My current research activities include molecular and ecological research to develop indicators for changes in water quality and to investigate cumulative impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. This work combines field-based ecological techniques with state-of-the-art molecular and other laboratory based methods. I have worked on echinoderm population dynamics for a long time and currently investigate causes for crown-of-thorns-seastar outbreaks. I have strong expertise in experimental ecology, molecular ecology and population genetics. In previous studies I investigated genetic connectivity and ecological function of coral reef invertebrates (specifically echinoderms).