About Me
Dr Rachel Hickcox is a quantitative ecologist and conservation biologist specialising in the movement ecology and spatial modelling of penguins and other marine predators in Aotearoa New Zealand and Antarctica.
Her research integrates biologging, advanced spatial and statistical methods, and GIS to understand how environmental variability and anthropogenic pressures shape seabird and marine mammal foraging ecology and population dynamics. Her work sits at the intersection of academic research, applied conservation, and policy, with a commitment to producing rigorous, reproducible science that informs real-world outcomes for threatened marine species.
Rachel’s postdoctoral research at the University of Canterbury focuses on studying Antarctic mesopredator ecology in the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area using integrative spatial analyses. She is synthesising telemetry, diving behaviour, and oceanographic data to characterise habitat use patterns, interspecific spatial overlap, and temporal dynamics in foraging strategies across multiple species. Additionally, she has participated in Cape Crozier field expeditions deploying satellite tags on emperor penguins and Weddell seals, contributing to research on predator distribution and niche partitioning in the Southern Ocean.
Professional Experience
Students Supervised
Lucy Howell (University of Canterbury, PhD, 2022-current)
Kaitlin Bowe (University of Otago, MSc, 2023-2026)
Paula Brown (University of Canterbury, MSc, 2024-2025)
Georgia Gwatkin (University of Canterbury, MSc, 2025)
Alexandra Strang (University of Canterbury, summer student, 2022)
Advisor – Post-graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies, University of Canterbury (2023-2024)
Advisor – several post-graduate students; University of Otago (2020-2022)
Guest Speaking
Mt Pleasant School (2026)
Seaweek Akaroa Science Night (2025)
University of Canterbury (2024)
Akaroa Area School (2015; 2024)
Ramsden Primary School –UK (virtual 2023)
Birds New Zealand (2021)
Penguin Awareness Day –Akaroa, NZ (2021)
Seaweek “Know Your Big Blue Backyard” – Akaroa, NZ (2020)
Rangatahi Tumeke camp – Papatowai, NZ (2019)
Wildlife Management Diploma Course – University of Otago (2019)
One Health Seminar Series presenting Penguins in Peril– Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA (2017)
Westover School – Middlebury, CT (2016)
Guest lecturer for Evolution & Ecology (BGY1007M) – University of Lincoln, UK (2015)
Conferences
Oamaru Penguin Symposium – Oamaru, NZ (2025)
Birds NZ Conference –Christchurch, NZ (2024)
11th International Penguin Conference – Vina del Mar, Chile (2023)
Oamaru Penguin Symposium – Oamaru, NZ (2023)
Birds NZ Conference – Christchurch, NZ (2022)
3rd World Seabird Conference – virtual (2021)
Oamaru Penguin Symposium– Oamaru, NZ (2021)
10th International Penguin Conference – Dunedin, NZ (2019)
Yellow-eyed Penguin Symposium – Dunedin, NZ (2018-2021)
University of Otago Postgraduate Seminar – Dunedin, NZ (2019)
Postgraduate Student Conference – University of Lincoln, UK (2015)
EU Macro Conference Ignite Presenter – Copenhagen, Denmark (2015)
School of Life Sciences Postgraduate Seminar – University of Lincoln, UK (2014)
Biology and Biotechnology MQP Final Presentation – WPI, Worcester, MA, USA (2013)
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) – New Orleans, LA, USA (2013)
Teaching
Demonstrator – Zoology, University of Otago (2020-2021)
Stats Cadet tutor – University of Otago (2019-2021)
Secondary supervisor –undergraduate theses in Macroecology, University of Lincoln, UK (2015)
Grader – Evolutionary Ecology 3rd year module, University of Lincoln, UK (2015)