I am a PhD researcher in the Wheeler group working across institutions within the Marine Research Plymouth Alliance. I investigate phytoplankton repsonses to Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), a marine carbon dioxide removal strategy. OAE works by increasing the alkalinity of seawater, which enhances the ocean’s ability to absorb and store atmospheric CO2

My research explores how OAE-driven changes in carbonate chemistry may affect phytoplankton – microscopic organisms that form the foundation of marine food webs. I study how responses scale from the level of single cells to natural communities, asking which species are sensitive, what biological processes explain these sensitivities and how we can best monitor the effects of OAE. My work uses techniques such as flow cytometry, electron microscopy, and DNA metabarcoding.

Before beginning my PhD, I spent a decade working in scuba diving as a PADI and BSAC instructor and scientific divemaster. I completed a BSc (Hons) in Ecology at the University of Stirling in 2025, where my undergraduate research used UV mutagenesis to investigate how diatoms build their silica cell walls.