Julia Lawson is a marine biologist with over 6 years of experience conducting research in fisheries and fish biology. She has a Master's degree from UBC and led a project in Malaysia assessing unregulated fisheries. Her experience includes field work in Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Australia, and Malaysia studying topics like fishing impacts, coral reef ecology, and invasive lionfish. She currently works as a sessional instructor at UBC teaching invertebrate zoology.

1. JULIA M. LAWSON
Fisheries Centre, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z1 Ÿ j.lawson@fisheries.ubc.ca
SUMMARY
Julia Lawson is a marine biologist with six years of experience in field and laboratory-based research in Canada,
Bermuda, the Bahamas, Australia and Malaysia. Her area of expertise is in fisheries and fish biology, and most
recently she lead a project that identified methods to assess unregulated and unmonitored data-poor fisheries in
Malaysia. Research assistant work on other projects has involved using sediment cores to examine fishing impacts on
bottom habitat with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, documenting the effect of sediment on benthic invertebrate
communities with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, and surveying fish habitat in the Bahamas, Australia and
Malaysia. Julia has extensive experience in designing, planning, and conducting research projects.
EDUCATION
Master of Science in Zoology Sep 2012 – Aug 2014
The University of British Columbia, Project Seahorse, Fisheries Centre, Vancouver, Canada
• Worked with Project Seahorse to find solutions for sustainable fisheries through international collaboration
• Applied novel techniques to assess data-poor fisheries using biological surveys and fisher interviews
Honours Co-op Bachelor of Science in Biology Sep 2005 – Jun 2010
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
• Completed three hands-on work placements as a Science Co-operative Education student (2007-2009)
• Conducted my honours research at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences on coral reproduction and recruitment
SELECTED RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Sessional Instructor – Invertebrate Zoology Sep 2014 – Present
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Prepared and delivered course material and safely explained dissection techniques to 25-30 students twice weekly
• Provided hands-on support and teaching to students during organism dissections
Marine Biologist and PADI Divemaster Apr – Sep 2012
Poseidon Outer Reef Cruises, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
• Presented information on coral reef ecology and species identification to 60-80 customers onboard Poseidon
• Safely guided up to ten certified SCUBA divers on three dives each day; managed emergencies
Research & Field Assistant – Marine Spatial Ecology Lab Jan – Mar 2012
The University of Queensland, Heron Island, Queensland, Australia
• Constructed, deployed and monitored experimental cages used to quantify algal growth at three depths
• Conducted behavioural observations (feeding and social interactions) of two surgeonfish (Acanthurus spp.) species
Aquatic Science Technician – Habitat Research Division Jan – Jun 2011
Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Developed a new technique that quantified a unique type of sponge spicule as an indicator of historical abundance
• Classified and dissected meso-pelagic fish specimens obtained on the Scotian shelf to determine trophic level
Laboratory Technician – Aquatron Laboratory Sep – Nov 2010
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Managed and supervised a three-month study on Atlantic Herring (Clupea harangues) larval development
• Maintained experimental water temperatures, photographed and measured larval and egg samples

2. Research & Field Assistant – Invasive Lionfish Research Program Jun – Sep 2010
Oregon State University / Perry Institute for Marine Science, Exuma, the Bahamas
• Conducted surveys on natural and artificial patch reefs to identify and quantify juvenile and adult fishes
• Used transects and 10m X 10m ‘box plots’ to assess fish species composition, bottom habitat and rugosity
Research & Field Assistant – Coral Reproduction and Recruitment Program Jun-Sep 2008, Jun-Nov 2009
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Ferry Reach, Bermuda
• Conducted my honours thesis research on the local adaptation of a common coral to high-sediment environments
• Responsible for collecting and maintaining coral samples in an outdoor wetlab environment
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Publications
• Lawson JM, Foster SJ, Lim ACO, Chong VC, Vincent ACJ. 2014. Novel life history for threatened seahorses
provides insights into fishery effects. Journal of Fish Biology doi:10.1111/jfb.12527
• Yip MY, Lim ACO, Chong VC, Lawson JM, Foster SJ. 2014. Food and feeding habits of the seahorses
Hippocampus spinosissimus and Hippocampus trimaculatus (Malaysia). Journal of the Marine Biological Association
of the United Kingdom doi:10.1017/S0025315414001660
• Lawson JM, Foster SJ, Vincent ACJ. 2014. When a little equals a lot: A global assessment of the bycatch of
seahorses as a case study for other small fishes. (Submitted for publication)
• Murillo JF, Lawson JM, Kenchington EL, Li G, Piper DJW. 2014. Ancient deep-sea sponge grounds of the slopes of
Flemish Cap and Grand Bank of Newfoundland, northwest Atlantic. (In preparation for publication)
• Carscallen WMA, Vandenberg K, Lawson JM, Martinez ND, Romanuk TN. 2012. Estimating trophic position in
marine and estuarine food webs. Ecosphere 3(3):art25 doi:10.1890/ES11-00224.1
Presentations
• 3rd International Marine Conservation Congress “Don’t forget about the little guys: impacts of bycatch on seahorses
and implications for other small fishes” Aug 17, 2014, Glasgow, Scotland
• UVic/UBC/SFU Ecology and Evolution Graduate Student Retreat “Seahorses in Malaysia and beyond” Nov 1-3,
2013, Brackendale, British Columbia, Canada (Runner-up for Best Student Talk)
PUBLIC OUTREACH AND NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS
• Lead organizer, Coastal Connection Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada. Apr 23, 2013 – Present
• Community Scientist, TELUS World of Science, Vancouver, Canada. Mar 9, 2013 – Present
• FishBytes: UBC Fisheries Centre Newsletter. “Coastal Connection Vancouver: an aquatic networking experience”
Mar/Apr 2014. Volume 20, Issue 2. http://www.fisheries.ubc.ca/webfm_send/357
• FishBytes: UBC Fisheries Centre Newsletter. “Studying seahorses on Malaysia’s Sembilan archipelago” Jan/Feb
2014. Volume 20, Issue 1. http://www.fisheries.ubc.ca/webfm_send/356
AWARDS
• Biodiversity Research: Integrative Education and Training Travel Award (2013), The University of British Columbia
• The Explorers Club Exploration Fund Grant for $2200 (2013), The University of British Columbia
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
• Lead Scientific Diver (60 fsw), Canadian Academy of Underwater Science (CAUS), 2012
• CPR Level “C” with First Aid, Emergency First Response, 2012
• Emergency Oxygen Provider, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), 2012
• Divemaster, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), 2009
• Lead Scientific Diver (60 fsw), American Academy of Underwater Science (AAUS), 2008