Dr Rebecca Millington

Regional-Global Biogeochemical Modelling Scientist

rmi@pml.ac.uk | +44 (0)1752 633100 (switchboard)

I am interested in improving the understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes that occur in ecosystems as they respond to environmental change. With a background in mathematics, my work has largely focused on using mathematical models to do this. My current work at PML is split across three projects: FOCUS, Ocean ICU and NECCTON.

In FOCUS, I am working in close collaboration with scientists at the National Oceanography Centre, using machine learning to develop useful classifications of the North West European Shelf. These classifications are based on physical and biogeochemical model output and observations. I am working on several developments to the PML based marine biogeochemistry model ERSEM, including improved representations of fauna feeding in the benthos, zooplankton diel vertical migration and mesozooplankton dormancy, as part of both Ocean ICU and NECCTON. I am also working on the coupled end to end model ERSEM-MIZER, which allows us to study both the impact of fishes predating on their planktonic prey, as well as the impact of changing populations of plankton on fishes.

I previously worked as a postdoctoral research associate with Prof. Gabriel Yvon-Durocher at the University of Exeter. My focus was on improving the understanding and predictions of the long-term response of microbial respiration to temperature, using a novel suite of data in conjunction with the development of mechanistic models.

My PhD included using conceptual models to explore the links between community adaptation, assembly and functioning, as well as using a model of coral reef fisheries to explore the effect of direct warming and habitat degradation on future fisheries productivity. I completed my PhD research as part of the QUEX institute, a partnership between the University of Queensland and the University of Exeter, supervised by Prof. Peter Cox and Prof. Peter Mumby. I completed my undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Physics at the University of Bristol.

Key projects