PhD Students

Amanda Hsiung

School of BioSciences, Co-supervised with Prof Stephen Swearer and A/P Peter Todd

I previously worked on the use of ecological engineering to improve biodiversity on Singapore’s seawalls. My interests lie in understanding human interactions with marine and coastal systems and testing methods to mitigate current and potential impacts. For my PhD, I am researching the use of hybrid mangroves as a form of nature-based coastal defence in both Singapore and Victoria. I experiment with mangrove planters and monitor the survival and growth of the mangroves I plant in them. I also look at their co-benefits, as well as social and environmental barriers to their implementation.

Sophie Cheuk Yan Chan

School of BioSciences, Co-supervised with Prof Stephen Swearer

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I’m interested in the adaptation and resilience of organisms and habitats to changing environments. I completed my master’s studying ecotoxicology with oysters in coastal and estuarine environments. My current research looks at nature-based solutions to promote coastal resilience. I study the use of rock-fillets, a hybrid shoreline stabilising technique to facilitate mangrove colonisation and reduce bank erosion, and the potential of ecological services provision in these novel habitats.

Kathy Overton

School of BioSciences, Primary supervised by Prof Tim Dempster, with Prof Stephen Swearer and Dr Luke Barrett

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I am interested in how aquaculture can be harnessed both within and beyond food production to achieve conservation and restoration outcomes. My PhD will explore how the various ecologically beneficial outcomes that can be achieved through aquaculture, in addition to exploring new restoration ranges and methods for the functionally extinct native flat oyster Ostrea angasi.

James Barclay

School of BioSciences, Co-supervised with Dr Andrew Pomeroy, and Dr Brendan Lanham

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne whose focus is on restoring oyster reefs, with an emphasis on utilizing them for shoreline stabilization. My research investigates the relationship between oyster larvae recruitment, substrate complexity and the surrounding hydrodynamic characteristics with the goal being to help inform and improve future oyster reef restoration efforts.

Ryan Schoenbaum

School of Geography, Primary supervised by Dr Rebecca Runting, with Prof Stephen Swearer and Dr Jorge Álvarez-Romero

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My research aims to advance methods in conservation planning to account for processes that connect terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the context of climate change. My PhD project in the Burdekin region promotes the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef by integrating multiple objectives (water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration) into a spatial optimization framework. The collaborative nature of his research links efforts from a variety of institutions and stakeholders to guide management actions that maximize mutual benefit across land and sea realms.

Thea Bradford

City University of Hong Kong, Primary supervised by Prof. Kenneth Leung

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I was inspired to study marine ecology by the beauty and biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef and took on restoration work in Hong Kong in 2017 after graduating from the University of Queensland. I helped grow eco-engineering projects in Hong Kong from initial participation in the World Harbour Project to the multiple restoration projects running today. Now earning my PhD at the City University of Hong Kong, co-supervised by Dr Morris, I hope to be part of the global team using eco-engineering for ecosystem management in cities and artificial shores.