Introducing the Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies’ New Senior Instructor in Marine Ecology
Dr. Alicia Schmidt-Roach
Senior Instructor - Marine Ecology, Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies

Dr Alicia Schmidt-Roach is a Senior Instructor in Ecology in Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). She is a marine ecologist and environmental project manager with over fifteen years of international experience spanning academia, government, and industry in Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Ecology from the University of Tasmania and has expertise and experience in marine conservation, environmental management, environmental impact assessment, sustainable aquaculture, coral reef conservation, fisheries management, and stakeholder engagement. 

Dr Schmidt-Roach's research interests include the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems, with particular interests in long-term beach monitoring, shark and ray ecology, marine spatial planning and habitat mapping, climate change impacts on coastal systems, and the detection and monitoring of invasive marine species using environmental DNA (eDNA). Her work aspires to integrates ecological monitoring, GIS, remote sensing, and field-based research to improve understanding of ecosystem health and support evidence-based environmental management. 

She is particularly interested in applied research that informs sustainability and conservation policy, strengthens biodiversity protection, and supports science-based decision-making for the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. Through her research, teaching, and professional practice, she is committed to advancing environmental stewardship and contributing to the development of effective conservation and sustainability strategies in Trinidad and Tobago, the wider Caribbean, and beyond. Dr Schmidt-Roach is dedicated to fostering the next generation of marine scientists through student-centred research and community engagement.