James completed his bachelor in Science studying Zoology at the University of Manchester, with his undergraduate work culminating into the study of the physiological impacts of ocean warming and hypoxia on catsharks. He then pursued a Masters in Research (MRes) in Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth focusing on the urbanization of coastlines and its consequences for biodiversity.
The project was a collaborative effort alongside the National University of Singapore and the results were published earlier this year (DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00924-z) following his previous work on ecological engineering (DOI: 10.3354/meps13365). After completing his Masters, James then integrated the Marine Biological Association (MBA) to work on the dynamics of shark movements around the world and how movements of pelagic predators are associated with environmental conditions. His work focused on how organisms are intimately intertwined with their environment on broader and finer scales, using the latest environmental modeling techniques to reveal patterns of association.
James then decided to pursue a Ph.D. and moved to Hong Kong in August 2019 to begin a Ph.D. in Biology which he is currently undertaking at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). In essence, his Ph.D. focuses on the contextual effects of scientific procedures and how changes in biotic or abiotic context can alter the outcome of organismal responses to climatic stressors. For the pasts few months, James has started his second year and continues to progress with research and enjoys being involved with work beyond the realm of marine ecology and physiology.
James also enjoyed developing interests outside of science, particularly writing on topics outside of his field. More recently, he worked on a curated list of resources for early-career scientists and is hoping to further develop this database (DOI: 10.1002/lob.10400). Aside from academia and writing, James enjoys freediving and running as well as volunteering at dog shelters to regularly train and care for dogs before they find their forever homes.
Ultimately, James is looking forward to being involved with AZoLifeSciences and is excited to broaden his perspective of different scientific fields, allowing him to keep up to date with the latest developments as well as the fields he is currently working in!