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Mariana is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Science. She obtained her PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of Sydney in 2009 and holds an MSc in Zoology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Before beginning her academic career at UNSW in 2013, she worked as a private consultant, leading the data analyses of one of the biggest environmental projects in Australia (Gorgon Project, Chevron). 

Mariana's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underpinning biodiversity and the functioning of marine ecosystems. In particular, how human activities affect the marine environment with the ultimate goal of developing evidence-based solutions for mitigating their impacts and restoring and rehabilitating marine ecosystems.

Mariana is one of the founders and co-leads of the Living Seawalls, a project that is bringing marine life to concrete coastlines around the world. The project is one of the inaugural finalists of the Earthshot prize, and has received several international and national awards.  

By taking a multidisciplinary, field-based approach and developing novel methodologies, Mariana's research has shifted paradigms regarding the true effects of contaminants on marine systems and has provided innovative solutions to the issue of rapid urbanisation and coastal development, significantly advancing knowledge and providing critical information for policy and management.

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