Justin is a PhD candidate with the Marine Ecology Group as well as the Maselko lab in Macquarie University’s School of Applied Biosciences. Justin’s research focus is in testing new methods of producing economically important proteins and chemicals for Australia’s aquaculture and agricultural industries. His goal is to help fisheries be able to choose sustainable feed sources and still produce high quality seafood for Australians.

Justin has always been interested in marine ecology and molecular sciences and his research typically pairs these fields. His masters of research degree was also with the marine ecology group and involved identifying a potent marine neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, in several species of marine flatworm. This work helped identify this toxin in smaller invertebrate communities and clarified the ecology of a keystone chemical in Sydney’s coastal waters.

When not researching Justin loves being active with sport and martial arts, as well as most activities related to the ocean around Sydney including fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling, while in the water he loves finding marine invertebrates like nudibranchs and flatworms wherever he goes.

Grants & Awards

• Best poster, IPFC/ASFB joint conference in Auckland NZ (2023)

• Joyce Vickery Scientific Research Fund from the Linnean Society of NSW, masters research support (2020)

Twitter: @MarineMcNab Pure Research Profile: Justin McNab