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Email christina.mcgraw@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 7907
Office: 5c4, Science 2
Google Scholar: Christina M McGraw
christina_mcgraw

Research interests

My group’s research focuses on designing advanced analytical instrumentation. Current research projects include:

  • Measurement of intracellular proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. We develop molecular sensors that measure organic carbon in cells more quickly and easily than previously possible. We are using these sensors in projects focused on marine carbon sequestration, biofuel production, and food and drug production.
  • The effect of climate change on marine ecosystems. The oceans have absorbed about one-third of the anthropogenic CO2 released into the atmosphere, decreasing seawater pH and carbonate concentrations, and significantly altering ocean chemistry. We are developing new instruments to measure fine-scale changes in carbonate chemistry and study the impact of global climate change on the oceans.
  • Rapid measurement of dimethylsulfide (DMS). DMS, produced from the enzymatic cleavage of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) by marine bacteria and phytoplankton, plays a critical role in climate regulation. We are developing new sensors for real-time measurement of DMS production.

Research related activities

  • Founding member of the Pacific Island Ocean Acidification Centre (Suva, Fiji). This partnership between The Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific, University of Otago, and NIWA supports ocean acidification capacity development. I provide technical expertise and training to members establishing ocean acidification monitoring programmes (ongoing)
  • Co-leader of the team developing experimental design training resources for the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research’s Changing Ocean Biological Systems project (ongoing)
  • Member of the Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability’s Policy Working Group, a UN Decade of Ocean Science endorsed programme (ongoing)
  • Mentor to researchers in Mexico, Peru, and throughout the Pacific Islands who have established OA programmes to help their countries meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.3 (ongoing)
  • Led the Commonwealth Blue Charter course for policymakers and government officials: Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification through Mitigation, Monitoring and Policy (2022)
  • Developed the Introduction to Ocean Acidification module for UNESCO - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Ocean Teacher Global Academy course on Ocean Acidification (2021)
  • Led development of the Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Policymakers’ Handbook for Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification (2021)

Professional background

  • 2023–present, Associate Professor, University of Otago
  • 2017–2023, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago
  • 2015–2016, Lecturer, University of New England, Australia
  • 2013–2016, Visiting Lecturer and Biogeochemical Sensor Developer, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australia
  • 2011–2013, Assistant Professor of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Clark University, USA
  • 2006–2010, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Otago
  • 2005–2006, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dublin City University
  • 1999–2004, PhD (Analytical Chemistry) and MSc, University of Washington, USA
  • 1999–BSc (Chemistry), University of Alaska, USA

Publications

Chen, W.-H., Armstrong, E., Dillingham, P. W., Moratti, S. C., Ennis, C., & McGraw, C. M. (2023). Dual-lifetime referencing (t-DLR) optical fiber fluorescent pH sensor for microenvironments. Sensors, 23, 8865. doi: 10.3390/s23218865 Journal - Research Article

Koren, K., & McGraw, C. M. (2023). Let's talk about slime: Or why biofouling needs more attention in sensor science. ACS Sensors. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00961 Journal - Research Other

Koren, K., Steininger, F., & McGraw, C. M. (2023). Reducing biofouling on optical oxygen sensors: A simple modification enabling sensor cleaning via water splitting [Technical Note]. Analytical Methods. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1039/d3ay00376k Journal - Research Other

McGraw, C. M., Krieger, E. C., del Carmen Bravo Senmache, N., Cornwall, C. E., & Dupont, S. (2023). Developing a multiple driver research strategy using multiple environmental driver design lab for experiments. Limnology & Oceanography Bulletin, 32(1), 37-38. doi: 10.1002/lob.10555 Journal - Research Other

McGraw, C. M., Krieger, E. C., del Carmen Bravo Senmache, N., Cornwall, C. E., & Dupont, S. (2023). Developing a multiple driver research strategy using Multiple Environmental Driver Design Lab for Experiments [Meeting highlights]. Limnology & Oceanography Bulletin, 32(1), 37-38. doi: 10.1002/lob.10535 Journal - Research Other

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