Dr Emily Howells
Dr Emily Howells is a research scientist and co-Director of the Lizard Island Research Station. Dr Howells is a joint appointment with the Australian Museum and Southern Cross University.
Dr Howells has more than 15 years of research experience specializing in understanding the ecological and evolutionary responses to reef-building corals to climate change. Dr Howells' research combines approaches in field ecology, experimental biology, coral husbandry, symbiosis manipulation, quantitative genetics, and population genomics.
Dr Howells completed her BSc and PhD in Marine Biology at James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, and postdoctoral appointments at New York University Abu Dhabi and the University of Wollongong. Until recently, Dr Howells was a senior research fellow at the National Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University, where she retains a part-time appointment.
For the past 4 years, Dr Howells has led a research project on the genetic basis of heat tolerance on the Great Barrier Reef as part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. Dr Howells also co-leads a project on mechanisms of coral adaptation across the Indo-Pacific in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. These research projects are designed to advance knowledge of the evolutionary potential of corals under climate warming and provide critical information for the adaptive management of threatened coral reefs.
Dr Emily Howells is joint Director with Dr David Abrego, and together they have a combined 27 years of experience as coral reef researchers and educators.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons I), Marine Biology, James Cook University 2006
- PhD, Marine Biology, James Cook University 2012
Affiliations
- Senior Research Fellow, National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University.
- Member, International Coral Reef Society, Mid-East Coral Reef Society & Australian Coral Reef Society.
Publications
Dr Emily Howells has authored 38 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Links to these publications can be found on Google Scholar and ORCID ID links.
