Rate My Professor Sara Ferreira

Sara Ferreira serves as a Research Technician in the Gemmell Lab within the Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Originally from Lisbon, Portugal, she holds a Master's degree in Marine Biology with a major in Aquaculture from the University of Algarve. Her thesis investigated the tolerance of juvenile summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) to ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate concentrations, involving fieldwork at the University of Rhode Island under Prof. Dave Bengtson and theoretical supervision by Prof. Maria Teresa Dinis. Prior to her current role, Ferreira spent approximately eight years in Bergen, Norway, working as a Research Technician on various marine biology and molecular biology projects. She arrived in Dunedin in 2010 to collaborate with Dr. Elspeth Gold in the Department of Anatomy and joined the Gemmell Lab in 2012.

In her position, Ferreira provides technical support for molecular genetics projects, assists staff and students, maintains laboratory operations, and serves as backup support for the Genetic Analysis Service. Her research contributions are evident in numerous peer-reviewed publications focused on environmental DNA (eDNA) methodologies and applications in marine and Antarctic ecosystems. Key publications include "DNA from mollusc shell: a valuable and underutilised substrate for genetic analyses" (2020), "Assessing the utility of marine filter feeders for environmental DNA (eDNA) biodiversity monitoring" (2021, 2023), "Moving environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies from benchtop to the field using passive sampling and PDQeX extraction" (2022), "The proof is in the poo: Non‑invasive method to detect endoparasitic infection" (2023), "Characterizing Antarctic fish assemblages using eDNA obtained from marine sponge bycatch specimens" (2023), "Unlocking Antarctic molecular time-capsules – Recovering historical environmental DNA from museum-preserved sponges" (2024), "Streamlining large-scale oceanic biomonitoring using passive eDNA samplers integrated into vessel's continuous pump underway seawater systems" (2024), and "Recovering Historical eDNA From Museum‑Preserved Filter Feeders via Non‑Destructive Metabarcoding" (2026). These works underscore her role in developing innovative eDNA techniques for ecological and conservation research.