PhD, Bachelor of Science with Honours

Carley is a Senior Conservation Officer, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), and current PhD student with UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours (1998),

“I was strongly drawn to UQ for marine biology because of the wide variety of courses available and the ability to some extent to pick and choose," she said.

"This enables students to begin to specialise, particularly from second year onwards, without jeopardising a good, general knowledge in the field.

"Studying at UQ has definitely helped me along the way to my career with QPWS, but more than that, my contacts and friends at UQ have never stopped growing.

"The expertise available at the University and the number of passionate, dedicated researchers always comes in handy when I need advice on a particular topic relevant to my work.

"Finally, after completing my degree at UQ, I knew I would always come back to undertake a PhD. However, I was determined to choose a topic important and relevant to my place of work – the Moreton Bay Marine Park – or the management/conservation of a species/habitat in need. So, UQ has been a big part of my life – socially, educationally and career-wise.

"My strongest memories are of the friends and contacts I have made during my undergraduate and postgraduate programs. I will never forget the field trips to the Heron and Lizard Island and Moreton Bay Research Stations – great fun and good, accelerated, real-life learning.”

Photo: Courtesy Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin