CV

My complete CV (resume) can be downloaded as a PDF: McQuatters-Gollop CV July 2019

 

Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop

 

Abigail.mcquatters-gollop [at] plymouth.ac.uk

www.planktonpolicy.org

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

I am a marine conservation ecologist and lecturer in marine conservation whose teaching and research focus on the generation of national and international impact through the integration of scientific results into the policy process. My key areas of interest are the separation of climate responses in the plankton from those due to anthropogenic disturbances, ecosystem responses to the combined effects of policy measures and climate change, and the linking of ecological changes to manageable human pressures. I actively create impact through science-policy knowledge exchange, working closely with policy makers at the UK, European and international levels, to deliver policy informed by sound scientific evidence. I am leading the UK’s and OSPAR’s implementations of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats, which includes the coordination, development and management towards operationalisation of pelagic indicators and environmental targets. This work is a direct response to UK and EU policy needs and is required by EU and UK decision makers to support marine management and conservation; I hold a NERC Fellowship to fund this impact work. I love teaching and I try to encourage my students to see why plankton are key ecosystem indicators, to develop an understanding of the practical policy process, and to understand how and why scientific research should be applied and used in a policy and conservation context.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Lecturer in Marine Conservation Plymouth University (2015-Present)

  • Lecturer in Marine Conservation, with concentration on the Ocean Science and Marine Conservation degree
  • Dissertation supervision
  • NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow: Interpreting and targeting NERC-funded research outputs to inform and influence marine policy
  • Leadership of Marine Strategy Framework Directive implementation for pelagic habitats at the UK and OSPAR levels
  • Delivery of scientific advice to UK and international policy-makers
  • Generation and publication of policy-relevant research
  • Member of Marine Science recruitment committee

Science and Policy Research Fellow Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (2010-2015)

  • NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow: Interpreting and targeting NERC-funded research outputs to inform and influence marine policy
  • Delivery of scientific advice to UK and international policy-makers
  • Generation and publication of policy-relevant research
  • The securement of policy-relevant research and contract funding, from UK, EU and international bodies
  • Leadership of Marine Strategy Framework Directive implementation for pelagic habitats at the UK and OSPAR levels
  • SAHFOS PI on EU and INTERREG projects
  • Coordination of SAHFOS Knowledge Exchange activities, including leading development of SAHFOS Knowledge Exchange strategy and line management of KE team

Associate Lecturer Plymouth University (2007-2015)

  • Design and delivery of lectures and practicals for 2nd and 3rd year undergraduates and MRes students
  • Dissertation supervision

Post Doctoral Research Fellow Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (2008-2010)

  • Coordination of ICES Historical Plankton Digitization Project
  • Coordination of an FP7 project proposal
  • Provision of scientific advice to UK and international policy-makers
  • Plankton analysis
  • SAHFOS PI on EU FP7 KnowSeas

Post Doctoral Research Fellow University of Plymouth (2007-2008)

  • Coordination of a successful FP7 project proposal
  • Provision of scientific advice to UK and international policy-makers

Research Assistant University of Plymouth (2004-2007)

  • Provision of research and coordination support to FP6 project (ELME)
  • Leadership of individual research programme
  • Website development and maintenance

GIS Technician and Consultant C&C Solutions, Inc (2001-2002)

  • Assisted with and managed GIS projects using ArcInfo, ArcView, and ArcGIS
  • GIS analysis, project management and organisation, client relations, map design, and database implementation skills were utilized daily

Long-term Teaching Assistant Maritime and Science Technology Academy High School (1999-2001)

  • Provision of regularly scheduled long-term teaching assignments at a competitive marine-themed magnet school, including formulation of lesson plans and assessment of students

Lab and Teaching Assistant University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) (1997–2000)

  • Provision of lab, teaching and field support to researchers and staff at the Marine Geology and Geophysics Stable Isotope Laboratory and Department of Marine Affairs and Policy

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2017)

PhD Phytoplankton as indicators for eutrophication in Europe’s regional seas. University of Plymouth (2004 – 2008)

MA (Hons) Marine Affairs and Policy and GIS. University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) (2000 – 2001). Dissertation title “Stiltsville: Private ownership in a national park”

BA (Hons) Marine Affairs and Policy (major), Chemistry (minor), Geography and GIS (minor). University of Miami (1996 – 2000). Dissertation title “Anaerobic Digestion in the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris”

EXTERNAL FUNDING

2018      • £3,000 Defra: Convening formulation of UK pelagic habitats monitoring options.

2017      • £70,000 NERC: Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Plankton science for supporting the implementation of marine ecosystem-based management and conservation.

  • £15,000 Defra: Chairing of UK plankton expert group for Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
  • £8,000 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Invited Fellowship: Identifying and overcoming challenges to integrating marine scientific research into the Japanese policy process

2016      • £2,400 Defra: Assessment of UK plankton for Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

  • £2,500 Plymouth University: Are Plymouth Sound phytoplankton in Good Environmental Status? Towards the assessment of biodiversity in a human-impacted conservation area.

2015      • €146,000 EMFF: Applying an ecosystem approach to (sub) regional habitat assessments (EcApRHA).

  • £2000 NERC: Anniversary Ambassador.

2013      • €76,000 INTERREG: Promoting effective governance of the Channel ecosystem (PEGASEAS).

  • £110,269 NERC: Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Interpreting and targeting NERC-funded research outputs to inform and influence marine policy.
  • £8,000 Defra: MSFD Pelagic Habitats Indicator and Target Research and Development.
  • £10,225 Defra: MSFD Pelagic Habitats Expert Team leadership for UK and OSPAR. Contract reviewed and extended 6-monthly.
  • €10,000 EMODNET Biological Traits pilot project: Plankton Biological Traits.

2012      • €100,000 EU European Marine Observation Data NETwork (EMODNET) Biology: Provision of CPR data products and scientific advice on data application for implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

  • £9,710 Defra: MSFD Pelagic Habitats Team Leadership for UK and OSPAR.
  • £5,220 Defra: R&D project to operationalise MSFD indicators and targets.

2011      • £8,993.19 EMODNET Biology: Provision of CPR data products and maps.

  • £19,736 National Marine Biological and Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC): Employment of the technical secretariat at SAHFOS. Contract renewed annually.

2010      • £116,610 INTERREG: Our shared sea: Mechanisms of ecosystem change in the Western Channel (Marinexus): Towing of CPR route, sample analysis, research and data interpretation.

2009      • £17,400 JNCC: A marine assessment and monitoring framework for application in UKMMAS and OSPAR for phytoplankton and zooplankton

2008      • €133,774 FP7 Knowledge Based Sustainable Management for Europe’s Seas (KnowSeas): Development and management of operational database, coordination of social media, science-policy research.

  • £3,014 FAO: Preparation of concise overview of harmful algal blooms & fishery product safety.
  • £1,800 Defra: Contribution to report highlighting UK marine biodiversity hotspots.

2007      • £700 Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET): Securement of a travel grant to present PhD results at an international scientific conference (ASLO)

KEY PUBLICATIONS

  • Capuzzo, E., Lynam, C.P., Stephens, D., Barry, J., Forster, R.M., Greenwood, N., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Silva, T., van Leeuwen, S. M., and Engelhard, G.H., (2017). New data reveal a decline in primary production in the North Sea with implications for zooplankton and fisheries. Global Change Biology, doi: 10.1111/gcb.13916.
  • McQuatters-Gollop, A., Johns, David G., Bresnan, E., Skinner, J., Rombouts, I., Stern, R.F., Aubert, A., Johansen, M., and Knights, A. (2017). From microscope to management: the critical value of plankton taxonomy to marine policy and biodiversity conservation. Marine Policy, 83:1-10.
  • McQuatters-Gollop, A., Edwards, M., Helaouët, P., Johns, D.G., Owens, N.J.P., Raitsos, D.E., Schroeder, D., Skinner, J., and Stern, R.F., (2015). The Continuous Plankton Recorder survey: how can long-term phytoplankton datasets deliver Good Environmental Status? Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 162:88-97.
  • Elliott, M., Borja, Á., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Mazik, K., Birchenough, S., Andersen, J.H., Painting, S., and Peck, M., (2015). Force majeure: will climate change affect our ability to attain Good Environmental Status for marine biodiversity? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 95:7-27.
  • Beaugrand, G., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Edwards, M. and Goberville, E., (2013). Long-term responses of North Atlantic calcifying plankton to climate change. Nature Climate Change, 3: 263-267.
  • McQuatters-Gollop, A. (2012). Challenges for implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in a climate of macroecological change. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 370: 5636-5655.
  • McQuatters-Gollop, A., Reid, P.C., Edwards, M., Burkill, P., Castellani, C., Batten, S., Gieskes, W., Beare, D., Bidigare, R., Head, E., Johnson, R., Kahru, M., Koslow, J. and Pena, M. (2011). Is there a decline in marine phytoplankton? Nature 472:E6-E7.

AWARDS AND ESTEEM

  • NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship Plankton science for supporting the implementation of marine ecosystem-based management and conservation (2017)
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Invited Fellowship To engage local policy makers with ocean acidification research (2017)
  • Michael Colebrook Memorial Award For outstanding external representation of SAHFOS and promotion of the CPR survey to stakeholders and policy makers (2015)
  • NERC Anniversary Ambassador (2015)
  • NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship Interpreting and targeting NERC-funded research outputs to inform and influence marine policy (2013)
  • Seavision UK My Maritime World Competition winner For inspiring future marine scientists (‘From plankton to policy’) (2013)
  • Challenger Society Honorary Fellowship For achievement and promise in marine biology (2012)
  • Elsevier Top Cited Author Award For paper entitled ‘How well do ecosystem indicators communicate the effects of anthropogenic eutrophication?’ (2012)
  • Royal Society Science-Policy Pairing Scheme Paired with UK DECC for one year mentorship (2011-2012)
  • SAHFOS Contribution Award Recipient (2009, 2011)
  • Rho Rho Rho Marine Science Honours Society Member (1997-1999), Elected vice president (1999-2000)
  • University of Miami RSMAS Merit Fellowship Full tuition scholarship $45,000 (2000-2001)
  • National Merit Scholar Tuition scholarship $16,000 (1996 – 2000)
  • University of Miami Merit Scholar Half tuition scholarship $60,000 (1996-2000)
  • University of Miami Dean’s List Eligibility: Grade Point Average > 3.50 (1996, 1997, 2000)
  • University of Miami Provost’s Honour Roll Eligibility: Grade Point Average > 3.75 (1998)
  • University of Miami Honors Students’ Association Member (1996 -2000)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honour Society America’s most selective honours society, Eligibility: Grade Point Average in top 7.5% of my class (1999-2000)

MEMBERSHIP/LEADERSHIP

  • Plankton and Policy Research Group PI (2015 – present)
  • British Ecological Society Brexit Policy Working Group (2017 – present)
  • Defra Network of Evidence Experts (2017 – present)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016 – present)
  • Defra/HBDSEG Marine Strategy Framework Directive Implementation Group Chair. Leading the UK’s implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats (2011 – present)
  • OSPAR’s Intersessional Correspondence Group on Coordinated Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring Implementation Group Chair. Leading Europe’s implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats (2012 – present)
  • Challenger Society Marine Science and Policy Special Interest Group Co-founder and co-chair. (2015 – present)
  • British Ecological Society Member (2016 – present)
  • British Phycological Society Member (2016 – present)
  • Marine Biological Association Member (2015 – present)
  • ICES Working Group on Biodiversity Science Member (2014 – present)
  • Celtic Seas Partnership Food Web Task Group Member (2014 – present)
  • Challenger Society for Marine Science Elected Council member- communications portfolio (2012 – 2016)
  • SCOR 137 Working Group on Global Coastal Phytoplankton Time-series (2010 – present)
  • HBDSEG Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas Evidence Group. Pelagic lead. (2009 – present)
  • Defra Marine Ecosystem Health Working Group (2010 – present)
  • Centre for Marine Conservation and Policy Research, University of Plymouth PMSP member (2010-present)
  • Project Advisor – INTERREG ISECA (Information System on the Eutrophication of our Coastal Areas) (2012 – 2014)
  • University of Miami Marine Mammal Stranding Rescue Team (1996 – 2000)

KEYNOTE ENGAGEMENTS

  • Keynote address: “From evidence to policy: developing biodiversity indicators for marine conservation”, Commemorative Symposium for the 33rd International Prize for Biology: Marine biology opens a frontier for the future, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
  • Keynote address: “Brexit and the marine environment – a biodiversity perspective”, British Ecological Society-Marine Biological Association The UK Marine Environment After Brexit, London, UK, 2017.
  • Keynote address: “Delivering good environmental status: an ecosystem approach”, Australian Marine Sciences Association, Geelong, Australia, 2015.
  • Keynote address: “Delivering the ecosystem approach – a European perspective”, Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU) and the Great Barrier Reef Long-Term Sustainability Plan (GBRWHA) workshop, hosted by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Institute for Marine Science, Townsville, Australia, 2015.
  • Keynote address: “Pathways towards effective Channel governance”, Pathways towards effective Channel governance launch event, House of Commons, UK Parliament, Westminster, London, 2014.
  • Keynote address: “Challenges for managing our seas in a climate of macroecological change”. P/ICES Oceans of Change, Majorca, Spain, 2012.
  • Public debate: “Large-scale trends in ocean phytoplankton”. McQuatters-Gollop, A., Worm, B. and Wernand, M. Plankton 2011: Biodiversity and Global Change, Plymouth, UK, 2011.
  • Keynote address: “Is there a decline in marine phytoplankton?”, Plankton 2011: Biodiversity and Global Change, Plymouth, UK, 2011.
  • Keynote address: “Challenges for managing our seas in a climate of macroecological change: messages from the plankton”, Prospectus for UK Marine Science for the Next 20 Years: A Joint Project by The Challenger Society for Marine Science and the UK Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research, Royal Society, London, UK, 2011.
  • Keynote presentation and panel discussion: “Implications of large-scale ecological change for managing UK seas”, How can we manage our seas in the real world? Organized by Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership in collaboration with the Marine Management Organisation, Plymouth, UK, 2011.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Invited policy events:

  • Research, impact and the UK Parliament, invited speaker. Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (2018)
  • The science of managing UK fisheries, invited speaker. Portcullis House, UK Parliament (2018)
  • International policy decisions based on world-leading evidence, invited case study. House of Commons, UK Parliament  (2017)

Convener:

Conference conceiver, developer, and co-convener:

  • The Environment after Brexit, British Ecological Society, UK (2017)
  • Challenger Society for Marine Science Conference (2012, 2014)
  • Prospectus for UK Marine Sustained Observations, The Royal Society, UK (2013)

Theme developer and convener: 

  • “From science to evidence – innovative uses of biodiversity indicators for effective marine policy and conservation”, International Marine Conservation Congress, Kuching, Malaysia (2018)
  • “What is a good pelagic habitat?”, ICES Annual Science Conference, Riga, Latvia (2016)
  • “Marine science for society”, Challenger Conference for Marine Science, Liverpool, UK (2016)
  • “Challenges and tools for managing marine and coastal resources”, Challenger Conference for Marine Science, Plymouth, UK. (2014)
  • “Challenges and tools for managing marine and coastal resources”, Challenger Conference for Marine Science: Ocean Challenges in the 21st Century, Norwich, UK (2012)

Session chair:

  • Promoting Effective Governance of the Channel Ecosystem, Caen, France. (2014)
  • Southwest Marine Ecosystems Conference 2014, Plymouth, UK (2014)
  • P/ICES Oceans of Change, Majorca, Spain (2012)

Editorial contributions: 

  • Marine Biodiversity Records Editorial board (2017 – present)
  • Special Issue, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Guest editor. Prospectus for UK Marine Sustained Observations (2014)

Panels and debates:       

Interview panel:

  • NERC Innovation Grants (2017)
  • NERC KE Fellowships (2016)

Public debate: “Large-scale trends in ocean phytoplankton”. McQuatters-Gollop, A., Worm, B. and Wernand, M. Plankton 2011: Biodiversity and Global Change, Plymouth, UK (2011)

Discussion panel: “Where we need to be: what are the likely challenges?” McQuatters-Gollop, A., Spicer, J., Brownlee, C. and Barange, M. Plymouth Marine Science Partnership and the MMO: How can we manage our seas in the real world?” Plymouth, UK (2011)

Additional skills:

Science-policy communication: Active participant in science-policy knowledge exchange at the UK, European, and international scales. I excel at translating science into a format useful to policy-makers and at guiding scientists to apply their research to the policy process. I run the blog and website Plankton and Policy, which is followed by ICES, OSPAR, DG MARE and MBARI https://planktonpolicy.org/

Proposal coordination/contribution: FP7 proposal coordination, contribution to NERC, INTERREG, H2020, NSF, etc, proposals.

Spatial analysis: Exceptional cartographic, GIS and geostatistical analysis skills using ArcGIS, ArcView, ArcInfo, R, and Surfer.

Taxonomy: Trained in phyto and zooplankton analysis.

Publications: