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Mariana Mayer-Pinto

Associate Professor | Lab Leader

·¡:Ìým.mayerpinto@unsw.edu.au

Mariana is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Science. She obtained her PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of Sydney in 2009 and holds an MSc in Zoology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Before beginning her academic career at UNSW in 2013, she worked as a private consultant, leading the data analyses of one of the biggest environmental projects in Australia (Gorgon Project, Chevron). 

Mariana's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underpinning biodiversity and the functioning of marine ecosystems. In particular, how human activities affect the marine environment with the ultimate goal of developing evidence-based solutions for mitigating their impacts and restoring and rehabilitating marine ecosystems.

Mariana is one of the founders and co-leads of the Living Seawalls, a project that is bringing marine life to concrete coastlines around the world. The project is one of the inaugural finalists of the Earthshot prize, and has received several international and national awards.  

By taking a multidisciplinary, field-based approach and developing novel methodologies, Mariana's research has shifted paradigms regarding the true effects of contaminants on marine systems and has provided innovative solutions to the issue of rapid urbanisation and coastal development, significantly advancing knowledge and providing critical information for policy and management.

View CV

Lab team

Ann Nielsen
PhD Candidate

Project: Overcoming barriers to restoration of marine biogenic habitats by a hybrid restoration approach.

Annemie Rose Janssen
Visiting PhD Candidate

Project: Physiological insights into kelp resilience and adaptation to environmental stressors: A roadmap for restoration. 

Dana Lanceman
PhD Candidate

Project: Enhancing coastal ecosystem restoration outcomes through better understanding of spatial and temporal influences.

Grace Nye Butler
PhD Candidate

Project: Social ecological systems approach to managing marine debris.

Lena Holtmanns
PhD Candidate

Project: Impacts of artificial light at night and artificial structures on coastal ecosystems.

Milly Caley
Research Assistant

Project: Effects of multiple stressors on species interactions and habitat formers.

2023-10-hdr-profile_Natalie Coy.jpg
PhD Candidate

Project: Restoring and future-proofing endangered seagrass meadows.

Nicole Malincolico
Visiting PhD Candidate

Project: Marine spatial planning and beach management: Applying systematic conservation planning to land-sea interaction ecosystems.

Niki Hubbard
PhD Candidate

Project: In the spotlight: Impacts of artificial light at night on the coastal environment.

Orla McKibbin
PhD Candidate

Project: How do habitat modifications impact the functioning of coastal marine ecosystems? 

Rose Fuggle
Visiting PhD Candidate

Project: Linking microbial assemblages to ecosystem functions in aquatic ecosystems under environmental stress.

Thayanne Lima Barros
PhD Candidate

Project: The impacts of bushfire disturbances on estuaries.

Alumni

  • Ronja Wulfes – Intern (2024)
  • Jordan Gacutan – PhD (2023) 
  • Gabrielle Yeung – Honours (2023)
  • Shanaya Strachan – Honours (2023)
  • Annemie Rose Janssen – Masters (2023)
  • Marina Colvee – Masters (2022) 
  • Hanbin Yu – Honours (2022)
  • Salil du Barrett – Honours (2022)
  • Megan Trethewy – Masters (2021)
  • Elizabeth Macarounas – Honours (2020)
  • Orla McKibbin – Honours (2020)
  • Nina Schaffer – PhD (2019)
  • Shinjiro Ushiama – PhD (2020)