Rate My Professor Duong Le

Dr. Duong Le is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Marine Science, Division of Sciences, at the University of Otago. He completed his PhD in Marine Science at the same institution from 2019 to 2022, funded by a University of Otago Postgraduate Scholarship. His doctoral work centered on giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), a case study examining its vulnerability and adaptation strategies in New Zealand. Transitioning seamlessly from PhD candidate to postdoctoral fellow, Le continues his research under the supervision of collaborators including Christopher D. Hepburn, Mathew Desmond, and Daniel Pritchard.

Le's research interests focus on kelp restoration and aquaculture, particularly screening and isolating thermally resilient strains of giant kelp for New Zealand contexts. He investigates the effects of ocean warming on critical early life stages, such as sporulation, spore settlement and development, fertilisation, and gametophyte survivorship. His contributions include key publications: 'Thermal threshold for fertilisation and gametophyte survivorship of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera' (Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2024); 'Population genetic structure of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera in Aotearoa/New Zealand' (Marine Biology, 2024); 'The Kelp Forest Challenge: A collaborative global movement to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests' (2023); 'Effect of temperature on sporulation and spore development of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)' (PLOS ONE, 2022); and 'Reproduction, hatchery and culture applications for the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera): a methodological appraisal' (New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2022). Supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Smart Ideas grant and the Coastal People: Southern Skies Centre of Research Excellence, Le's work elucidates thermal thresholds—such as declines above 19.8–23.8°C—informing climate impact predictions and restoration efforts for kelp forests in Aotearoa.