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Allison K. MILLERResearch Fellow
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Academic History
University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand (Ph.D.)
University of Guam, Guam, USA (M.Sc.)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California, USA (B.Sc. Minor)
University of San Deigo California, California, USA (B.Sc.)
Research Interests and Current Projects
My interests include ecology, evolution, marine invertebrate biology, and reef biodiversity. I am also passionate about conservation and biodiversity management, and I previously practiced these as a biological technician (US National Park Service, Guam) during the time between my master’s and doctorate degrees.
I studied sea cucumber (Holothuroidea, Echinodermata) phylogenetics for my master’s work and investigated the use of genomic methods (e.g., population genetics and transcriptomics) for understanding enigmatic species for my PhD thesis work. I then helped to establish the Tūhura Otago Museum’s tissue archive as a temporary assistant curator of natural science, and later used eRNA methods for avian influenza detection as an Otago University Research Fellow.
I am excited work on coral reefs and biodiversity again with the Reef Ecology Study Team. Here I will be joining the A2O (Alginate to Oil) project which aims to develop new methods to employ microalgae to produce carbon-neutral foods and fuel. Some non-photosynthetic diatoms (single-cell microalgae) have the unique ability to convert alginate from seaweeds into oil. We need to better understand the biology and relationships of these diatoms in order to develop and improve fermentation methods to produce oils. We also need to better understand the biology and ecological roles of the algae on which these diatoms feed. I will be researching both of these project components as a Research Fellow at NUS. I am also looking forward to continuing some of my past sea cucumber research when time allows.