Christopher Hemingson

PhD Alumnus

Christopher (Chris) grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas in the United States. His interest in the ocean started at very young age when his family would vacation to the beach in the summer months. However, it was his first experience diving in the Caribbean that solidified his passion for coral reefs. He received a Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University (gig ‘em!) but this deep-seeded interest in coral reef ecosystems eventually brought him to James Cook University. After completing his masters research project which studied how fish assemblages differ between coastal habitats (reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves), Chris decided to pursue a Doctoral Degree. His PhD research investigates the factors responsible for the extreme diversity of colours and patterns found on coral reef fishes.

Current position (2023) : Stengl-Wyer Scholar at University of Texas, Marine Science Institute

Watch Chris explain his latest research on coral reef fish colours in the video below:

Chris’ recent publications

Victor Huertas

PhD Alumnus

As a kid growing up in Barcelona, Spain, the Mediterranean Sea was Víctor's playground. Spending hours snorkeling in the northwestern Mediterranean, he quickly developed an appreciation for the marine environment. After earning his undergraduate degree in Spain, he moved overseas and spent five years in the western Caribbean, where he combined field research with conservation activities. In 2016, he completed his Masters Degree in Marine Biology and Ecology at James Cook University. In his MSc thesis, supervised by Prof. Bellwood, Víctor described an unusual lip adaptation in tubelip wrasses that enables them to feed on corals. In his PhD, he investigated the effects of coral-feeding fishes on coral reef resilience under a range of scenarios.

Victor completed his PhD in 2021 and is currently working at ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies as a Postdoctoral researcher and digital communications officer

Victors Latest Publications

Michalis Mihalitsis

PhD Alumnus

Michalis (Mike) is half Greek and half Danish. He grew up next to the Mediterranean Sea where he developed a passion for fish. After completing high school in Greece, he moved to Denmark to study Biology at the University of Copenhagen. He then moved to Australia to undertake a Masters degree at James Cook University, under the supervision of David Bellwood, where he started working on piscivorous fishes. He is a PhD Graduate, who’s studies focused on the nature of piscivory on coral reefs, from the perspective of both predators and prey. His research focused primarily on morphology and behaviour, and has components of both aquarium-based experiments and fieldwork.

Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, California

Mike’s recent publications