Katherine Hillyer
Scientific Diver
Bio
Katie Hillyer is a coral reef biologist and ecologist currently studying towards her PhD in Marine Biology at Victoria University, Wellington. Her PhD is focused upon investigating the metabolites transferred between algal symbionts and their cnidarian hosts, within stony corals and the anemone, Aiptasia sp.. Her research’s principal aim is to further our understanding of the symbiont’s role in host health and ultimately resilience. Katie also received an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection at Bangor University, Wales and a BSc in Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth, UK.
Prior to the start of her PhD, Katie worked and conducted research assessing the health and resilience of coral reefs at locations in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indo-Pacific. She is also skilled in Environmental Impact Assessment, stakeholder engagement and consultation.
