Prof. Stephen G. Dunbar

Before pursuing his PhD at CQUniversity, Stephen completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Education in Science Education at the University of British Columbia. Driven by a desire to serve, he spent two years volunteer-teaching science and English in Fiji and Korea. Choosing CQU for his doctoral studies, he credits his advisors, Dr. Mike Coates and Dr. Steve McKillup, with providing the rigorous training that shaped him into a skilled researcher, administrator, and graduate mentor—a foundation that opened international doors for his marine biology career.

Today, Stephen is a Professor, researcher, and Director of the Graduate Biology Program at Loma Linda University in California. His academic role centres on teaching master's and doctoral students in marine biology, with a focus on intertidal organisms, sea turtle biology, ecology, and conservation across international field sites in Honduras, Jamaica, and Thailand.

A primary career highlight is Stephen's creation of ProTECTOR, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to sea turtle conservation research and community capacity building, which has expanded its conservation initiatives across multiple nations including Thailand, Jamaica, and the US Virgin Islands. Additionally, Stephen served as President of the International Sea Turtle Society during the 2003–2004 term. Over 25 years after graduating from CQU, he continues to combine academic leadership with global wildlife conservation.

Thesis title: Respiratory, osmoregulatory and behavioural determinants of distribution of two tropical marine hermit crabs