Current students
Note: Thesis titles are working titles only
Taylor Allen
Thesis title (MSc): Quantifying Antarctic echinoderms through eDNA signal strength: A comparative analysis of active and passive collection methods
Supervisor: Gert-Jan Jeunen and Miles Lamare
Email: allta494@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Marine Science and Microbiology (Otago)
Djoeke Baelde Jansen
Thesis title (PhD): From ice to isotope: understanding Antarctic food-web structure and functional biodiversity in a changing climate
Supervisor: Steve Wing
Email: baedj473@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: BSc with honours in biology (Leiden University, Netherlands) and International MSc in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea, magna cum laude)
Jack Beagley
Thesis title (PhD): Circulation modelling in fjords enhances understanding of carbon burial
Supervisors: Rob Smith, Chris Moy, Gary Wilson (GNS Science), Gael Arnaud (MetOcean)
Email: jackson.beagley@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees:BE (Hons) in Engineering Science (University of Auckland), BSc in Logic & Computation, Physics (University of Auckland), MSc in Geophysics (University of Otago)
Jemma Bezuidenhout
Thesis title (MSc): Photo-identification mark-recapture to estimate population parameters and site fidelity of broadnose sevengill sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) in Dusky Sound, Fiordland
Supervisors: Will Rayment
Email: bezje453@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc Marine Science and Ecology (double major)
Charlie Brinkhurst
Thesis title (MSc): Measuring the health and ecological value of Ta’anea lagoon, Vava’u, Tonga
Supervisors: Bridie Allan and Steve Wing
Email: briso462@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Marine Science
Felix Borrowdale
Thesis title (MSc): First seasonal data on seabird diversity in Foveaux Strait, New Zealand: species richness, abundance and occurrence.
Supervisors: Ursula Ellenberg and Will Rayment
Email: borfe522@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Marine Science and Zoology (Otago)
Kaitlin Bowe
Thesis title (MSc): Foraging Ecology of kororā from Pōhatu bay, Banks Peninsula
Supervisors: Steve Wing and Will Rayment
Email: bowka118@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: BSc in Ecology (University of Otago), PGDip in Wildlife Management (University of Otago)
Will Carome
Thesis title (PhD): Putting a decline into context: examining abundance and drivers of distribution for parāoa sperm whales at Kaikōura and beyond
Supervisors: Will Rayment, Robert Smith, Matt Schofield (Statistics)
Email: william.carome@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: MSc in Marine Science (University of Otago), BA in Biology (Boston College)
Jack Coakley
Thesis title (PhD): Unravelling the causes and consequences of colour variation in New Zealand sea stars
Supervisors: Miles Lamare, Matthias Fellner (Biochemistry), Suzanne Williams (Natural History Museum, London)
Email: coaja846@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: MSc Marine Science, BSc Zoology (Otago)
Heather Cook
Thesis title (PhD): Marine Habitat Classification and Modeling in Ngāi Tahu Customary Protection Areas
Supervisors: Gaya Gnanalingam, Matt Desmond
Email: heather.cook@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BA International Relations (York College of Pennsylvania), MA International Environmental Policy (Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey)
Lucy Coyle
Thesis title (PhD): State of kōura (Crayfish, Jasus edwardsii) on the North Otago Coastline
Supervisors: Gaya Gnanalingam, Chris Hepburn, Bridie Allan
Email: lucy.coyle@otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BAppSc, MSc (Science Communication)
Owen Dabkowski
Thesis Title: (MSc): Foraging ecology of tawaki (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) in Taiporoporo/ Charles Sound, Fiordland
Supervisors: Ursula Ellenberg, Thomas Mattern, Jon Waters, Gert-Jan Jeunen
Email: dabow777@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Marine Science (major) and Ecology (minor)
Olivia Ediriweera
Thesis title (MSc): Quantifying the long-term stressors facing South Island kororā ( Eudyptula minor/novahollandiae)
Supervisors: Ursula Ellenberg, Thomas Mattern (Department of Zoology) and Brendon Dunphy (University of Auckland, Department of Biological Sciences)
Email: ediol030@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Zoology, minor in Ecology and Conservation (Massey University)
Oskar Ehrhardt
Thesis title (MSc): Seawatcher: Quantifying automatability of seabirds-at-sea surveys with machine learning and robotised cameras
Supervisors: Ursula Ellenberg, Bart Geurten
Email: ehros042@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: PGDip. Wildlife Management (University of Otago), B.Sc. Computer Science (Victoria University of Wellington
India Findji
Thesis title (PhD): Kelp-derived organic matter: A tropic subsidy connecting ecosystems and biomes?
Supervisor: Steve Wing
Email: india.findji@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: MSc Marine Biology (University of Groningen, the Netherlands), BSc Human and Molecular Biology (Strasbourg University, France & Saarland University, Germany)
Caitlin Grosvenor
Thesis title (MSc): or Thesis title (PhD): From canopy to current: tracking the journey and chemical evolution of kelp detritus
Supervisors: Steve Wing and Rob Smith
Email: groca778@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Ecology (University of Otago)
Robin Hartley
Thesis title (PhD): Mapping and validating thermally tolerant coral hotspots on South Pacific reefs using remote sensing
Supervisors: Miles Lamare, Pascal Sirguey, Joanne Ellis (University of Waikato)
Email: harro989@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: MForSc Forest Science (Canterbury), BSc Hons Geography and Environmental Management (UWE)
Claudia Hird
Thesis title (PhD): Microbiome differences in biota found at geothermal vs. non-geothermal areas
Supervisor: Crid Fraser
Email: hircl639@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Environmental Science/Social Science (RMIT University) and MSc in Marine and Antarctic Science (University of Tasmania)
Eleanor Kelly
Thesis title (PhD): The combined response of warming, UV, and crude oil exposure on predator-prey interactions of fish and the neurophysiological drivers responsible
Supervisors: Bridie Allan
Email: kelel442@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: Master's degree in Marine Science (Otago)
Bianca Keys
Thesis title (PhD): From colony to ocean: Population trajectories and foraging ecology of erect-crested penguins ( eudyptes sclateri) at the Antipodes and Bounty Islands
Supervisors: Ursula Ellenberg, Thomas Mattern
Email: bianca.keys@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: Bachelor of Animal Ecology (University of the Sunshine Coast), Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science Hons (University of Tasmania, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies)
Mia Langley
Thesis title (MSc): Anthropogenic Effects on Kōura (Southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii) Reproduction
Supervisor: Gaya Gnanalingam
Email: lanmi219@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Marine Science and Ecology (Otago)
Elli Leinikki
Thesis title (PhD): Influence of shellfish on recovery and restoration of intertidal estuaries in New Zealand
Supervisors: Candida Savage, Steve Wing
Email: elli.leinikki@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: BSc in Aquatic Sciences (University of Helsinki), MSc in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (University of Helsinki)
Xiaoyue Liu (Pluto)
Thesis title (PhD): How vulnerable are Antarctica's coasts to colonisation?
Supervisors: Crid Fraser
Email: liupl055@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: BSc in Geography and Zoology (Otago), BSc(Hons) in Ecology (Otago)
Preston Maluafiti
Thesis title (PhD): Bioactive variability of the invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida
Supervisors: Chris Hepburn, Duong Le
Email: malpr771@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc (Hons) in Marine Science
Hannah Melzer
Thesis title (PhD): Quantifying the Cooling Potential of Internal Waves and how Climate Change will impact it
Supervisors: Robert Smith, Erik Behrens (ESNZ), Craig Stevens (ESNZ/University of Auckland)
Email: hannah.melzer@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: MSc in Climate Physics - Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (University of Kiel/ GEOMAR), BSc in Physics of the Earth System - Meteorology - Oceanography - Geophysics (University of Kiel/ GEOMAR)
Dev Morris
Thesis title (MSc): Boundary layer pH dynamics within juvenile invertebrate (Perna canaliculus and Evechinus chloroticus) microenvironments; implications for aquaculture practises and ocean acidification
Supervisors: Miles Lamare and Jess Ericson (Cawthron Institute)
Email: morde026@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc Marine Science, Zoology minor
Abby Parker
Thesis title (MSc): Environmental drivers of spatiotemporal variation in the distribution of Hector's dolphin ( Cephalorhynchus hectori) nursery groups at Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
Supervisor: Will Rayment
Email: parab387@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: B.A. in Biology (Oberlin College)
Daniel Patel
Thesis title (MSc): or Thesis title (PhD): Responses of juvenile sea stars to varying environmental conditions (MSc)
Supervisors: Miles Lamare
Email: patda099@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Zoology (University of Otago) and DipGrad in Marine Science (University of Otago)
Hanna Ravn
Thesis title (MSc): Pakake / NZ sea lion diet analysis – a participatory science approach
Supervisor: Will Rayment, Yolanda van Heezik (Department of Zoology)
Email: hanna.ravn@otago.ac.nz
Previous Degrees: BSc in Bioscience (Aarhus University), PGDip in Wildlife Management (University of Otago)
Mikayla Robson
Thesis title (MSc): Contribution of Aotearoa beach sand dissolution to CO2 uptake
Supervisors: Sebastiaan van de Velde (Marine), James White (Geology)
Email: robmi992@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc majoring in Marine Science, minoring in Geology.
Kathryn Scafidi
Thesis title (PhD): Sentinel species for kelp forest ecosystem changes
Supervisor: Steve Wing
Email: kathryn.scafidi@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Previous Degrees: BSc in Marine Biology (California State University, Long Beach), MSc in Biology (California State University, Northridge)
Vahid Sepahvand
Thesis title (PhD): Processes driving phylogeographic patterns in the Antarctic Ross Sea
Supervisors: Crid Fraser
Email: sepva552@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: MSc (University of Tehran)
Publications: Google Scholar
Recent publication
- Vahid Sepahvand, Christopher Tudge (2022). A new species of the ghost shrimp genus Andamancalliax Sakai, 2011 from Iran (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea: Eucalliacidae). Zootaxa. 5213(1): 86–92.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5213.1.6
Niamh Tasker
Thesis title (MSc): The double-trouble facing triple fins; The impact of increasing ocean temperatures and decreasing pH on the embryonic development of triplefin fish.
Supervisor: Miles Lamare
Email: tasni694@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: Bachelor of Science majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Agricultural Innovation
Fi Wells
Thesis title (MSc): Paths of the Ross Sea: population connectivity in Antarctic benthic invertebrates
Supervisors: Crid Fraser, Miles Lamare
Email: schfi427@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Oceanography and Aquaculture and Fisheries (Otago)
Toiroa Te Rangihakahaka Whaanga-Davies
Thesis title (MSc): Extracting value from waste produced by a control programme for the invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida using Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens)
Supervisors: Chris Hepburn
Email: whato354@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degrees: Bachelor of Arts (History) and Science (Aquaculture and fisheries)
Emily Williams
Thesis title (MSc): Distributions of demographic groups and factors affecting calf survival rates of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) in Fiordland
Supervisors: Will Rayment
Email: wilem355@student.otago.ac.nz
Previous degree: BSc in Marine Science (Otago)