Alysha is a PhD candidate at Macquarie University (co-supervised by Prof. Jane Williamson, Dr. Victor Peddemors - NSW DPI, and Dr. Fabrice Jaine - IMOS) with an interest in elasmobranch biology and ecology. She started researching the Data Deficient Australian cownose ray (Rhinoptera neglecta) in 2020 for her Master of Research, focussing on the species’ trophic ecology and spatio-temporal distribution in New South Wales. After realising there is still more research to be done for the species, she started her PhD in 2022. The project expands on her previous work and explores other aspects of the species’ biology and ecology, including morphometry, life history and movement.

Before finding her passion for research, Alysha completed her Bachelor of Marine Biology and Master of Marine Science and Management at Macquarie University and gained her PADI Divemaster with Indo Ocean Project in Nusa Penida, Indonesia. When she gets the chance, Alysha enjoys getting out into nature and is always keen to hike a mountain or explore underwater.

Grants and Awards

• IPFC11-ASFB Conference 2023 – ASFB John Glover Travel Award & Oceania Chondrichthyan Society Student Travel Award

• ASFB Conference 2022 – ASFB John Glover Travel Award

• Fisheries Scientific Committee Student Research Grant 2022 – Post-release survival and movement of Australian cownose rays (Rhinoptera neglecta) along the east Australian coast

• ASFB Virtual Conference 2020 – ASFB John Lake Junior Award for Best Graphical Abstract

Twitter: @elasmofiend PURE Profile: Alysha Chan Google Scholar: Alysha Chan Research Gate: Alysha Chan