About us

our researchers, students & support staff

About Us

Glow is headquartered at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, along with key partners and their host institutions at each site. See a list of our partners here.

Our diverse team includes scientists with field, lab and management expertise in coastal wetlands all over the world. This includes broad experience across different methods, cultures and ecosystems. Our researchers have:

  • Prioritised actions for wetland conservation.
  • Predicted impacts of multiple stressors to coastal ecosystems.
  • Developed adaptive management frameworks for ecological assets.
  • Contributed to global ecosystem assessments for conserving blue forests.
  • Developed new tools for efficient monitoring of ecosystems.
  • Led and communicated large research programs.

Australian Researchers

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Professor Rod Connolly

Director | Griffith University, Australia

Marine scientist using automated monitoring to help improve conservation outcomes for coastal ecosystems.

Director of the Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, one of the most comprehensive coastal advisory services in Australia

r.connolly@griffith.edu.au

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Associate Professor Chris Brown

Research Leader | The University of Tasmania, Australia

Marine ecosystem modeller (including multiple stressors). Interested in numbers that shake up the politics of saving nature.

Awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship for the project Predicting coastal ecological futures in an era of unprecedented change.

c.j.brown@utas.edu.au

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Dr Michael Sievers

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Experimental and field biologist with a focus on vertebrate ecology, interested in ecosystem assessment frameworks.

Awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award for the project Redefining success in marine ecosystem restoration.

m.sievers@griffith.edu.au

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Dr César Herrera

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Studies biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relationship using novel technologies. Developing hardware and software that increase reliability of ecological predictions.

c.herrera@griffith.edu.au

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Associate Professor Fernanda Adame

Research Leader | Griffith University, Australia

Studies ecosystem services provided by coastal wetlands, including carbon sequestration and coastal protection, with active projects in Mexico.

f.adame@griffith.edu.au

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Dr Christina Buelow

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Quantitative ecologist interested in establishing confidence in coastal ecosystem conservation.

c.buelow@griffith.edu.au

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Dr Jackson Stockbridge

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Spatial ecologist looking to investigate how the cumulative effects of multiple stressors impact different industries, and how this information can be used to understand risk in marine spatial planning.

j.stockbridge@griffith.edu.au

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Dr Jaramar Villarreal Rosas

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Conservation scientist integrating spatial analysis, decision science, and social theories that explain people’s perceptions of nature to achieve on-the-ground positive outcomes for biodiversity and local communities.

j.villarrealrosas@griffith.edu.au

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Dr Marina Richardson

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Marine scientist mapping and characterising tropical shellfish reefs to better understand their ecology, and inform their future conservation and management.

marina.richardson@griffith.edu.au

Research Officers

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Jasmine Hall

Senior Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Conservation biologist working with Dr Fernanda and her PhD students in wetland ecology in the field and laboratory. Website editor and blog writer for GLOW. 

jasmine.hall@griffith.edu.au

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Nicholas Grundy

Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Current environmental science student assisting Dr Fernanda and SRA Jasmine in the lab and field. Website editor and blog writer for GLOW.

n.grundy@griffith.edu.au

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Jasmine Rasmussen

Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Ecotoxicologist managing fieldwork and research in ecosystem restoration, exploring the benefits of restoring ecosystems and investigating the potential threats posed by emerging contaminants. Also works with artificial intelligence and developing models to assist in monitoring restored systems.

j.rasmussen@griffith.edu.au

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Alison McNamara

Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Developer of AI solutions and easy-to-use apps and dashboards for marine science applications. Project manager at FishID delivering practical conservation solutions.

alison.mcnamara@griffith.edu.au

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Diego Gloria

Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Shedding light on fish habitat use of oyster reefs at day and night. 

diegoroman.gloria@griffith.edu.au

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Shakya Fernando

Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Assisting Dr César Herrera to streamline the preprocessing of images, videos, and CSV datasets. Assisting with automation scripts and machine learning model training with a specific focus on seagrass ID and monocular cameras.

shakya.fernando@griffithuni.edu.au

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Nikolina Nenadic

Research Officer | Griffith University, Australia

Marine scientist specialising in the study of oyster parasite Marteilia sydneyi. Currently assisting Dr Marina Richardson with mapping and characterising tropical shellfish reefs.

n.nenadic@griffith.edu.au

Students

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Kristin Jinks

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Investigating drivers of change to food webs in estuarine environments.

kristin.jinks@griffithuni.edu.au

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Marina Christofidis

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Assessing the interactive effects of multiple stressors in coastal ecosystems.

marina.christofidis@griffithuni.edu.au

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Iresha Sumudumali Rammanda Gedra

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Measuring the aquatic ecological responses to pesticide contamination in freshwater ecosystems.

ireshasumudumali.rammandagedara@griffithuni.edu.au

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Julieta Gamboa Cutz

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Studying microbial communities in coastal wetland soil related to the methane cycle.

julieta.gamboacutz@griffithuni.edu.au

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Kai Ching Cheong

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Mapping the future of mangrove ecosystem services.

kaiching.cheong@griffithuni.edu.au

Alumni

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Dr Tom Rayner

Science Communicator | Griffith University, Australia

Stakeholder engagement, facilitation, comms strategy and digital content. Now at NSW DPI Fisheries.

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Tyler Hoffman

Research Assistant | Griffith University, Australia

Field, lab and admin support for the GLOW program. Now Boating Officer for Griffith Sciences.

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Dr Jodie Haig

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Marine ecologist interested in linking conservation science to policy outcomes. Now at QLD Government.

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Yota Harada

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Food-web consequences of the world’s largest mangrove forest die-off.

 

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Dale Bryan-Brown

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Marine connectivity and dispersal in habitat-forming species. Now teaching in Northern Territory.

 

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Zoë Carey

Research Assistant | Griffith University, Australia

Provided field, laboratory and administration support for the GLOW program.

 

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Zoë Carnahan

Undergraduate | Griffith University, Australia

Work Integrated Learning placement with GLOW. Now at University of Tasmania.

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Dr Eva McClure

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Marine ecologist interested in informing conservation by understanding species responses to environmental drivers.

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Dr Viv Tulloch

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Conservation decision-maker and modeller interested in how disturbances affect biodiversity and natural resources. Now at University of British Columbia.

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Adam Shand

Research Assistant | Griffith University, Australia

Provided field and laboratory support for the GLOW program.

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Eric Jinks

Senior Software Engineer | Griffith University, Australia

Developed digital tools for conservation management, including machine learning and web-based apps.

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Natasha Watson

Science Communicator | Griffith University, Australia

Communication, engagement and digital content for the GLOW project.

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Dr Mischa Turschwell

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Statistical ecologist in spatial modelling. Background in freshwater systems, thermal regimes and Bayesian models.

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Laura Griffiths

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Managing vulnerable coastal environments for interactions among multiple threats.

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Briana Holgate

GIS Analyst | Griffith University, Australia

Spatial ecologist with research in ecoacoustics and soundscape modelling.

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Dr Ryan Pearson

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Community and population ecologist. Background in sea turtles, isotopes, and broad ecological concepts for management.

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Dr Paul Maxwell

Principal Scientist | Alluvium, Australia

Marine ecologist working on the stability and health of coastal ecosystems.

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Professor Brendan Mackey

Research Leader | Griffith University, Australia

Director of the Climate Action Beacon, interested in science-based policy formation. Previously lead GLOW work in Vanuatu.

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Dr Mahua Roy Chowdhury

Research Scholar | University of Calcutta, India

Expert in mangrove growth and ecosystem health, including phytoremediation.

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Dr Sebastian Lopez-Marcano

Research Fellow | Griffith University, Australia

Was Project Manager of the Australian Research Data Commons FishID platform. Developed and applyed AI solutions to AgTech, conservation and education.

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Olivia King

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Assessed the interactive effects of multiple stressors in coastal ecosystems.

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Alyssa Giffin

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Coral-seagrass connections for fisheries and their role in Ecosystem Based Adaptation.

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Andria Ostrowski

PhD Candidate | Griffith University, Australia

Stressors in the real world: evaluated impacts of multiple stressors in coastal ecosystems.

“We have some of the world’s largest blue carbon storage capacity. Our mangroves, seagrass and saltmarsh habitats hold 5-11% of global blue carbon stocks."

Rod Connolly,
Study co-author

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Andy Clark,
CEO / Manager

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Larry Jane,
Developer
PhD APPLICATIONS OPEN

Range of projects available with up to $15,000 funds for field work and collaborative travel.

Find out more

PARTNERING FOR CHANGE

GLOW is proud to be an active member of the Global Mangrove Alliance.

Check out the GMA website