Laura Macrina

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. Student

Social Profile:

Research Interests

Laura's research interests are centered on the ecology and evolution of coral reefs and benthic marine organisms. As a PhD student at the Habitat and Benthic Biodiversity Lab, she would like to explore the biodiversity and evolution of gorgonian corals in the Red Sea.

Selected Publications

  • Hennicke, A., Macrina, L., Malcolm-McKay, A. and Miliou, A., 2021. Assessment of microplastic accumulation in wild Paracentrotus lividus, a commercially important sea urchin species, in the Eastern Aegean Sea, Greece. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 45, 101855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101855

Education

  • MSc, Tropical Marine Biology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK, 2019
  • BSc, Biological Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy, 2018

Professional Profile

  • 2022-Present: PhD student, HaBB lab, RSRC, KAUST, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
  • 2021: Visiting student, HaBB lab, RSRC, KAUST, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
  • 2019-2021: Marine ecology and conservation research supervisor, Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Leipsoi, Greece. 
  • 2019: Research intern, Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Leipsoi, Greece. Project: Effects of temperature and light variations on the health of the solitary coral Balanophyllia europaea (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae) in the eastern Mediterranean (Lipsi island, Greece).
  • 2018: Research intern, Marine Technology Research Unit, University of Essex, UK. Project: Coral reef conservation using 3D technology.

KAUST Affiliations

  • ​Red Sea Research Center (RSRC)
  • Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)

Research Interests Keywords

Biodiversity Benthic Ecology Marine ecology Evolution