I am a coral biologist and marine molecular ecologist. I am passionate about using molecular techniques to help us understand patterns we witness in the ocean and help to facilitate conservation of marine species, especially under climate change. I am particularly interested in coral reefs and their stressors (such as crown-of-thorns sea star outbreaks and high temperatures), as well as other marine species that underpin ocean biodiversity e.g., phytoplankton. I am currently investigating how diatoms (which contribute around 20-25% of the world’s oxygen) communicate with one another, allowing us to understand their behaviour and population dynamics in the field. As phytoplankton are at the base of the marine food web, understanding their population dynamics is critical to supporting the marine food web and survival of marine animals from small zooplankton to migrating whales.