Role at Cawthron
Kirsty is a Science Group Manager (Molecular and Algal Ecology) and a marine ecologist specialising in phytoplankton community dynamics, harmful algal blooms, marine invertebrates and invasive species. She has expertise in a wide range of molecular techniques for characterising biodiversity and understanding adaptation in marine organisms, including the use of qPCR/ddPCR, metabarcoding, whole transcriptome sequencing and epigenetics. She currently co-leads both the Safe New Zealand Seafood Research Platform (SSIF MBIE-funded), and the nationally significant Cawthron Institute Culture Collection of Microalgae (SSIF MBIE-funded).
Technical skills, experience and interests
Microalgal ecology & harmful algal blooms
Phylogenetics & population genetics
Environmental DNA & Metabarcoding
Molecular adaptation & stress response
Epigenetics
Professional affiliations and achievements
Specialty Chief Editor, Frontiers in Protistology
International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae
New Zealand Marine Sciences Society
Qualifications
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Tsukuba, 2013
PhD, Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, 2012
MSc, Ecology and Evolution (Hons), Victoria University of Wellington, 2005
