Lachlan McKinna, PhD

ABOUT ME

Originally from north Queensland, I grew up surrounded by tropical rainforest, beaches, and the Great Barrier Reef. During my youth I developed a curiosity for the natural world, particularly the ocean, and decided to pursue my interests further by studying physical sciences at James Cook University. 

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Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I was awarded a coveted Australian Postgraduate Award and began my PhD studies with AIMS@JCU; a joint venture between James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. During my PhD program, I cut my teeth as an oceanographer by spending time aboard ocean-going research vessels in the Great Barrier Reef where I studied the optical properties of the pelagic cyanobacteria Trichodesmium.

After my PhD, my career has taken me around the World. I have worked at TropWATER, James Cook University; the Remote Sensing & Satellite Research Group, Curtin University; and the Ocean Ecology Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. During this time I have tackled a number of highly challenging scientific problems with esteemed colleagues. My research focuses primarily on observing marine optical properties and learning what they can tell us about oceanic processes and coastal water quality. I am now excited to embark on a new chapter of my career with my startup, Go2Q, where I continue to develop remote sensing solutions.

I have worked on a number of local and international projects and currently collaborate with researchers from Australia, North America, and Japan. I am also an Adjunct Research Fellow at James Cook University where I supervise post-graduate student work.