Dr Xuerong Sun

As a marine scientist specialising in satellite remote sensing, my research focuses on understanding the dynamics of phytoplankton. My work integrates satellite remote sensing, field research, data analysis, and modelling to understand how phytoplankton biomass and community structure envolve over time. My research contributes to a deeper understanding of the vital role of phytoplankton within marine ecosystems and addresses critical ecological and biological challenges through the application of ocean colour remote sensing.

I obtained my PhD in Physical Geography from the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC) at East China Normal University, under the supervision of Professor Fang Shen, with additional guidance from Dr Robert Brewin, Professor Dongyan Liu, and Professor Yunxuan Zhou. My dissertation, supported by an NSFC grant, focused on developing and refining remote sensing models to retrieve phytoplankton size classes in the eastern China seas, enhancing our understanding of phytoplankton dynamics and their relationship with environmental factors in this region.

After completing my PhD, I joined the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science (CGES) at the University of Exeter (Penryn Campus) as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, working with Dr Robert Brewin. Currently, I am working on a UKRI-funded project Phytoplankton Response to Climate Change (PRIME), where my research on phytoplankton has been extended to explore global ocean and climate change dynamics.