Trustees

Keir Ashton pictured wearing a white shirt

Keir Ashton

Trustee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2024 -
Corporate headshot of Adam Christie wearing a blue shirt

Adam Christie

Trustee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2023 -
Laura Dance pictured in the antarctic

Laura Dance

Trustee and Chair of Communications & Engagement Committee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2024 -
image of Eric Hollanders

Eric Hollanders

Trustee and Chair of Finance Committee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2022 - 2025, 2025 - 2028

Chair of Finance Committee
Alun Williams pictured near the sea wearing a blue shirt

Dr Ian Jardine OBE

Trustee and Chair of Audit Committee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2023 -
Louise Ledgard headshot

Dr Louise Ledgard

Trustee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2024 -
Head and shoulder photo of Board member Dr Joseph Maguire

Dr Joseph Maguire

Non-Trustee Board Member
Expertise

Non-trustee Board member since December 2024
Photo of Prof Colin Moffat in academic robes as the invited speaker at a graduation event

Professor Colin Moffat

Trustee
Expertise

Trustee 2021 -
Head and shoulder image of Professor Stuart Monro, Chair of the SAMS Governing Body

Professor Stuart Monro

Trustee 2025 - 2028 Chair of SAMS Board
Expertise

Chair
Head and shoulder photo of Board member Hugh Raven

Hugh Raven

Trustee
Expertise

Trustee 2024 - 
Head and shoulder photo of SAMS Trustee Professor Richard Waites in a biology laboratory

Professor Richard Waites

Trustee and Chair of Education Committee
Expertise

Trustee 2021-24, 2024-27
Corporate headshot of Douglas Wallace wearing a blue shirt

Dr Douglas Wallace

Trustee and Chair of Research Committee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2023 -
Corporate headshot of Alun Williams wearing a grey shirt

Alun Williams

Trustee
Expertise

SAMS Trustee 2023 -

Executive team

John Barrie

Director of Finance
Expertise

Management accountancy
Photo of Professor Davidson delivering a talk during graduation in 2016

Professor Keith Davidson

Associate Director for Science and Education
Expertise

Marine microbial ecology; harmful algal blooms

Hazel Farnell

Head of Human Resources
Expertise

Mental health, wellbeing, learning and development, project management, general HR.
Head and shoulder photo of SAMS deputy director, Professor Axel Miller

Professor Axel Miller

Deputy Director
Expertise

Institutional leadership; business planning; resource planning and management; management of complex infrastructure
Head shot of the SAMS director, Professor Nick Owens

Professor Nicholas J P Owens

SAMS Director
Expertise

Leadership and management
A smiling Ben Wilson - head and shoulder photo taken inside SAMS

Professor Ben Wilson

Associate Director for Science and Research
Expertise

Animal-industrial interactions; underwater sound; marine mammal ecology; marine renewable energy

Lecturers and researchers

Dr Richard Abell

Research Assistant in Analytical Chemistry
Expertise

Trace metals; C&N analysis; isotope geochemistry
Mug shot of physical oceanographer and modeller Dr Dima Aleynik

Dr Dmitry Aleynik

Principal Investigator in Physical Oceanography
Expertise

Numerical hydrodynamic modelling of tidal mixing and turbulence in coastal waters and the deep sea
Head and shoulder shot of a smiling Phil Anderson in front of an aeroplane

Dr Phil Anderson

Senior Lecturer in Marine Climatology & Robotics
Expertise

Geophysical fluid dynamics; robotics; remotely piloted aircraft systems

Dr Steven Benjamins

Senior Lecturer in Marine Mammal Ecology
Expertise

Marine megafauna; environmental status assessments for public policy; conservation biology; monitoring methods
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Suzi Billing on the beach outside SAMS

Dr Suzannah-Lynn Billing

Principal Investigator in Marine Social Science
Expertise

Rural development, social licence to operate, community agents for change and social entrepreneur.
Head and shoulder photo taken on a boat with sea in the background

Dr Lénaïg Brun

Physical Oceanography PDRA
Expertise

Physical oceanography; Geophysical hydrodynamics; Internal waves; Mixing; Turbulence; Submarine canyons; Modelling
Dr. Kristin Burmeister

Dr Kristin Burmeister

Senior PDRA in Physical Oceanography
Expertise

Physical variability of the Atlantic Ocean and its relevance for ecosystems
Head and shoulder photo of Niall Burnside

Dr Niall Burnside

Senior Lecturer in Biogeography and Geoinformatics
Expertise

Geoinformatics; GIS; Remote Sensing; UAVs; Coastal Ecology; Coastal Restoration; Biodiversity gain
Professor Burrows with the coastal ocean in the background

Professor Michael T Burrows

Marine Ecologist
Expertise

Coastal ecology; shifting pattern in biodiversity; ecosystem modelling
Dr Laura Castro de la Guardia wearing a red wooly hat in a snowy environment

Dr Laura Castro de la Guardia

Physical & Biological Oceanographer
Expertise

Climate change, Arctic, marine biology, oceanography, bio-physical interactions, biogeochemical modelling
Head shot of smiling Dr Alison Cook.

Dr Alison Cook

Senior PDRA in Geospatial Analysis
Expertise

Geospatial data analysis of Polar cryospheric change, including sea ice and shipping, and glaciers at the ice-ocean interface
Head shot of Prof Liz Cottier Cook on fieldwork in a marina

Professor Elizabeth Cottier-Cook

Marine Biologist
Expertise

Marine invasive species; biofouling; seaweed aquaculture / policy
Dr Mairi Cowan holding an oyster shell

Dr Mairi Cowan

Principal Investigator in Shellfish Endocrinology
Expertise

Reproductive neuroendocrinology in fish and shellfish
Head and shoulder photo of a smiling Andy Dale

Dr Andrew Dale

Principal Investigator in Numerical Modelling
Expertise

Observational physical oceanography; numerical modelling
Dr Matthew Davey

Dr Matthew Davey

Associate Professor of Physiological Ecology
Expertise

Algal biotechnology, metabolic ecology, environmental metabolomics, cryophilic algae, Antarctic terrestrial biology, algal bioremediation, remote sensing for biodiversity, sustainable bioeconomy 
Photo of Professor Davidson delivering a talk during graduation in 2016

Professor Keith Davidson

Associate Director for Science and Education
Expertise

Marine microbial ecology; harmful algal blooms
Dr Sam Tiéfolo Diabaté on a research vessel, head and shoulder shot.

Dr Sam Tiéfolo Diabaté

Researcher in physical oceanography
Expertise

Ocean dynamics, Boundary circulation, Coastal sea level, AMOC, Rockall Slope Current, European Slope Current, Western boundary currents, Coastally trapped waves
Dr Arlene Ditchfield in the laboratory injecting a sample into a gas chromatograph

Dr Arlene Ditchfield

Programme Leader and Lecturer in Microbial Biogeochemistry
Expertise

gas biogeochemistry; microbial methane production; microbial C, N and S cycling
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Lewis Drysdale in a laboratory

Dr Lewis Drysdale

Ocean instrumentation and robotics support scientist
Expertise

Physical oceanography; data processing; quality control

Dr Alice Flint

Biochemistry PDRA
Expertise

Untargeted and targeted metabolomics; microbiology; biotechnology
Head-shot showing SAMS fisheries ecologist Dr Clive Fox

Dr Clive J Fox

Senior Lecturer Fisheries Ecology
Expertise

Fisheries; aquaculture; fish and shellfish biology; plankton; 
Head and shoulder shot of physical oceanographer Neil Fraser outside with research vessel behind

Dr Neil Fraser

Lecturer in Physical Oceanographer
Expertise

Transport in the North Atlantic and shelf sea processes
Dr Jennifer A Graham on the SAMS beach

Dr Jennifer A Graham

Physical Oceanographer
Expertise

Physical oceanography, modelling
Dr David Green in front of a display of cultured algae

Dr David Green

Principal Investigator in Molecular Microbiology
Expertise

Algal-bacterial interactions and algal microbiome; marine bacterial polysaccharides and enzymes; marine microbial ecology

Dr John Halpin

Marine image analyst and modeller
Expertise

Marine image analysis; deep learning; photogrammetry; data science
Dr Laura Hobbs outside on the SAMS back beach.

Dr Laura Hobbs

Lecturer in Arctic Marine Science
Expertise

Arctic marine ecology; environmental drivers of behaviour
Geologist Prof John Howe lecturing

Professor John Howe

Professor in Geology
Expertise

Marine geomorphology; multibeam mapping; Quaternary climate change; polar geology
Adam Hughes on a marine farm with rope-grown mussels in the background

Professor Adam Hughes

Professor of Innovation in the Blue Economy
Expertise

Sustainable aquaculture and the blue economy
Head and shoulder photo of Professor Inall inside SAMS

Professor Mark E Inall

Principal Investigator and Chief Scientific Adviser - Marine
Expertise

Tides, turbulence and mixing
Dr Clare Johnson during an outreach event

Dr Clare Johnson

Senior Observational Physical Oceanographer
Expertise

Water masses and circulation of the subtropical North Atlantic
Head and shoulder photo of a smiling Dr Sam Jones during a demonstration of his mixing tank

Dr Sam Jones

Physical Oceanographer
Expertise

Physical oceanography, data visualisation
Puja Kumari wearing a white jumper in front of a colourful background

Dr Puja Kumari

Lecturer in Macroalgal Research
Expertise

Algal stress physiology; chemical ecology; algal life cycles; algal omics; algal host pathogen interaction; algal bioprospecting; circular bioeconomy; developing value-added products.
Head and shoulder photo of a windswept Dr Kim Last on a Scottish beach

Dr Kim Last

Reader in Marine Biology
Expertise

Arctic ecology; behaviour of marine animals; biological clocks; human impacts
Shona Magill in academic robes during the 2015 graduation at SAMS.

Shona Magill

Head of Student Services and Quality Manager
Expertise

Higher education quality control; student support; biologist
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Joe Marlow

Dr Joe Marlow

Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Growth
Expertise

Marine growth; photogrammetry; artificial reefs
Photo of Dr Kati Michalek SAMS

Dr Kati Michalek

Senior PDRA in Macroalgal Cultivation Impacts
Expertise

Mariculture of seaweeds and shellfish; aquaculture site monitoring and management
Head of Comms Anuschka Miller in Rome

Dr Anuschka Miller

Head of Communications
Expertise

Science communication; public engagement; environmental ethics
Head and shoulder photo of deep-sea ecologist Dr Bhavani Narayanaswamy near an Arctic glacier

Professor Bhavani Narayanaswamy

Professor of Deep Sea Ecology
Expertise

Deep-sea ecology; benthic ecosystems; mangroves; mega- to micro-plastic pollution in the coastal to deep-sea environment
Dr Helena Reinardy holding sea urchin on her hand in the Arctic

Dr Helena Reinardy

PI and Teaching Fellow/Researcher in Aquaculture
Expertise

Ecotoxicoloy; genotoxicology; marine biology; molecular biology

Dr Denise Risch

Senior Lecturer and Acoustician in Ambient Underwater Sound
Expertise

Underwater acoustics; ecoacoustics; marine mammal ecology
Dr Georgi Robinson at SAMS is mostly working from and in Mauritius on aquaculture projects

Dr Georgina Robinson

PI and Future Leaders Fellowship
Expertise

Sustainable aquaculture; blue economy; small island developing states; bioremediation

Dr Alasdair O'Dell

Senior PDRA in Blue Carbon & Nitrogen
Expertise

Scotland's blue carbon: the contribution from seaweed detritus
Head and shoulder photo of Mikey Ross in a white lab coat with a flask full of algae

Dr Michael Ross

CCAP Manager & Lecturer in Algal Biotechnology
Expertise

Algal biotechnology; algal bioremediation; wastewater treatment; culture collections; microbial taxonomy and ecology
Dr Bernadette Snow standing outdoors, head and shoulder shot.

Dr Bernadette Snow

Senior Lecturer Marine Social Science
Expertise

Ocean governance; marine & coastal social-ecological systems; integrated ocean management; ecosystem services; marine spatial planning; climate change
Dr Charlotte Spring on the SAMS beach

Dr Charlotte Spring (Charlie)

Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate
Expertise

Co-producing biosecurity and seaweed sovereignty; ethnography; food systems eg food banks, lake fisheries etc
Professor Michele Stanley selecting strains from the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa

Professor Michele Stanley

Professor in Marine Biotechnology
Expertise

Phycology; marine biotechnology; biofilms; biofuels

Professor Andrew K Sweetman

Professor and chair of Seafloor Ecology and Biogeochemistry
Expertise

Seafloor ecology, biogeochemistry, deep-sea, mangroves, fjords, biodiversity and ecosystem function, anthropogenic impacts, deep-sea mining, climate change.
Head shot of smiling Dr Tim Szewczyk during a hill walking trip

Dr Tim Szewczyk

Ecological Modeller
Expertise

Biogeography; population dynamics; hierarchical Bayesian modelling
Head and shoulder photo of Professor Paul Tett in the office

Professor Paul Tett

Reader in Coastal Ecosystems
Expertise

Sustainability of coastal social-ecological systems; phytoplankton ecology
Head and shoulder photo of SAMS biogeochemist Robyn Tuerena during an oceanographic expedition

Dr Robyn Tuerena

Senior Lecturer in Marine Biogeochemistry
Expertise

Open ocean nutrient cycling; Nitrogen and carbon cycles: sources, sinks and feedbacks; Phytoplankton and marine food webs; Stable isotope geochemistry
Dr van Geel with a sound device out at sea

Dr Nienke van Geel

Lecturer Marine Mammal Ecology & Acoustics
Expertise

Marine megafauna monitoring techniques; cetacean acoustics; autonomous environmental monitoring for oil & gas decommissioning
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Lindsay Vare

Dr Lindsay Louise Vare

Environmental Consultant / Senior Project Manager
Expertise

Geochemistry; pollution; consultancy
Profile picture - Dr Reina Veenhof wearing a blue jumper

Dr Reina Veenhof

Senior PDRA Seaweed Biotechnology
Expertise

Seaweed life cycles, aquaculture, ecological modelling
Head and shoulder photograph of Francisca Vermeulen

Dr Francisca Vermeulen

Algal Biotechnology PDRA
Expertise

Harmful algal blooms; commercial cultivation of microalgae for nutraceuticals; science outreach
Callum Whyte on a research vessel with hard hat

Dr Callum Whyte

Phytoplankton Ecologist
Expertise

Phytoplankton ecology; harmful algal blooms
Image of Dr Tom Wilding on fieldwork

Dr Thomas Wilding

Benthic Ecologist
Expertise

Marine environmental assessment; statistical modelling; eDNA; novel monitoring approaches
A head and shoulder photo of Dr Maria Wilke outside in nature

Dr Maria Wilke

Marine Social Science Postdoctoral Research Associate
Expertise

Public participation, social license to operate, community engagement, blue justice, marine spatial planning, ocean literacy, bioregioning
A smiling Ben Wilson - head and shoulder photo taken inside SAMS

Professor Ben Wilson

Associate Director for Science and Research
Expertise

Animal-industrial interactions; underwater sound; marine mammal ecology; marine renewable energy

Dr Adam Wyness

eDNA Based Environmental Impact Monitoring PDRA
Expertise

eDNA; bioinformatics; biotechnology; microbial communities; microbiology

Honorary research fellows

Anthony Speca giving a lecture

Anthony Speca

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Political geography of the Arctic; educator
Photo of Professor Black in orange hard hat and swim vest with sediment core during sampling trip

Professor Kenneth D Black

SAMS Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Environmental impacts of aquaculture; sediment geochemistry; modelling
Susannah Calderan on fieldwork with acoustic probe

Susannah Calderan

Honorary Research Fellow in Marine Mammal Ecology
Expertise

Marine mammal ecology; acoustics

Dr James Clive Angus Craik

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Seabirds breeding on small islands; bird-ringing; entomology (esp moths and armyworms)
Prof Stuart A. Cunningham

Professor Stuart A Cunningham

Physical Oceanographer
Expertise

Large scale ocean circulation and climate

Dr Alan Fox

SAMS Honorary Research Fellow in Physical Oceanography
Expertise

Hydrodynamic modelling, deep-water ocean circulation, connectivity studies
Mandy Haggith wearing glasses and a white blouse

Dr Mandy Haggith

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Using creative writing to explore environmental and historical perspectives
Professor Sheila Heymans standing against a white background

Professor Sheila Heymans

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Marine social science and governance; ecosystem modelling
Dr Leakey aboard a research vessel as principal scientific officer

Dr Raymond Leakey

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Microbial ecology; polar oceanography; biogeochemistry; research vessels
Photo of David Meldrum in Antarctica with two penguins and the research vessel in the background

Professor David Meldrum FInstP

SAMS Honorary Fellow
Expertise

Polar instruments; satellite communication; autonomous instruments; sub-sea communications cables
Pedro Morua on fieldwork taking photos of seaweed on his phone

Dr Pedro Murúa

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Seaweed propagation; diversity of algal diseases; seaweed immunity
Conor Ryan with sunglasses on his head on a research ship

Dr Conor Ryan

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Cetacean researcher
Bill Turrell wearing glasses and a white shirt

Dr Bill Turrell

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Marine science adviser in the Scottish Government
Gillen Wood wearing a cap and sunglasses with boats and mountains behind him

Professor Gillen D’Arcy Wood

Honorary Research Fellow
Expertise

Maritime historian

Support scientists

Dr Richard Abell

Research Assistant in Analytical Chemistry
Expertise

Trace metals; C&N analysis; isotope geochemistry
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Chris Allen

Dr Chris Allen

Technical Resources Manager
Expertise

Benthic ecology and taxonomy, habitat mapping, marine surveys, project management
Rachel Allen wearing white lab coat working on a microscope

Rachel Allen

CCAP Support Scientist & Quality Lead
Expertise

Algal cultures
Lars Brunner, on our seaweed farm, holding a line of his sugar kelp crop

Lars Brunner

Sustainable Aquaculture & Ecology Senior Support Scientist
Expertise

Seaweed cultivation; echinoculture; Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Lewis Drysdale in a laboratory

Dr Lewis Drysdale

Ocean instrumentation and robotics support scientist
Expertise

Physical oceanography; data processing; quality control
Joanne with a flask of algae inside the culture collection of algae and protozoa

Joanne Field

CCAP Support Scientist & Lab Manager
Expertise

Algal cultures; protozoan collection; cryopreservation; DNA sequencing

Belle Heaton

Aquarium Innovation and Research Technician
Expertise

Aquaculture; animal husbandry; rocky shore ecology
Smiling Laurence Lamour head and shoulders picture

Laurence J. Larmour

SAMS Vessels Operations Manager
Expertise

Managing SAMS vessels and marine staff, Health and safety audits and routine maintenance of vessels and safety equipment. 
Karen in white lab coat in the laboratory preparing sterile medium for algal cultures.

Karen MacKechnie

Toxic Phytoplankton Monitoring Programme Deputy Manager
Expertise

Phytoplankton sample handling; toxic algae; 
Support scientist Sharon McNeill next to water collecting equipment on oceanographic fieldwork

Sharon McNeill

Support Scientist in Analytical Chemistry and Microbiology
Expertise

Analytical chemistry; phytoplankton taxonomy; radiation safety
A smiling Elaine Mitchell relaxing aboard a research vessel donning Arctic clothing

Elaine Mitchell

Research Assistant in Microbiology & Microscopy
Expertise

Phytoplankton taxonomy; microbial dynamics
Head and shoulder photo of Leah Morrison

Leah Morrison

Education Resource Co-ordinator
Expertise
Dr Phil Peterson with a small robot on his shoulder

Dr Phil Peterson

Senior Engineer
Expertise

Marine and airborne robotic systems, autonomous vehicles, electronics and mechanical engineering, pollution monitoring and instrumentation.
A smiling Ceci looking at a flask with diatoms

Cecilia Rad Menéndez

CCAP Curator
Expertise

Algal isolation and cultivation; molecular characterisation; algae pathogen interactions
Jamie Rodgers wearing a black T-Shirt standing in front of a SAMS boat

Dr Jamie Rodgers

Vessel Skipper
Expertise

Skippering, vessel maintenance, scientific sampling

Andrew Rohling

Aquarium Project Technician
Expertise

Animal husbandry; Experiment design; Construction & maintenance; Aquarium technology; Data handling
Jamie Rowell wearing a white lab coat in with an algal culture inside the Culture Collection lab

Jamie Rowell

CCAP Support Scientist
Expertise

Algal culture maintenance, growth media
Petra Rybanska wearing a pink hard hat and high vis jacket

Petra Rybanska

Robotics and Ocean Mapping Technician
Expertise

seabed mapping, bathymetric data, side scan sonar, multibeam system, ROVs and AUVs, data acquisition, data processing,sea glider pilot
CCAP administrator Rachel Saxon at her desk dealing with orders from our culture collection

Rachel Saxon

CCAP Administrator
Expertise
Photo of Sarah Swan in lab coat and safety goggles conducting a chemical water analysis

Sarah Swan

Phytoplankton Monitoring Programme Manager
Expertise

Toxic and harmful phytoplankton
Naomi Thomas in white lab coat sitting on a microscope to identify toxic algae

Naomi Thomas

Research Support Scientist and CCAP Curator
Expertise

Microalgae, algal biotechnology, cilates
Gail twigg on a boat

Dr Gail Twigg

Marine Support Scientist
Expertise
Marja, wearing a headscarf, posing with her dog

Marja van den Houten

SAMS Seaweed farm manager
Expertise

Environmental microbiology , organic chemistry, microscopy, protocol optimisation, method development, biological control methods, engagement and outreach, project management, local government, business consultancy
CCAP support scientist Evie Whyte in a lab coat in front of large tubes with growing algae

Evie Whyte

Graduate CCAP Support Scientist
Expertise

Algae; protozoa; cultivation; scale-up; quality assurance; microscopy; data analysis

Professional services

John Barrie

Director of Finance
Expertise

Management accountancy
HR officer Karen Campbell in front of the window wall in the main SAMS building

Karen Campbell

Human Resources Officer
Expertise

Human Resources
Head and shoulder photo of SAMS Health and Safety Advisor Chris Clay

Christopher Clay

Safety, Health and Environment Manager
Expertise

Health, Safety, Environmental Management

Andy Crabb

Lead Creative & Filmmaker
Expertise

Filmmaking: Directing, producing, shooting, editing, teaching
Head and shoulder shot of Polly Crooks, who looks after our undergrads

Polly Crooks

Academic Registry Officer
Expertise

Undergraduate student support; academic registry

Hazel Farnell

Head of Human Resources
Expertise

Mental health, wellbeing, learning and development, project management, general HR.

Dr Stephen Fraser

Research Support Developer
Expertise

Software engineering; Java; AngularJS; User interfaces; Discrete event simulation; Linux;
Head and shoulder photo of our Head of IT, Mr Steve Gontarek

Steve Gontarek

Head of IT and Information Services
Expertise

Integrated ICT, information services, data management and development services
Iona Harvey wearing a jacket and scarf

Iona Harvey

Visual Communications & Branding Lead
Expertise

Branding, graphic design, print, digital design
Will Harvey - SAMS Web Developer

Will Harvey

Web Developer
Expertise

Web Development, Web Design, Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, Photography, App Development, Videography

Alistair James

Facilities Engineer
Expertise

Design, CAD, manufacture, building maintenance, Legionella control

Janice MacEachen

Finance Business Partner – Professional Services
Expertise

Finance, Payroll
Alan Kerr with book in aquarium

Alan Kerr

SAMS Librarian / M,ESE Administrator
Expertise

Librarian, administration
Mia Leng is inspiring school pupils about marine science in a classroom

Mia Leng

UHI STEM Coordinator
Expertise

Ocean literacy, Scottish marine life, STEM, outreach.

Iain MacCorquodale

Maintenance Manager
Expertise

Managing facilities/estates team; electrician

Dr Alan MacDonald

Research Software Engineer
Expertise
Head picture of smiling SAMS company secretary Ann Mackenzie

Ann Mackenzie

Compliance Manager & Company Secretary
Expertise

Compliance, risk, legal/regulatory standards, governance, data privacy, IP
Shona Magill in academic robes during the 2015 graduation at SAMS.

Shona Magill

Head of Student Services and Quality Manager
Expertise

Higher education quality control; student support; biologist
Education Officer Helen McNeill during a seaweed show and tell session with primary school children

Helen McNeill

Ocean Explorer Centre Manager
Expertise

Outreach; Ocean Explorer Centre; event management
Head of Comms Anuschka Miller in Rome

Dr Anuschka Miller

Head of Communications
Expertise

Science communication; public engagement; environmental ethics
Head and shoulder photo of Leah Morrison

Leah Morrison

Education Resource Co-ordinator
Expertise
Head and shoulder shot of media and comms officer Euan Paterson

Euan Paterson

Senior Communications & Media Manager
Expertise

Journalism; media relations; photography
Head and shoulder photo of a smiling Julie Platt

Julie Platt

Head of Development
Expertise

Fundraising, strategic planning, relationship management, development
Jamie Rodgers wearing a black T-Shirt standing in front of a SAMS boat

Dr Jamie Rodgers

Vessel Skipper
Expertise

Skippering, vessel maintenance, scientific sampling
Head and shoulder picture of SAMS Secretary Lorna MacKinnon

Lorna MacKinnon

Directorate PA / Secretary
Expertise

PA to the Director and Deputy Director
CCAP administrator Rachel Saxon at her desk dealing with orders from our culture collection

Rachel Saxon

CCAP Administrator
Expertise

Jenny Skinner

Administrator & Receptionist
Expertise

Admin, tenant liaison, DSE support, room allocations

Roddy Thomson

Finance Business Analyst Manager
Expertise

Financial in-depth analysis, forecasting and reporting; business partner relationships; financial planning and budgeting
Dr Julie Watson holding a scientific drone

Dr Julie Watson

STEM Officer
Expertise

STEM, outreach, teaching

Research students

Picture of Victoria Ashley-Wheeler

Victoria Ashley-Wheeler

PhD student
Expertise

Assessing benthic recovery following cessation of salmon farming using eDNA metabarcoding
Picture of Tim Awbery

Tim Awbery

PhD student
Expertise

Unlocking the enigma of Scottish harbour porpoise fine-scale habitat use
Student Thomas Bartram snowboarding

Thomas Bartram

MRes Researcher
Expertise

Exploring marine fungal 'dark matter'
Picture of Chloe Victoria Blackman

Chloe Victoria Blackman

PhD student
Expertise

Organism and ecological impacts of electrofishing in Scottish shallow coastal habitats
Isabella Cruz in a black beanie hat

Isabella Cruz

MRes Student
Expertise

Temporal and spatial distribution of microplastics on the west coast of Scotland
Danielle S. W. de Jonge on a research vessel

Danielle S. W. de Jonge

PhD student
Expertise

Assessing the impact of multiple environmental stressors on Atlantic Ocean deep-sea ecosystems
Artemis Eales wearing a green hoodie

Artemis Eales

MRes Student
Expertise

Nitrogen uptake by Ulva: influence on growth, nitrogen preference, and biochemical composition
image coming soon placeholder

Priyadharshini Elanchezhian

PhD student
Expertise

Maximising bromoform production in Asparagopsis taxiformsis for methane reduction in food and feeds
Ana Flores Leñero in a labcoat at a microscope

Ana Luisa Josefina Flores Leñero

Research Student
Expertise

Mitigating harmful algal blooms with modified clay to safeguard marine aquaculture in a changing climate.
Picture of Adam Francis

Adam Francis

PhD student
Expertise

Controls on nitrogen fixation in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
Kate Fraser

Kate Fraser

Research Student
Expertise

Deep connections: How do changes in deep sea faunal communities relate to surface physics and biology? 
Picture of Gary Groves

Gary Groves

PhD student
Expertise

Artificial intelligence based image analysis to address the risk from marine harmful algal blooms
Picture of Callum Hamilton

Callum Hamilton

PhD student
Expertise

Understanding and exploiting stoichiogenomics to harness reactive nitrogen in sustainable food production system
Head photo of a smiling Jaz-Harker

Jaz Harker

PhD Researcher
Expertise

Harbour porpoise conservation
Picture of Helen M Hiley

Helen M Hiley

PhD student
Expertise

Unlocking the enigma of Scottish harbour porpoise fine-scale habitat use
Research student Lottie Holland conducting an ecological survey by SCUBA diving

Lottie Holland

MRes Researcher
Expertise

Multi-stressor impact on Alaria esculenta
Kay Ihle

Kay Ihle

Research Student
Expertise

Lighting up zooplankton - mapping marine light using robotics
Alice Jensen standing on a Scottish hilltop

Alice Jensen

Research Student
Expertise

Quantifying carbon uptake in the North Atlantic Ocean using Biogeochemical Argo floats
Caitlin Lamb on a beach wearing a wetsuit

Caitlin Lamb

PhD student
Expertise

Evaluating long-term resilience of the Scottish Marine Protected Area network
Head and shoulder photo of Henry Lawrence

Henry Lawrence

PhD researcher
Expertise

Sustainable development of Scottish aquaculture
Picture of Maryam MacCorquodale

Maryam MacCorquodale

PhD student
Expertise

Kelp gametophyte bio-reactors for metabolite extraction
Heather McConnell on a beach wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap

Heather McConnell

PhD Student
Expertise

Understanding sea louse larval biology and natural abundance to inform modelling and assist management of the Scottish salmon industry
Alejandra Mejía-Saenz next to an AUV

Alejandra Mejía-Saenz

Research Student
Expertise

The application of machine-learning to establish baselines and short- and long-term change in sensitive marine habitats
Tom Morgan

Tom Morgan

Research Student
Expertise

Optimising marine image capture and analysis from autonomous underwater vehicles
Picture of Rúben Filipe Nascimento Marques

Rúben Filipe Nascimento Marques

PhD student
Expertise

Material development for global seaweed cultivation
Picture of Lea Riehn

Lea Riehn

PhD student
Expertise

River Robots: Utilizing novel autonomous technologies, observations, and models to investigate freshwater coastal dispersion.
Picture of Alberto Rock

Alberto Rock

MRes student
Expertise

Developing the use of a novel CRISPR associated protein in Nannochloropsis sp. to increase omega-3 fatty acid yield.
Support scientist Carla Ruiz González wearing white lab coat sitting in lab sub-culturing a sample

Carla Ruiz González

PhD Student
Expertise

Life at the limits – Algal physiology under extreme conditions
Picture of Chester Sands

Chester Sands

PhD student
Expertise

Elucidating the evolution and diversity of the Southern Ocean ophiuroids with reference to present day ecosystem management
Picture of Hayley Swanlund

Hayley Swanlund

PhD student
Expertise

Seaweed farming in Europe: Appraisal and quantification of ecosystem services
Picture of Angus Taylor

Angus Taylor

PhD student
Expertise

Multistressor impacts of ocean acidification and warming on regeneration and biomineralisation in coastal sea urchins
Nele Thomsen headshot

Nele Thomsen

Research Student
Expertise

Adaptation in the extreme: transgenerational impacts of multistressors in rockpool environments
Hannah Towns

Hannah Towns

Research Student
Expertise

An environmental evaluation of deep-sea mine tailings placement (DSTP) 
Picture of Thomas Webber wearing a blue jacket

Thomas Webber

PhD student
Expertise

An oceanic species in coastal habitats: Risso’s dolphin distribution in Scottish waters and implications for conservation management.
Picture of Charlotte Wilson holding a red crab in a Christmas Island forest

Charlotte Wilson

PhD Researcher
Expertise

Physiological adaptations in early life stages of Christmas Island land crabs

SAMS Enterprise team

Jenny black pictured on a dramatic coastal landscape.

Jenny Black

Project Manager / Marine Environmental Consultant
Expertise

Restorative aquaculture; coastal restoration; mariculture training (seaweed focus)
Business Development Manager Daniel Carcajona pictured on a dramatic coastal landscape.

Daniel Carcajona

Business Development Manager
Expertise

Business development, innovation, partnership development
Head and shoulder picture of Rob Grisenthwaite in a white lab coat holding a glass vial in a lab

Rob Grisenthwaite

Seaweed Nursery Lead Technician
Expertise

Phycology; Macroalgal biotechnology; Seaweed farming; Seaweed nursery management
Head and shoulder image of Dr Mark Hart outside at the back beach

Dr Mark Hart

Quality Manager
Expertise

Quality management; project management; SIMBA snow and ice monitoring kit
Head and shoulder photo of Aidan Jackson in a red coat outdoors

Aidan Jackson

Junior Marine Environmental Consultant
Expertise

Commercial research; environmental surveying

Andy Lambert

Proposals and Marketing Manager
Expertise

Sales, marketing, business development, coaching
Head and shoulder shot of SAMS Enterprise SIMBA technician Craig Livingstone

Craig Livingstone

SIMBA Engineer & Lab Manager
Expertise

SIMBA; project management; enterprise
Head and shoulder picture of Sine MacKay in a workshop where SIMBA instruments are made

Sine MacKay

Sales and Marketing Executive
Expertise

Product sales and marketing; quotations; customer service for SIMBA and NewDEPOMOD
Libby Smith during a training session holding a tablet

Libby Smith

Project Manager: Scientific Robotics Academy
Expertise

Project management, technological innovation, science communication
Head and shoulder selfie of Phillip Thompson in snowy mountain terrain in Scotland

Phillip Thompson

Senior Simba Engineer
Expertise

Engineering, electronics, remote sensing, fieldwork
Head and shoulder photo of Dr Lindsay Vare

Dr Lindsay Louise Vare

Environmental Consultant / Senior Project Manager
Expertise

Geochemistry; pollution; consultancy
Head and shoulder image of Anja taken outside

Anja Wittich

Senior Project Manager
Expertise

Marine mammal ecology