“I did a BSc in Marine Biology at University of Plymouth from 2003-2006, graduating with 1st class honours. I chose Plymouth because of its world-class reputation for marine biology and its close associations with other institutions, such as the Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. I also just really liked the city of Plymouth itself, particularly because living by the sea has always been something important to me. Unlike a lot of other cities in the UK, Plymouth still has a fairly small feel to it, but with all the conveniences and entertainment of a city!
I really enjoyed my undergraduate degree, particularly the field courses to Roscoff and Portugal, and I immensely valued the input of the incredibly enthusiastic course leaders, most of whom I’m still in contact with today.
After my degree, I decided to stay in Plymouth and worked at the National Marine Aquarium for two years, heading the host team - who are responsible for educating the public on marine issues and ensuring they enjoy their visit. After the NMA, I returned to University of Plymouth to do an MRes in Applied Fish Biology, but was primarily based in The Bahamas, where I researched the impact of catch-and-release angling on shark predation. During this time I also taught marine biology to American high school students, and hopefully passed on some of the enthusiasm I enjoyed so much at Plymouth! I completed my PhD in Ecotoxicology in November 2013 at Plymouth University, and now I am a postdoctoral research fellow investigating the impacts of pollutants on marine life, as part of an international project.”
Graduate profile - Lorna Dallas
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Plymouth
