Name
Julia L. Smith

Location
G51 building, Griffith University – Gold Coast

E-mail
julia.smith@griffithuni.edu.au

Links
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julia_Smith30
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialaurensmith/
Twitter: @julsshark
Instagram: @julsshark
ORCID No. 0000-0002-0723-0453

Short bio
Growing up on a farm in Colorado, USA, my love for animals began at a young age. However, I didn’t become passionate about the ocean and its life until I saw the ocean for the first time at age thirteen. Following my dreams, I received my B.S. in Zoology and a Marine Option Program Certificate in Endangered Species Research at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I then studied how life history traits and diet effect mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in bottlenose dolphins to obtain my M.S. in Marine Science from Hawaiʻi Pacific University. For my Ph.D. at Griffith University – Gold Coast, I will be assessing the toxicological status of sharks as apex predators in Australian waters. In my free time, you’ll find me at the beach with my mask and fins or hiking different trails, always with a camera in hand to capture photos of stunning views and wildlife.

Position
PhD candidate

Project Title
Assessing the Toxicological Status of Sharks as Apex Predators in the Australian Marine Ecosystem

Supervisors
Dr Liesbeth Weijs, Dr Jason van de Merwe and Prof Frederic Leusch