Dr Michaela Larsson is a microalgal ecologist with an interest in the biodiversity and ecology of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species; their intraspecific and interspecific interactions and how their diversity and activities relate to ecosystem processes in a changing world.

Michaela received her B.Sc. in Marine Biology in 2009 and from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and continued to complete an Honours in Environmental Science (2010) investigating the phytoplankton dynamics in the lower Hawkesbury Nepean estuary. She then moved out of academia holding positions in state government, industry, and a not-for-profit organisation before returning to the UTS to complete a PhD (2014-2019). Under the supervision of Professor Martina Doblin who leads the Productive Coasts Group within the Climate Change Cluster, Michaela’s PhD research investigated the toxicology and ecology of Benthic Harmful Algal Bloom (BHAB) species helping to elucidate those involved in the human illness Ciguatera Fish Poisoning in eastern Australia.

Dr Larsson’s main research areas are the taxonomy, toxicology, physiology, and ecology of microalgal species from benthic and planktonic habitats of freshwater, estuarine coastal and open ocean environments. Her current work focuses on understanding the significance of the “ocean oddities” known as mixoplankton which are unusual microalgal species that can photosynthesise like plants AND consume other plankton like animals.

Michaela is a member of the International Science Council’s Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) Working group 165 Mixotrophy in the Oceans – Novel Experimental designs and Tools for a new trophic paradigm (MixONET).