The Seaweed Research Group is renowned for its cross-disciplinary approach. The team has more than 30 academics, students, and technical staff. From marine biologists and chemists to social and business researchers, each member contributes unique expertise to unlock the secrets of seaweed resources.
Key members
Professor Nick Paul
Professor, Marine Science | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Nick is a Professor of Marine Science and leads applied research and development on seaweed and algae for new product development, based upon a platform of sustainable production.
Dr Alexandra Campbell
Associate Professor, Bioscience | School of Health
Alex is a Senior Lecturer in BioScience and an award-winning marine ecologist who combines field ecology with environmental microbiology, natural products chemistry and environmental science.
Dr Libby Swanepoel
Associate Professor, Nutrition and Dietetics | School of Health
Libby is a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics whose research sees her working across food systems for global development. Libby currently has projects across the Asia-Pacific region, including Kiribati, Samoa and Solomon Islands.
Professor Scott Cummins
Professor, Molecular Biology | Co-Director, Centre for Bioinnovation | Theme Leader, Aquaculture Biotechnology, Centre for Bioinnovation
Scott is a Professor of Molecular Biology and focuses his research on the molecular basis for natural product variation in seaweeds, with applications in the fields of ecology, aquaculture and health. Scott's multi-omics approach towards our research integrates genomics, transcriptomics, proteomic and metabolomics through the latest next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry approaches.
Dr Min Zhao
UniSC Senior Research Fellow | Senior Lecturer, Genomics | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Min’s seaweed research focuses on bioinformatics and genomics with high-throughput integration of multiple dimensional data, focussing on the biosynthetic pathways of seaweed and industry-facing genomic browsers.
Dr Saskia de Klerk
Associate Professor, International Business | Discipline Lead, Marketing, International Business and Tourism | School of Business and Creative Industries
Saskia is a Senior Lecturer in international business. Her areas of research include entreprenuership and innovative ecosystem development for seaweed, with an emphasis on cross-cultural management and capacity building.
Dr Martina Jelocnik
Lecturer in Microbiology | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Martina is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow. Her research on seaweed takes a One Health approach to veterinary microbiology through the control of infections in Australian livestock and aquaculture production.
Dr Peter Brooks
Peter is a chemist with expertise in the analysis and isolation of bioactive compounds in seaweed. His research includes chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques and the quantitation of bioactive compounds from seaweed.
Dr Savindi Caldera
Lecturer in Environmental Management | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Savindi is a Lecturer in Environmental Management at the School of Science, Technology and Engineering, UniSC. She has over ten years of experience working with industry and government partners on trans-disciplinary projects transforming manufacturing practices through circular and resilient strategies.
Dr Silva Larson
Silva is a Senior Research Fellow with projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, working on improving livelihoods and wellbeing and promoting gender and social inclusion.
Associate Professor Tianfang Wang
Associate Professor, Chemical Sciences | Member, Centre for Bioinnovation | School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dr Andrew Eamens
Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences | School of Health
Andrew is a molecular biologist with extensive experience in small RNA biology and the use of his research findings to develop gene expression manipulation technologies. Andrew aims to uncover the microRNA landscape of seaweed to control gene expression via an environmentally sustainable approach.
Dr Mike Rimmer
Mike is a Senior Research Fellow who has worked extensively on collaborative aquaculture R&D projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including on a range of seaweed species in Indonesia.
Dr. Valentin Thépot
Dr. Valentin Thépot is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast with a passion for low-trophic and integrated aquaculture. He currently manages an Indigenous-led, multi-species aquaculture initiative on Groote Eylandt focused on sustainability and community empowerment.
Ulusapeti Tiitii (MSc - Marine Science)
Project Manager - SAMOA KIWA Initiative - Conservation International - Samoa
Leads the Restoring Ecosystems for Sustainable, Transformative and Resilient Communities (RESTORE) under the KIWA Initiative in Samoa. With a strong background in coastal fisheries and aquaculture, she has extensive experience in community-based resource management, including promoting seaweed aquaculture as a sustainable livelihood for local communities.
Dr Peter Isdale AM
Peter is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Science, Technology and Engineering, working with the Group on commercialisation of seaweed-based technologies. A former AIMS principal research scientist, he has spent four decades bringing marine discoveries into new investments, licences and startup companies.
Nicole Dare
Nicole is a Project Coordinator on the IDRC seaweed project, supporting nature-based aquaculture and women’s livelihoods across the Pacific.
HDR students
|
Student |
Thesis title |
|
Ashmeeta Shalvina |
Elucidating the Genetic Mechanisms for Adaptation of Red Seaweed under Environmental Stress |
|
Medhini Senaratne |
Life cycle assessment of carbon flows for seaweed farming as a nature-based solution in the tropics |
|
Asri Pratitis |
Selecting Temperature-Tolerant Strains of Asparagopsis taxiformis: Exploring potential trade-offs in growth and natural products |
|
Jessica Webb |
Molecular analysis of bromoform biosynthesis in the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis |
|
Mikaela Young |
Seaweed as a Novel Ingredient in Fermented Food and Beverage Products |
|
Shelby Schumacher |
Restorative Aquaculture: The environmental and social benefits of seaweed farming |
|
Silvia Blanco Gonzalez |
Microbial influences on the culture and ecology of Asparagopsis taxiformis |
HDR completions