Her thesis focused on refining cultivation techniques for Ecklonia radiata, a native kelp species vital to coastal ecosystems. By experimenting with nutrient and lighting regimes, she improved early-stage growth and seedling consistency, essential steps toward scaling up for ecological restoration and sustainable production.

Now, Juliet is diving into the entrepreneurial side of the seaweed sector, developing high-value products that draw on algal biotechnology. She continues to advocate for clear regulatory pathways and industry collaboration, aiming to help build a seaweed economy that’s environmentally regenerative, economically viable, and proudly based in Aotearoa.

Kizzie Amoore, PhD student, University of Auckland

Decoding Microbial Dynamics on Seaweed: Implications for Process Optimisation and Quality Control

Kizzie is a second-year PhD candidate at the University of Auckland’s School of Biological Sciences. After her first class Honours in Food Technology from Massey University, where she specialised in product development, Kizzie Amoore now focuses on advancing sustainable and equitable food systems in Aotearoa through transdisciplinary research. Her interest in seaweed began with community iNaturalist observations and evolved through founding a seaweed hatchery startup, conducting sensory analysis with the University of Waikato, and now, her PhD research.

Her project bridges a range of scientific fields by investigating how microbiota influence the quality and safety profiles of regional Undaria pinnatifida products. She is supervised by microbial ecologist Dr. Sarah Knight, with co-supervision from marine biologist A/Prof. Brendon Dunphy and environmental chemist A/Prof. Melanie Kah. Kizzie is committed to designing broadly applicable experiments and sharing insights that support best practices for food sector development across academic, industry, and community contexts.

Yuanze Sun, PhD student, University of Auckland

Combining Sea-Derived Bioactives for Metabolic and Joint Health: Clinical Evidence from a Fucoidan–Mussel Trial

Dr Yuanze (Arthur) Sun holds a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Auckland, with a strong academic foundation in microbiology from both his bachelor's and master's studies. His doctoral research centred on a 100-day randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the combined effects of green-lipped mussel and fucoidan on insulin resistance and joint discomfort in individuals with prediabetes. His work bridges natural product science and clinical investigation, with hands-on experience in functional food formulation, including the development of a sensory-adapted delivery system. Dr Sun remains actively engaged in the study of natural bioactive: spanning marine, plant, and microbial origins, with a particular focus on their translational applications in human health.

2025 Non-Student Posters

Faezeh Ebrahimi, Graduate Researcher at School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFEs), Australia

A Preliminary Peek into the Phytochemical Profile and Potential Bioactivities of Australian Red Seaweeds

Faezeh Ebrahimi is a PhD candidate in the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Her research investigates the bioactive composition of native Australian seaweed species and their potential role in modulating the gut microbiota. Using a multidisciplinary approach, including analytical profiling, in vitro digestion, and microbiome analysis, she aims to uncover the nutritional and therapeutic potential of marine-derived functional foods. Her work contributes to growing efforts in sustainable nutrition and microbiome-health research in food and feed development, with a focus on natural, plant-based compounds.

Cora Hertzer, Researcher at Cawthron Institute, Nelson

Cora is an Algae and Bioactives Scientist in Cawthron’s Food & Bioactives team, where she focuses on the isolation, identification, and analysis of bioactive compounds from a diverse range of sources, including terrestrial, marine, and algal origins. She uses advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, alongside algae cultivation and bioactivity testing, to investigate the chemical and biological roles of these compounds. Her work drives innovation with a focus on the practical applications of natural products. Through cross-disciplinary collaboration and detailed technical reporting, she translates complex findings into actionable insights.

Craig Thorburn, Advanced Aquarium Technology (NZ) Ltd

Studied Science at Auckland University and the combination of diving and science led him to a working career in the underwater world of Aquariums from Kelly Tarltons in the late 80’s to other large aquariums through Asia Pacific. AAT(NZ) supported by MPI has developed a submersible UV-C light tool for the treatment of exotic, invasive Caulerpa throughout Tikapa Moana / The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and the Bay of Islands in Northland.

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