Erin Murphy, PhD

I am a marine conservation ecologist conducting policy-driven research to improve the social and ecological health of coastal communities. I am working as the Ocean Plastics Science and Research Manager at Ocean Conservancy, where I research the ecological consequences and social costs of plastic pollution and the benefits of plastic pollution mitigation.

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I completed my Ph.D. in Biology at Arizona State University in the Biology and Society Program, advised by Dr. Leah Gerber and Dr. Beth Polidoro. My dissertation research focused on the impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. Specifically, I conducted research and developed tools to inform more effective, cost-efficient, and equitable intervention strategies for marine plastic pollution.

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Outside of academic research, I am committed to policy research and development. Before entering my Ph.D. program, I worked as an ORISE research fellow in the EPA's Ocean and Coastal Management Branch, in Washington D.C. In this role, I developed recommendations for federal vessel sewage standards and Florida turbidity standards. For the past five years, I have worked to inform plastic policy with several non-profit organizations across scales of governance. In my role at Ocean Conservancy, I continue to forward research-based policy efforts for plastic pollution.