Lauren Biermann

Academic profile

Dr Lauren Biermann

Lecturer in Marine Science (Remote Sensing)
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Lauren's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 02: SDG 2 - Zero HungerGoal 06: SDG 6 - Clean Water and SanitationGoal 13: SDG 13 - Climate ActionGoal 14: SDG 14 - Life Below WaterGoal 17: SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

About Lauren

Lauren is a marine remote sensing scientist with a varied research background that includes molecular biology, ichthyology, and biological oceanography. She did her undergraduate and MSc degrees in South Africa, where she grew up, but moved to Scotland to undertake a PhD at the University of St. Andrews' Scottish Oceans Institute. 

After graduating, Lauren first worked as the senior Earth Observation scientist for Cefas and marine lead on the Defra Earth Observation (EO) Centre of Excellence for 3 years. Thereafter, she joined the EO Science Applications group at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, where she divided her time between leading EUMETSAT marine earth observation training workshops, and using high-resolution satellite data and machine learning for detection and classification of materials floating on the ocean surface. In September 2023, Lauren joined the School of Biological and Marine Sciences as Marine Remote Sensing lecturer and researcher.

Supervised Research Degrees

Current PhD Students:

  1. Co-supervisor ARISE funded PhD Ahmed Aslam Waheed: Impact of Sea-Level Rise on Atoll Islands of the Maldives. Lead: Gerd Masselink
  2. Co-supervisor CDT SuMMeR funded PhD Kate Chadwick: Developing a Novel System to Monitor Status of Coastal Ecosystems in SW England using a Complementary Approach: from Remote Sensing to Marine Top Predators. Supervised between PML, University of Plymouth, and the University of Exeter. Lead: Luis Huckstadt. 
  3. Co-supervisor Eddystone Institute funded PhD Oliver Thomas: Assessing Ecological and Socio-Economic Benefits of Restoring Intertidal Seagrass Meadows in Southwest England Estuaries, for Application to Global Restoration Efforts. Supervised between PML and University of Plymouth. Lead: Mel Austin. 

Teaching

I teach marine remote sensing on two modules, one aimed at second year students, and the other for Masters-level research.

Contact Lauren