Scientist with a Bachelor in Oceanography, a Master and PhD in Marine Microbiology and Ecotoxicology, and educator in marine studies and aquaculture providing lectures, training and program/project coordination. My research interests focus on aquatic toxicology, marine chemistry, hatchery operations, seafood safety and biosecurity. I study the effects of harmful algal blooms, toxins and cnidarian venoms on aquatic organisms, and have introduced the development and optimisation of new methodologies to advance the detection and description of toxic species and toxins that affect seafood industries and public health.
I have performed collaborative experimental work at:
CSIRO-Tasmania: lipid analysis, https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12053
Australian Antarctic Division: electron microscopy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2011.01.002
University of New South Wales: water chemistry & nanoparticles, https://doi.org/10.1021/es300588a
Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne: jellyfish toxins & in vitro tests, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.09.014
Regulators and aquaculture industries to improve quality assurance programs and better manage biotoxin monitoring programs in Tasmania.
Scientists to set up and adopt the RTgill-W1 fish cell assay to assess harmful algae and its potential applicability to monitor salmon farm surrounding waters in Chile.
Scientists with the adoption of in vitro assays to study deadly Australian jellyfish toxins (AVRU, University of Melbourne) and nanoparticles in aquatic environments (UNSW).
Interlaboratory validation of a rapid test for the detection of paralytic shellfish toxins for official use in monitoring programs for seafood safety.
Developed an in vitro assay using the fish gill cells RTgill-W1 to determine the toxicity of marine harmful algae, with the aim to use it as a standard method for monitoring ichthyotoxic phytoplankton blooms.
Introduced innovative methodologies to replace in vivo experimentation.