- Lecturer in Marine Science – Ulster University
- Ph.D. Benthic Habitat Mapping, Ulster University, 2010
- B.Sc. Marine Science, Ulster University, 2006
Learn more at the Ulster faculty page.
Chris McGonigle is a Senior Lecturer in Marine Science at Ulster University and Affiliate Faculty at Alaska Pacific University. Chris does applied research in seafloor mapping, examining the links between acoustic classification, physical properties of marine sediments and benthic community structure. His interdisciplinary research interests are focused on understanding what is driving patterns of biodiversity in marine environments, and how we can use acoustic techniques to develop our ability to monitor and conserve these resources most effectively. Specific projects he is currently involved in include: mid-water and ocean floor mapping for fisheries stock assessment, species distribution and hydrodynamic modelling for benthic habitat mapping. This work is at the interface of marine ecology, acoustics, spatial analysis and numerical modelling. Chris’s research has societal relevance and impact with implications for sustainable development of marine resources, and the conservation of marine biodiversity.
Chris has been involved in more than 10 seagoing expeditions over the course of the last 15 years on the Marine Institute Ireland State Research Vessels (RV. Celtic Voyager, RV. Celtic Explorer, ROV Holland I and the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI)’s RV Corystes. Chris also has several collaborative PhD studentships with US partners in Cornell University and Northeastern University, Boston. He is a member of the Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training (SMART) Steering Committee and Academic Advisory Board, and the NERC National Marine Facilities Advisory Board. Chris is currently PI on the MI’s Specialist Marine Research Equipment and Small Infrastructure, PI on and CI on Interreg VA project Marine Protected Area Management and Monitoring (MarPAMM) and PI on Arts and Heritage Research Council GCRF funded research ‘Establishing a framework for Traditional Heritage Knowledge in sustainable development of East African small-island and coastal communities (THeK-EA)’.
