My research background
I am a statistical analyst with a background in ecology. My day to day research activities are programming for data analysis and visualisation, report and publication writing, writing grant applications, presenting my work to interdisciplinary teams or academic audiences, and - whenever I can - developing material for public engagement.
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I like figuring out new and useful ways of analysing ecological data to discover more about the underlying patterns and processes. I am particularly interested in how animals go about their lives in dynamic environments through the lens of animal movement ecology; how animals distribute themselves in space, navigate, forage and interact with physical features of the environment.
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So far, I have mostly worked on ecological research questions using data collected remotely using animal-attached instruments or survey techniques. These data make it possible to study the lives of free-ranging animals but also pose considerable challenges, specific to the remote collection and transmission of data.
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I feel strongly about equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and the role of women in STEM disciplines.
Previous positions
March 2018​
In March 2018 I took up a two-year position as a Newton International Fellow at the University of St Andrews working with Lars Boehme on the Effects of ocean properties on the movement ecology of Weddell seals - or EMEWS for short.
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May 2016
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I spent two years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Marine Spatial Planning group at the Insitute for Coastal and Marine Science, Nelson Mandela University. During that time I was based at the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation and kindly hosted by the Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Cape Town.
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My project was about using marine vertebrate tracking data to find out where they go and what areas are important with application to Marine Spatial Planning. PIs: Mandy Lombard & Res Altwegg
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May 2013
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I received a NRF Scarce Skills Postdoctoral Fellowship by award in May 2013 and took it up the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Cape Town. The project was about developing movement models for the analysis of flight in avian predators and diving in marine mammals. PI: Res Altwegg
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May 2012
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Between May 2012 and April 2013 I held a postdoctoral research fellow position at the Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
I worked with William Hoppitt on the development of statistical methodology for testing social learning in animals. PI: Kevin Laland
Education
PhD Biology & Statistics (2008-2012)
University of St Andrews
​"Diving and depth use in seals: inferences from telemetry data using regression
and random walk movement models" | Supervised by Jason Matthiopoulos,
Len Thomas & Mike Fedak
MRes Marine and Environmental Science (2006-2007)
University of St Andrews
"Behavioural changes of a long-ranging diver in response to oceanographic
characteristics" | Supervised by Martin Biuw & Len Thomas
BSc Hons Marine & Environmental Biology (2002-2005)
University of St Andrews
Community Equality & Diversity
I am part of the organising committee for the Cape Town chapter of R-Ladies Global.
Women are under-represented in the R community and R-Ladies is a really nice way to inspire, promote and also recruit women into programming.
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I try to accept as many invitations as I can to review papers.
Here are some of the journals I've reviewed for.
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I am an associate editor for the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution and a review editor for Frontiers in Marine Science, Marine Megafauna.