Dr Giulia Filippini

SHELLWISE Post-doctoral Researcher

I am a Marine Scientist dedicated to understanding how anthropogenic and environmental stressors affect the health of marine animals, particularly shellfish, and the ecological functions they provide, and how we can protect them for the future. My research journey began in Italy, where I completed my Master's degree in 2016, investigating the impacts of climate change and pollution on bivalves. I subsequently moved to Sydney, Australia, where I had the opportunity to contribute to several research projects supported by three award fundings. This included contributing to studies on microbial diversity across four coastal lagoons with differing levels of urbanisation and human impact. In 2020, I started my PhD at Macquarie University in Sydney, focusing on the ecological functions of shellfish reefs and how environmental changes (including ocean warming) influence their capacity to support healthy coastal ecosystems. Following my PhD, I completed a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of New South Wales, where my research aimed to develop oysters that can better withstand the negative effects of climate change, ensuring their survival in the long term. Now I’m excited to be part of the SHELLWISE project, investigating the potential impacts of noise pollution and vibration from offshore wind farms on shellfish health, and determining whether these effects scale up to influence the functioning and resilience of aquatic ecosystems.