R Lesley

Biography

Lesley is co-leader of the CAW Nationally Significant Database (NSD) programme funded by MBIE. The NSD programme funds the Cawthron Culture Collection of Microalgae, which supports research in New Zealand and overseas, including underpinning Cawthron’s Safe New Zealand Seafood programme, for which Lesley was formerly programme leader. Cryopreservation of nearly half of this nationally-significant collection is underway.  

Research Interest

Taxonomy, physiology and ecology of marine microalgae, particularly toxic bloom formers and benthic and epiphytic genera Tech transfer of DNA probe technologies for phytoplankton monitoring Cryopreservation of microalgae Mass cultures for biotoxin production and extraction 90 published papers and 45 reports and popular publications