Key Science Roles
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Robert Abbel
Senior Scientist and Team Lead
Robert studied chemistry at the Universities of Mainz (Germany) and Toronto (Canada), before moving to the Netherlands for his PhD in supramolecular chemistry at Eindhoven University of Technology. In 2009,… Read more
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Tim Barnard
Associate Science Leader, Forest Ecology and Management
Tim Barnard is a social scientist specialising in policy analysis and environmental planning. He represents New Zealand on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Montreal Process.
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Paul Bennett
Portfolio Leader, Integrated Bioenergy
Dr Paul Bennett is the Portfolio Leader for Integrated Bioenergy. Paul has spent over 30 years working on a range of fuels, biofuels and bioenergy issues. He has worked as… Read more
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Thomas Carlin
Invasion Ecologist
Dr Thomas Carlin is an invasion ecologist with broad interests across Zoology, Quantitative Ecology, and Biosecurity. Tom received his PhD in Ecology from the Bio-Protection Research Centre, Christchurch, where he… Read more
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Katharine Challis
Scientist, Physics and Materials
Dr Katharine Challis is a physicist specialising in using advanced theoretical and computational methods to explain and predict the behaviour and dynamics of physical systems. She is currently interested in… Read more
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Peter Clinton
Principal Researcher, Microbial Ecology - Soil Systems
Dr Peter Clinton is a forest ecologist who specialises in maintaining the productive capacity of commercial forests. He is one of New Zealand’s leading experts in sustainable forest management. His… Read more
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Christophe Collet
Team Lead, Microbial Biotech
Using bacteria to produce PHA bioplastics and other high value products from wood residue, in the context of a biorefinery, is an area of research Dr Christophe Collet is focussing… Read more
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Andrew Cridge
Portfolio Leader, Trees for High Volume Wood Products
Dr Andrew Cridge is a molecular entomologist with experience in biosecurity, biocontrol, insect genomics and genome evolution. His research focuses on developing integrated and sustainable solutions to detect and manage… Read more
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Yvette Dickinson
Portfolio Leader, Designing forests - Mahi tahi whaihua
Yvette Dickinson's research applies forest ecology principles to the sustainable management of our forests for a variety of benefits including carbon sequestration, climate change adaption, mitigating hazardous wildfires, protection of… Read more
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Lloyd Donaldson
Scientist, Molecular Physiology
Dr Lloyd Donaldson is a leading microscopist specialising in plant anatomy and ultrastructure, and has pioneered techniques in confocal fluorescence imaging of wood and biomaterials.
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Elizabeth Dunningham
Acting Portfolio Leader - Indigenous Trees for Distinct Value Wood Products
Dr Elizabeth Dunningham is a leader and facilitator of science projects and programmes, both from a conventional science perspective and supporting kaupapa Māori-led work. She is a PRINCE2® qualified project… Read more
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Muthasim Fahmy
Team Lead, Physics and Materials
Dr Muthasim Fahmy is an engineer and physicist specialising in energy processes and systems. His current research focuses on advanced tools for bioenergy systems analysis to understand the role and… Read more
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Dejan Firm
Scientist, Forest Ecology and Management
Dejan is an ecologist, forester and conservationist. His research aims to improve understanding of ecological processes that govern forest ecosystem dynamics, find ways to translate this knowledge into forest and… Read more
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Alec Foster
Portfolio Leader, Bioproducts and Packaging
In his role at Scion, Alec has hands-on knowledge of working with New Zealand companies to create, manufacture and use bioproducts. Before joining our team, he led one of Europe's… Read more
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Stuart Fraser
Research Group Leader, Ecology and Environment
Dr Stuart Fraser is a Forest Pathologist. Stuart’s research focuses on disease epidemiology and management, diagnostics of fungal pathogens, and pathogen adaptability.
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Marc Gaugler
Portfolio Leader, Distributed and Circular Manufacturing
Marc Gaugler is the Portfolio Leader for Distributed and Circular Manufacturing. Marc has worked for more than 15 years on material and process development in New Zealand and Europe. He… Read more
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Peter Hall
Team Lead, Process Development
Peter brings practical experience to his research as he comes from a forest management background, with skills in forest establishment, silviculture and harvesting. He now specialises in resource assessment and… Read more
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Robin Hartley
Geospatial Scientist, Autonomous Systems
Robin Hartley is a geospatial scientist who specialises in the development and application of UAV remote sensing to forestry. Having a diverse range of skills covering remote sensing, mensuration, fire… Read more
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Darryl Herron
Team Lead, Pathogen Diagnostics and Collections
Darryl Herron is a Pathogen Diagnostics and Collections Lead. His focus will be on helping lead Scion’s Diagnostic Service and driving an emerging threats research programme linked to work being… Read more
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Stefan J. Hill
Portfolio Leader, High Value Biorefineries
Dr Stefan Hill specialises in the area of Solid State and Solution State NMR of organic materials and Synchrotron based X-ray diffraction techniques for nanostructure investigation and determination. He is… Read more
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Alan Jones
Scientist, Silviculture and Forest Carbon
Dr Alan Jones works as a Scientist for Silviculture and Forest Carbon at Scion. His role is focussed on optimising the ecosystem service value of trees across all landscapes.
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Jonathan Kilgour
Portfolio Leader, Indigenous Trees for Distinct Value Wood Products
I have joined Scion as the Portfolio Leader Indigenous Trees for Distinct Value Wood Products, part of Impact Area 2 – Forest to Timber Products. I have a background in… Read more
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Jana Krajňáková
Scientist, Molecular Physiology
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jana Krajnakova specialises in different aspects of regeneration of forest tree species using tissue culture and biotechnology approaches with a strong focus on the fundamental physiological and… Read more
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Gareth Lloyd-Jones
Research Group Leader, Forest Genetics and Biotechnology
Dr Gareth Lloyd-Jones is a biochemist specialising in industrial biotechnology. His research focuses on microbes and enzymes associated with the carbon cycle and how to re-employ these systems for biosynthetic… Read more
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Peter Massam
UAV Operations Manager/Team Lead, Autonomous Systems
Peter is a Geospatial Technologist who specialises in the acquisition, processing and analysis of Accurate LiDAR and Photogrammetry of Vegetation via Terrestrial or Aerial means. Peter has an extensive surveying… Read more
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Rebecca McDougal
Senior Scientist and Team Leader, Pathogen Ecology and Control
Dr Rebecca McDougal is a microbiologist specialising in forest pathology. Her role is to apply molecular biology techniques in forest diagnostics, characterising pathogen populations and disease management.
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Kim McGrouther
Research Group Leader (0.3 FTE) & Sustainability Lead (0.7 FTE)
Kim is a chemist with broad experience in industrial processing. Since joining Scion in 1991 her research has focused on oxidative pulp bleaching and waste water treatment for the pulp… Read more
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Dean Meason
Scientist, Plant Morphology and Physiology
Dr Dean Meason is a tree ecophysiologist who has worked with a number of different temperate and tropical forest species to provide a mechanistic understanding to forest management. His expertise… Read more
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Nicolas Meurisse
Team Lead, Forest Ecology and Management
Dr Nicolas Meurisse specialises in risk assessment and invasion ecology of forest insects. His research encompasses forest entomology, population modelling and pest management (including monitoring and biological control). Nicolas works… Read more
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Karl Murton
Scientist, Process Development
Dr Karl Murton is a chemical engineer specialising in mechanical pulping technologies. He is researching the production of useful extractives from wood as part of the biorefinery process.
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Justin Nairn
Team Lead, Plant Protection Physics and Chemistry
Justin Nairn is a scientist specialising in spray technologies, the physics and chemistries that govern spray efficacy for pest (herbaceous, invertebrate, fungal and bacterial) management.
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Kate Parker
Team Lead, Sustainable Materials
Dr Kate Parker is a chemist who is developing new packaging materials using biomaterials. Kate’s particular field of interest is biopolymer foams as alternatives to expanded polystyrene.
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Richard Parker
Scientist, Additive Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies
Dr Richard Parker is a human factors researcher who specialises in developing work practices to enhance productivity and safety in dangerous occupations (e.g. forest harvesting and rural fire fighting). His… Read more
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Thomas Paul
Scientist, Forest Ecology and Management
Dr Thomas Paul is a forest ecologist with broad research interests in estimating forest carbon stocks and their change in natural and planted forests, forest inventory designs and their implementation… Read more
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Katerina Pihera-Ridge
Portfolio Leader, Restoring and Protecting the Mauri of Te Waonui a Tāne
Katerina Pihera-Ridge, Ngati Rangiwewehi, Ngati Whakaue, Uenukukopako, Nga Puhi and Czech Republic. Born and raised in Rotorua, Katerina is connected to her Iwi, culture and community. Katerina is a Kaupapa… Read more
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Brian Richardson
Principal Scientist, Plant Protection Physics and Chemistry
Dr Brian Richardson is a Principal Scientist in the Plant Protection Physics and Chemistry Team with research interests in pest eradication, control of wilding conifers, vegetation management in forest systems,… Read more
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Carol Ann Rolando
Senior Scientist, Forest Ecology and Management
Dr Carol Rolando is an applied forest scientist with expertise in forest establishment and vegetation management, biosecurity, pesticide application and invasive species management (notably wilding conifers). Having worked as a… Read more
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Rosie Sargent
Senior Technologist, Process Development
Rosie Sargent leads the wood drying programme at Scion. This research, conducted in partnership with the wood processing industry, has significant impact on the value and performance of sawn timber… Read more
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Matthew Scott
Scientist, Forest Ecology and Management
Dr Matthew Scott is an ecologist who specialises in processes that regulate ecological communities, species interactions and biodiversity. His research interests include links between soil faunal communities and ecosystem processes,… Read more
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Tripti Singh
Team Lead, Wood Science Design
Dr Tripti Singh specialises and leads wood protection research. Her expertise includes wood durability, timber treatments/remedial treatment, wood modification, bioactive molecules, fungal enzymes, and wood preservation/protection standards. Tripti is involved… Read more
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Simeon Smaill
Portfolio Leader, Establishing Indigenous Forests
Dr Simeon Smaill is a microbial ecologist who specialises in plant-soil-microbe interactions in forest systems. His expertise encompasses exploration of the activity of growth-promoting microbes, biogeochemical cycles, nutrient modelling, improving… Read more
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Mathias Sorieul
Team Lead, Molecular Physiology
Dr Mathias Sorieul is a molecular biologist with specialised experience in protein trafficking and cell wall biosynthesis. His research now focused on cell wall architecture design, wood fibre optimisation and… Read more
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Glenn Thorlby
Scientist, Quantitative Genomics
Dr Glenn Thorlby is a plant molecular biologist with specialised experience in gene discovery and functional genomics. He leads Scion’s Plant Biotechnology research that aims to use biotechnology to add… Read more
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Rebecca Turner
Scientist, Forest Ecology and Management
Dr Rebecca Turner is a mathematical biologist with experience in ecological modelling and biosecurity. Her research interests include invasion ecology and process based modelling.
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Grace Villamor
Scientist, Economy and Society
Grace is a human geographer who specialises in understanding robust mechanisms for resilient landscapes. Her research interest is in socio-techno-ecological systems interactions using agent-based models and game simulations. She is… Read more
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Steve A. Wakelin
Portfolio Leader, Designing Forests - Mahi Tahi Whaihua
Dr Wakelin is an environmental microbiologist specializing in Forest Genomics and Ecosystem Functions. He leads an MBIE Endeavour Programme "The Tree Microbiome Project: at the root of climate proofing forests"… Read more
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Jeremy Warnes
Technologist/Business Development Manager
Jeremy Warnes is a technologist and business development manager with a focus on technologies for the manufacturing sectors. Jeremy’s specialises in bio-based materials with a particular emphasis on natural fibre… Read more
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Michael S. Watt
Principal Researcher, Remote Sensing and GIS
Dr Michael Watt is a Principal Researcher who specialises in remote sensing and development of models to characterise growth, health and wood quality of the forest resource. He has published… Read more
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Suren Wijeyekoon
Scientist, Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
Dr Suren Wijeyekoon is a scientist in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering with experience in bioenergy production and environmental management. His areas of work include gaseous biofuels focussing on biohydrogen and… Read more
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Toni Withers
Scientist and Project Leader, Entomology
Dr Withers is a expert in biological control using beneficial insects to control other pest insects and pest plants. By specialising in quantifying and interpreting insect behaviour – specifically how… Read more