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Email christina.mcgraw@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 7907
Office: 5c4, Science 2
Google Scholar: Christina M McGraw
christina_mcgraw

Research interests

My group’s research focuses on designing advanced analytical instrumentation. Current research projects include:

  • Measurement of intracellular proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. We develop molecular sensors that measure organic carbon in cells more quickly and easily than previously possible. We are using these sensors in projects focused on marine carbon sequestration, biofuel production, and food and drug production.
  • The effect of climate change on marine ecosystems. The oceans have absorbed about one-third of the anthropogenic CO2 released into the atmosphere, decreasing seawater pH and carbonate concentrations, and significantly altering ocean chemistry. We are developing new instruments to measure fine-scale changes in carbonate chemistry and study the impact of global climate change on the oceans.
  • Rapid measurement of dimethylsulfide (DMS). DMS, produced from the enzymatic cleavage of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) by marine bacteria and phytoplankton, plays a critical role in climate regulation. We are developing new sensors for real-time measurement of DMS production.

Research related activities

  • Founding member of the Pacific Island Ocean Acidification Centre (Suva, Fiji). This partnership between The Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific, University of Otago, and NIWA supports ocean acidification capacity development. I provide technical expertise and training to members establishing ocean acidification monitoring programmes (ongoing)
  • Co-leader of the team developing experimental design training resources for the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research’s Changing Ocean Biological Systems project (ongoing)
  • Member of the Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability’s Policy Working Group, a UN Decade of Ocean Science endorsed programme (ongoing)
  • Mentor to researchers in Mexico, Peru, and throughout the Pacific Islands who have established OA programmes to help their countries meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.3 (ongoing)
  • Led the Commonwealth Blue Charter course for policymakers and government officials: Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification through Mitigation, Monitoring and Policy (2022)
  • Developed the Introduction to Ocean Acidification module for UNESCO - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Ocean Teacher Global Academy course on Ocean Acidification (2021)
  • Led development of the Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Policymakers’ Handbook for Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification (2021)

Professional background

  • 2023–present, Associate Professor, University of Otago
  • 2017–2023, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago
  • 2015–2016, Lecturer, University of New England, Australia
  • 2013–2016, Visiting Lecturer and Biogeochemical Sensor Developer, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australia
  • 2011–2013, Assistant Professor of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Clark University, USA
  • 2006–2010, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Otago
  • 2005–2006, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dublin City University
  • 1999–2004, PhD (Analytical Chemistry) and MSc, University of Washington, USA
  • 1999–BSc (Chemistry), University of Alaska, USA

Publications

Dillingham, P. W., Collins, S., Comeau, S., Cornwall, C. E., Dupont, S., McGraw, C. M., & Thomas, M. K. (2025). The MEDDLE data analysis guides as a living resource for multiple-driver marine research. Limnology & Oceanography Bulletin. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/lob.70013 Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Hale, R., Muetzel, L., Ericson, J., Copedo, J., Cummings, V., Ragg, N. L. C., McGraw, C., Currie, K., … Sewell, M. A. (2025). Future actions for the ocean acidification research community to support marine industries and coastal communities of Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 59(5), 1601-1620. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2025.2460574 Journal - Research Article

Hashemi, S., Armstrong, E., & McGraw, C. M. (2024). An automated amperometric gas sensor for measurement of intercellular dimethylsulfoniopropionate in two types of macroalgae. Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) Conference. (pp. 186). Retrieved from https://nzic.org.nz/conferences Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Wilson, A. R. W., Muetzel, L. K., Armstrong, E., & McGraw, C. M. (2024). Advancements in inter-sample precision in rapid fluorescent technologies for the rapid quantification of lipids within Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) Conference. (pp. 170). Retrieved from https://nzic.org.nz/conferences Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Hardman-Mountford, N., Valauri-Orton, A., Bantelman, A., Camacho, R., Dobush, B.-J., Flickinger, S., … McGraw, C. M., … Turner, J. (2024). OARS outcome 7: Develop strategies and solutions to enable countries and regions to include measures to reduce ocean acidification in their respective policy and legislation. Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability: A community vision for the ocean decade. (pp. 65-70). Paris, France: UNESCO. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000389293 Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

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