Thomalla holds a PhD in phytoplankton productivity and carbon export from the University of Cape Town and the National Oceanography Centre in the United Kingdom.  A primary focus of her current research is on gathering the necessary bio-optical and physiological data to develop and validate appropriate ocean colour algorithms for the Southern Ocean that will translate ocean colour into carbon biogeochemistry and allow new insight into Southern Ocean ecosystem function.

Expertise: Bio-optics; Marine biology; Oceanography