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I am a functional marine ecologist, curious about what links and drives marine animals and ecosystems. I have a PhD in Marine Ecology from the University of Exeter in partnership with the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation. I am a Lecturer in Marine Ecology at the Centre for Ecology and Conservation within the University of Exeter, Cornwall, a member of the Marine Predator Ecology and Conservation group, and the Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI). 

I am interested in studying core principles of functional ecology in marine ecosystems, using modern statistical and modelling approaches to address pressing questions in marine conservation. Currently I have projects in the southwest UK, testing novel and innovative methods for passive collection of environmental DNA from the marine environment; and collaborate on a project in Sri Lanka and India studying the consumer choice preferences for shark and ray meat. 

Previously, I studied at the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, where I graduated with a BSc with Honours (2.1) in Marine Biology. In my final year I conducted research with Mike Webster, studying the three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) - this work in now published in Ethology. Before beginning my PhD, I worked as a Research technician for Kate Laskowski, David Bierbach, and Max Wolf, at the Leibniz Instiüt fur Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei. At the IGB I studied the clonal fish the Amazonian molly (Poecilia formosa), and the development of behaviour from early life.