2004 – 2008        Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Griffith University
2002                        Bachelor of Science (Honours, 1^st Class) – University of Queensland
1999 – 2000        Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) – Griffith University
1992 – 1995         Bachelor of Science (Physiology and Biochemistry) – University of Adelaide

2022: Jensen M, Bel Il, FitzSimmons N, van de Merwe JP. Using genetic identification to determine the origins of foraging and mating Great Barrier Reef green turtles

2022: van de Merwe JP , Finlayson, KAMonitoring the toxicology and health of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Cleveland Bay during the Channel Upgrade Project in the Port of Townsville

2019: Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP, Crosbie N, Mann R, van Dam R. “Saving Nemo: Reducing animal use in toxicity assessments of wastewater”. Australian Research Council.

2018: van de Merwe JP, Saving toxic turtles from their tipping point at the Great Barrier Reef, WWF Australia/Perpetual

2018: van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Weijs L, “Establishment of Australia’s first national marine wildlife cell culture bank”, Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation

2018: Melvin SD, van de Merwe JP, Improving rehabilitation outcomes for sea turtles: Using metabolomics as a cost-effective tool to benchmark health and monitor recovery. Griffith Sciences Collaborative Grant Scheme

2017: van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, “Ethical and cost effective alternatives for direct toxicity assessments” Water Research Australia

2016: Kildea T, Rouse K, van de Merwe JP, Leusch, “A risk based assessment framework to guide cost effective environmental protection from wastewater discharges”, Water Research Australia

2015: Kroon F, Berry K, Brinkman D, Davis A, King O, Kookana R, Lewis, S, Leusch F, Makarynskyy O, Melvin S, Muller J, Neale P, Negri A, Obrien D, Puotinen M, Smith R, Tsang J, van de Merwe J, Warne M, Williams M, “Identification, impacts and prioritisation of emerging contaminants present in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait marine environments. National Environmental Science Program, Tropical Water Quality Hub

Chaousis S, Leusch FDL, Limpus CJ, Nouwens A, Weijs LJ, Weltmeyer A, Covaci A, van de Merwe JP. 2023. Non-targeted proteomics reveals altered immune response in geographically distinct populations of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Environmental Research 216:114352.

Bailey D, Finlayson KA, Dogruer G, Bennett WW, van de Merwe JP. 2023. Dose metric evaluation of a cell-based bioassay for assessing the toxicity of metals to Dugong dugon: Effect of metal-media interactions on exposure concentrations. Aquatic Toxicology 255:106394.

Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. 2022. Review of ecologically relevant in vitro bioassays to supplement current in vivo tests for whole effluent toxicity testing – Part 1: Apical endpoints. Sci Total Environ:157817.

Finlayson KA, Limpus CJ, van de Merwe JP. 2022. Temporal changes in chemical contamination of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) foraging in a heavily industrialised seaport. Science of The Total Environment 817:152848.

Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL. 2022. Review of ecologically relevant in vitro bioassays to supplement current in vivo tests for whole effluent toxicity testing – Part 2: Non-apical endpoints. Sci Total Environ 851:158094.

Johnson M, Finlayson K, Shelper T, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL. 2022. Optimisation of an automated high-throughput micronucleus (HiTMiN) assay to measure genotoxicity of environmental contaminants. Chemosphere 298:134349.

King OC, van de Merwe JP, Brown CJ, Warne MSJ, Smith RA. 2022. Individual and combined effects of diuron and light reduction on marine microalgae. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 241:113729.

King OC, van de Merwe JP, Campbell MD, Smith RA, Warne MSJ, Brown CJ. 2022. Interactions among multiple stressors vary with exposure duration and biological response. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 289:20220348.

Melvin SD, Chaousis S, Finlayson K, Carroll AR, van de Merwe JP. 2022. Field-scale monitoring of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas): Influence of site characteristics and capture technique on the blood metabolome. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and Proteomics 44:101026.

Perkins GE, Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP. 2022. Pelagic and coastal green turtles (Chelonia mydas) experience differences in chemical exposure and effect. Marine Pollution Bulletin 183:114027.

Wilkinson A, Ariel E, van de Merwe J, Brodie J. 2022. Trace element concentrations in forage seagrass species of Chelonia mydas along the Great Barrier Reef. PLOS ONE 17:e0269806.

Barraza AD, Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. 2021. Systematic review of reptile reproductive toxicology to inform future research directions on endangered or threatened species, such as sea turtles. Environmental Pollution 286:117470.

Brookwell R, Finlayson K, van de Merwe JP. 2021. A comparative analysis of the karyotypes of three dolphins – Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821, Tursiops australis Charlton-Robb et al., 2011, and Grampus griseus Cuvier, 1812. Comp Cytogenet 15:53-63.

Chaousis S, Leusch FDL, Nouwens A, Melvin SD, van de Merwe JP. 2021. Changes in global protein expression in sea turtle cells exposed to common contaminants indicates new biomarkers of chemical exposure. Science of The Total Environment 751:141680.

Dogruer G, Kramer NI, Schaap IL, Hollert H, Gaus C, van de Merwe JP. 2021. An integrative approach to define chemical exposure threshold limits for endangered sea turtles. Journal of Hazardous Materials:126512.

Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, Villa CA, Limpus CJ, van de Merwe JP. 2021. Combining analytical and in vitro techniques for comprehensive assessments of chemical exposure and effect in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Chemosphere 274:129752.

Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP. 2021. Differences in marine megafauna in vitro sensitivity highlights the need for species-specific chemical risk assessments. Aquatic Toxicology 239:105939.

King OC, Smith RA, Warne MSJ, van de Merwe JP, Connolly RM, Brown CJ. 2021. Combined impacts of photosystem II-inhibiting herbicides and light availability on seagrass and marine microalgae. Marine Ecology Progress Series 668:215-230.

Asif MB, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Pramanik BK, Price WE, Hai FI. 2020. Elucidating the performance of an integrated laccase- and persulfate-assisted process for degradation of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs). Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology 6:1069-1082.

Brookwell R, Finlayson K, van de Merwe JP. 2020. The karyotype of Blainville’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris. Cytogenetic and Genome Research 160:698-703.

Finlayson KA, Madden Hof CA, van de Merwe JP. 2020. Development and application of species-specific cell-based bioassays to assess toxicity in green sea turtles. Science of The Total Environment 747:142095.

Kroon FJ, Berry KLE, Brinkman DL, Kookana R, Leusch FDL, Melvin SD, Neale PA, Negri AP, Puotinen M, Tsang JJ, van de Merwe JP, Williams M. 2020. Sources, presence and potential effects of contaminants of emerging concern in the marine environments of the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, Australia. Science of The Total Environment 719:135140.

Pearson RM, van de Merwe JP, Connolly RM. 2020. Global oxygen isoscapes for barnacle shells: Application for tracing movement in oceans. Science of The Total Environment 705:135782.

Pearson RM, van de Merwe JP, Gagan MK, Connolly RM. 2020. Unique post-telemetry recapture enables development of multi-element isoscapes from barnacle shell for retracing host movement. Frontiers in Marine Science 7

Pilcher NJ, Bali J, Buis J, Heng CE, Devadasan A, Isnain I, Jamil NHB, Joseph J, Min LM, Chark LH, Kadir SABSA, Ruqaiyah S, Tisen OB, van de Merwe JP, Williams J. 2019. An overview of sea turtle tracking in Malaysia. Indian Ocean Newsletter 29:11-22.

Townsend KA, Baudel C, Hall V, Loder L, Matthews V, Mueller J, Nasplezes R, Schuyler Q, Taylor H, van de Merwe JP, Villa CA, Weijs L. 2019. The Impact of Marine Pollutants and Marine Debris in Moreton Bay. In: Moreton Bay Quandamooka & Catchment: Past, Present, and Future,  (Tibbets IR, Rothlisberg PC, Neil DT, Homburg TA, Brewer DT, Arthington AH, eds). Brisbane, Australia:Moreton Bay Foundation.

Alharbi SK, Nghiem LD, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Asif MB, Hai FI, Price WE (2019) Degradation of diclofenac, trimethoprim, carbamazepine, and sulfamethoxazole by laccase from Trametes versicolor: Transformation products and toxicity of treated effluent. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation:1-10

Asif MB, Fida Z, Tufail A, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Pramanik BK, Price WE, Hai FI (2019) Persulfate oxidation-assisted membrane distillation process for micropollutant degradation and membrane fouling control. Separation and Purification Technology 222:321-331

Bell IP, Meager J, van de Merwe JP, Madden Hof CA (2019) Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) population demographics at three chemically distinct foraging areas in the northern Great Barrier Reef. Science of The Total Environment 652:1040-1050

Leusch FDL, Neale PA, Busetti F, Card M, Humpage A, Orbell JD, Ridgway HF, Stewart MB, van de Merwe JP, Escher BI (2019) Transformation of endocrine disrupting chemicals, pharmaceutical and personal care products during drinking water disinfection. Science of The Total Environment 657:1480-1490

Pearson RM, van de Merwe JP, Gagan MK, Limpus CJ, Connolly RM (2019) Distinguishing between sea turtle foraging areas using stable isotopes from commensal barnacle shells. Scientific Reports 9:6565

Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, Limpus CJ, van de Merwe JP (2019) Towards the development of standardised sea turtle primary cell cultures for toxicity testing. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 173: 63-70

Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP (2019) Cytotoxicity of organic and inorganic compounds to primary cell cultures established from internal tissues of Chelonia mydas. Science of the Total Environment 664: 958-967

Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP (2019) Primary green turtle (Chelonia mydas) skin fibroblasts as an in vitro model for assessing genotoxicity and oxidative stress. Aquatic Toxicology 207: 13-18

Asif MB, Hai FI, Kang J, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Price WE, et al. 2018. Biocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, steroid hormones and pesticides in a membrane distillation-enzymatic bioreactor. Bioresource Technology 247:528-536.

Chaousis S, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. 2018. Charting a path towards non-destructive biomarkers in threatened wildlife: A systematic quantitative literature review. Environmental Pollution 234:59-70.

van de Merwe JP, Neale PA, Melvin SD, Leusch FDL. 2018. In vitro bioassays reveal that additives are significant contributors to the toxicity of commercial household pesticides. Aquatic Toxicology 199:263-268.

Alharbi SK, Kang J, Nghiem LD, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Price WE. 2017. Photolysis and UV/H₂O₂ of diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and trimethoprim: Identification of their major degradation products by ESI-LC-MS and assessment of the toxicity of reaction mixtures. Process Safety and Environmental Protection 112:222-234.

Allan HL, van de Merwe JP, Finlayson KA, O’Brien JW, Mueller JF, Leusch FDL. 2017. Analysis of sugarcane herbicides in marine turtle nesting areas and assessment of risk using in vitro toxicity assays. Chemosphere 185:656-664.

Asif M, Hai F, Kang J, van de Merwe JP, Leusch F, Yamamoto K, et al. 2017. Degradation of trace organic contaminants by a membrane distillation-enzymatic bioreactor. Applied Sciences 7:879.

Doell SA, Connolly RM, Limpus CJ, Pearson RM, van de Merwe JP. 2017. Using growth rates to estimate age of the sea turtle barnacle Chelonibia testudinaria. Marine Biology 164:222.

Pearson RM, van de Merwe JP, Limpus CJ, Connolly RM. 2017. Realignment of sea turtle isotope studies needed to match conservation priorities. Marine Ecology Progress Series 583:259-271.

 Ashe B, Nguyen LN, Hai FI, Lee D-J, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, et al. 2016. Impacts of redox-mediator type on trace organic contaminants degradation by laccase: Degradation efficiency, laccase stability and effluent toxicity. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 113:169-176.

King OC, van de Merwe JP, McDonald JA, Leusch FDL. 2016. Concentrations of levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol in wastewater effluents: Is the progestin also cause for concern? Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 35:1378-1385.

Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. 2016. The current state and future directions of marine turtle toxicology research. Environment International 94:113-123.

Melvin SD, Lanctôt CM, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL. 2016. Altered bioenergetics and developmental effects in striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) tadpoles exposed to UV treated sewage. Aquatic Toxicology 175:30-38.

Nguyen LN, van de Merwe JP, Hai FI, Leusch FDL, Kang J, Price WE, et al. 2016. Laccase–syringaldehyde-mediated degradation of trace organic contaminants in an enzymatic membrane reactor: Removal efficiency and effluent toxicity. Bioresource Technology 200:477-484.

Rees AF, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Barata PCR, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, van de Merwe JP, et al. 2016. Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles? Endangered Species Research 31:337-382.

van de Merwe JP, Lee SY, Connolly RM, Pitt KA, Steven ADL. 2016. Assessing temporal and spatial trends in estuarine nutrient dynamics using a multi-species stable isotope approach. Ecological Indicators 67:338-345.

 Morris C, Lee SY, van de Merwe JP. 2015. δ¹⁵N of estuarine fishes as a quantitative indicator of urbanization. Ecological Indicators 56:41-49.

Nguyen LN, Hai FI, Price WE, Kang J, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, et al. 2015. Degradation of a broad spectrum of trace organic contaminants by an enzymatic membrane reactor: Complementary role of membrane retention and enzymatic degradation. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 99:115-122.

Phan HV, Hai FI, McDonald JA, Khan SJ, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, et al. 2015. Impact of hazardous events on the removal of nutrients and trace organic contaminants by an anoxic–aerobic membrane bioreactor receiving real wastewater. Bioresource Technology 192:192-201.

van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL. 2015. A sensitive and high throughput bacterial luminescence assay for assessing aquatic toxicity – the BLT-screen. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 17:947-955.

Deane EE, van de Merwe JP, Hui JHL, Wu RSS, Woo NYS. 2014. PBDE-47 exposure causes gender specific effects on apoptosis and heat shock protein expression in marine medaka, Oryzias melastigma. Aquatic Toxicology 147:57-67.

Fong CC, Shi YF, Yu WK, Wei F, van de Merwe JP, Chan AKY, et al. 2014. Itraq-based proteomic profiling of the marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) gonad exposed to BDE-47. Marine Pollution Bulletin 85:471-478

 van de Merwe JP, Ibrahim K, Whittier JM. 2013. Post-emergence handling of green turtle hatchlings: Improving hatchery management worldwide. Animal Conservation 16:316-323.

Yu WK, Shi YF, Fong ACC, Chen Y, van de Merwe JP, Chan AKY, et al. 2013. Gender-specific transcriptional profiling of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) liver upon BDE-47 exposure. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part D: Genomics and Proteomics 8:255-262.

Kwok C-T, van de Merwe JP, Chiu JMY, Wu RSS. 2012. Antioxidant responses and lipid peroxidation in gills and hepatopancreas of the mussel Perna viridis upon exposure to the red-tide organism Chattonella marina and hydrogen peroxide. Harmful Algae 13:40-46.

van de Merwe JP, West EJ, Ibrahim K. 2012. Effects of off-road vehicle tyre ruts on the beach dispersal of green sea turtle Chelonia mydas hatchlings. Endangered Species Research 18:27-34.

Ye RR, Lei ENY, Lam MHW, Chan AKY, Bo J, van de Merwe JP, et al. 2012. Gender-specific modulation of immune system complement gene expression in marine medaka Oryzias melastigma following dietary exposure of BDE-47. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 19:2477-2487.

van de Merwe JP, Chan AKY, Lei ENY, Yau MS, Lam MHW, Wu RSS. 2011. Bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of PBDE 47 in the marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) following dietary exposure. Aquatic Toxicology 103:199-204.

Tong ESP, van de Merwe JP, Chiu JMY, Wu RSS. 2010. Effects of 1,2-dichlorobenzene on the growth, bioenergetics and reproduction of the amphipod, Melita longidactyla. Chemosphere 80:20-27.

van de Merwe JP, Hodge M, Olszowy HA, Whittier JM, Lee SY. 2010. Using blood samples to estimate persistent organic pollutants and metals in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Marine Pollution Bulletin 60:579-588.

van de Merwe JP, Hodge M, Whittier JM, Ibrahim K, Lee SY. 2010. Persistent organic pollutants in the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas: Nesting population variation, maternal transfer, and effects on development. Marine Ecology Progress Series 403:269-278.

van de Merwe JP, Hodge M, Olszowy HA, Whittier JM, Ibrahim K, Lee SY. 2009. Chemical contamination of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs in Peninsular Malaysia: Implications for conservation and public health. Environmental Health Perspectives 117:1397-1401.

van de Merwe JP, Hodge M, Whittier JM, Lee SY. 2009. Analysing persistent organic pollutants in eggs, blood and tissue of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 393:1719-1731.

van de Merwe JP, Ibrahim K, Lee SY, Whittier JM. 2009. Habitat use by green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting in Peninsular Malaysia: Local and regional conservation implications. Wildlife Research 36:637-645.

van de Merwe JP, Ibrahim K, Whittier JM. 2006. Effects of nest depth, shading and metabolic heating on nest temperatures in sea turtle hatcheries. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 5:210-215.

 van de Merwe JP, Ibrahim K, Whittier JM. 2005. Effects of hatchery shading and nest depth on the development and quality of Chelonia mydas hatchlings: Implications for hatchery management in peninsular malaysia. Australian Journal of Zoology 53:205-211.

2017: Winner Remarkable Minutes competition (Griffith University)