Nick Paul

Biography

Professor Nick Paul is a biologist in the School of Science, Technology and Engineering. He leads applied R&D on seaweed and algae for new product development, based upon a platform of sustainable production. His international research projects are focussed on domesticating new species, creating new culture techniques and developing bioproducts for farmed seaweed in the Indo-Pacific region. His interests in Australia revolve around high-value products, including functional food and nutraceuticals for human health as well as bio actives for livestock and agriculture. Because of its sustainability focus, this research has led to some unusual deviations from traditional aquaculture, working with sewage, coal-fired power stations and mining and mineral wastes.

Nick’s current role combines research expertise with a strong focus on industry partnerships, innovation, intellectual property development and commercialisation. This is reflected in his diverse funding sources including Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, International Development Research Centre of Canada, Australian Research Council, Department of Science, Innovation and Industry (Entrepreneurs’ Programme – Research Connections), Advance Queensland (Innovation Partnership), CSIRO Carbon Farming Futures, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Advanced Manufacturing CRC and direct funding from industry for contract research.

After completing his PhD and BSc at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Nick was a post-doctoral researcher, lecturer in aquaculture and ultimately Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University in Townsville. His earlier work in Far North Queensland using algae to clean wastewater for fish and prawn farms led to the commercialisation of land-based seaweed farming in Australia. This work was integral to recent expansion of aquaculture adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. His work on the biology and aquaculture of the red seaweed Asparagopsis has led to innovations in animal feed from reducing methane emissions from cattle, to boosting the immune system and productivity of fish and prawns. He is regularly invited as speaker to international conferences and as a technical panelist for aquaculture and fisheries workshops.

Research areas

• aquaculture of seaweed and other algae
• functional food, feed and nutraceuticals
• wastewater treatment and waste-to-resource biotechnology
• sustainable aquaculture and environmental science
• commercialisation of seaweed bioactives and production systems