The Department of Life Sciences

Qualifications

• PhD (Marine Ecosystems Health and Conservation), Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland and The University of Plymouth, UK (2018)
• MPhil (Environmental Biology), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad (2013)
• BSc. General (Double Majors in Environmental and Natural Resource Management and Chemistry), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, First Class Honours (2007)

Relevant Training

1. Spanish- Level 3B, Centre for Language Learning, UWI, St. Augustine (May 2020)
2. Early Career Scientist Program onboard Swedish Icebreaker Oden (Aug 8th – Sept 20th, 2016)
3. Floating Summer School- North South Atlantic Transect Training (Oct 28th to Dec 2nd 2015, Bremerhaven, Germany to Cape Town, South Africa)
4. NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (2006)

Recent Scientific Work

• Scientific Advisory Committee on Marine Litter and Microplastics (UNEP)-Trinidad and Tobago’s Representative (November 2019 – Present)
• eXXpedition’s Round the World Voyage: Leg 4 onboard SV Travel Edge (Antigua to Bonaire to Aruba, November 29th to December 8th 2019)

Research Interests

• Marine plastic pollution (SIDS, Caribbean, Atlantic, Arctic Oceans)
• Anthropogenic threats posed to coastal and marine ecosystems
• Chemical contaminants in wetland ecosystems (e.g. metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
• Knowledge, attitudes and practice surveys in relation to current environmental issues

Professional Experience

• Instructor III (Jan – May 2019, September 2019 – June 2020), Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad
• Research Scientist (2015-2018), Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland
• Teaching Assistant (2011 – 2014), Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad
• Education Officer (2007 – 2008), Education Officer, Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust

Courses Taught

• BIOL 3063- Marine Ecology and Oceanography (Undergraduate, Level 3)
• BIOL 3466- Coastal Ecosystems and Resource Management (Undergraduate, Level 3)
• ESST 3102- Environmental Impact Assessments (Undergraduate, Level 3)
• ESST 2004- Pollution Management and Abatement Technologies (Undergraduate, Level 2)
• ESST 3004- Capstone Project (Undergraduate, Level 3), Supervised 5 students in 2019/2020

Research Projects

• Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans (2015-2018)
• Metal and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in the Caroni Swamp, Trinidad, West Indies (2008-2011)

Grants

• Networking and Travel Grants by Marine Institute, Ireland for attendance at international conferences (2017 – 2018; 3 individual grants; €2196)
• Campus Research and Publication Grants (Metal and PAH contamination in the Caroni Swamp, Trinidad, West Indies), (2009 – 2012; 4 individual CR&P grants; $91,787.17 TT)

Honours and Awards (Selected)

• Erasmus Mundus PhD Fellowship to pursue a Doctoral Programme in Marine Ecosystem Health and Conservation (September 2015 - September 2018)
• UWI Postgraduate Scholarship (September 2008 - December 2010)
• The Industrial Gases LTD. Prize awarded for the best Year 3 performance in Chemistry (UWI 2007)
• The Southern Systems Limited Prize awarded for the best graduating student in Chemistry (UWI 2007)
• The ASA Wright Centre Ian Lambie Prize awarded for the best Year 3 performance in Environmental and Natural Resource Management (UWI 2007)
• The ASA Wright Centre Thomas Carr Prize awarded for the best Year 2 performance in Environmental and Natural Resource Management (UWI 2006)
• The ASA Wright Centre Julian Duncan Prize awarded for the best Year 1 performance in Environmental and Natural Resource Management (UWI 2005)
• Further Additional National Scholarship in Environmental Science (September 2004-May 2007)

Professional Memberships