Dr Anna Gebruk

Dr Anna Gebruk, PhD in environmental scienceIMG_9179

Scientific Project Manager, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh

H2020 iAtlantic Project Manager

I am a scientific project manager specialising in marine research, biodiversity conservation, and environmental monitoring with personal research expertise in benthic ecosystems of the polar regions and deep sea. Having completed my PhD in Environmental Science at the University of Edinburgh in 2022, my expertise builds upon 9 years of academia training and >10 years of industry experience with strong record of leadership and management of projects,  teams and events of different scale and complexity. I am always seeking new opportunities and challenges to apply my experience and energy to foster marine research and international collaboration, ultimately helping to better understand and protect biodiversity and ecosystems for generations to come.

Key interests: biodiversity conservation, ocean observing systems, biofouling, invasive species, marine pollution, international scientific collaboration 

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PhD Thesis

  • Gebruk A (2022) Assessing the status, variability, and biodiversity conservation issues of Arctic benthic ecosystems of the Pechora Sea for improved management. PhD Thesis. The University of Edinburgh, GeoSciences PhD thesis and dissertation collection, p 245. http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/1964

My PhD Thesis focused on collecting and analysing biodiversity data to identify key stressors of benthic biodiversity and develop recommendations to improve ecological monitoring in the area of heightened ecological significance in the Russian Arctic.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Scientific Project Manager / iAtlantic Project Manager

|March 2022 – present

As a scientific project manager at the Changing Oceans Research group in the School of GeoSciences, I am responsible for the delivery of a range of projects spanning from consultancy support of the marine protected area nomination in the Atlantic, to coordinating expert assessment of biodiversity management documentation.

As a project manager of H2020 iAtlantic research project, I am responsible for timely and full delivery of the scientific outputs of the project, as well as financial reporting and partner liaison.   

University of Arctic Researcher, Edinburgh Global

| January 2022 – March 2022

During the internship with Edinburgh Global I worked on developing Scotland’s framework for engagement with the new north2north mobility program of the University of Arctic, liaising with various stakeholders, including academic institutions and the Scottish Government.

PhD Researcher.
Tutor / Course Assistant, School of GeoSciences

| February 2018 – October 2021

Alongside my research at the University of Edinburgh, I had an opportunity to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students on different courses, including the following – Course Assistant: Polar Oceans (2019/2020); Marine Ecosystems and Policies  (2020/2021); Tutor: Principles of Ecology (2018/2019; 2019/2020); Field Ecology (2018/2019).

Education

  • PhD in Environmental and Atmospheric Science, University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences (2018 – 2022)
  • MSc in Marine Systems and Policies, University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences (2016 – 2017)
  • BSc in Biology (Invertebrate Zoology), Lomonosov Moscow State University (2012 – 2016, 2:1 Hons)

Other Roles

UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2020-2021)

  • Arctic Task Force member, representative of early career researchers

UK Polar Network

  • President (2020-2021)
  • Vice-President (2021-2022)

World Association of Marine Stations

  • Secretary (2022-present)
  • Programme and organising committee member, WCMS 2021; WCMS 2024

Publications

Peer-reviewed journals

  1. Henry, L.-A., Cleland, J., Gebruk, A., Emmerson, R., Hennicke, J., Davies, T., & Roberts, J. M. (2025). Navigating a transformative policy route for High Seas conservation. Marine Policy, 180, 106785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106785
  2. Kiselev, A., Gebruk, A., Pakhomova, S., Drebezova, A., Tzetlin, A. (2025) From prey to predator: an in-situ observation of microplastic trophic transfer from Mytilus edulis to Asterias rubens.Marine Pollution Bulletin 218 (118211). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118211
  3. Gebruk, A., Kokorin, A., Mardashova, M., Ermilova, Y., Melnikova, V., Fyodorov, I., … & Mokievsky, V. (2025) Franz Josef Land’s Macrobenthos: Record-High Wet Biomass Values on the Eurasian Arctic Shelf. Polar Science, 101211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2025.101211
  4. Ramirez-Llodra E, Meyer HK, Bluhm BA, Brix S, Brandt A, Dannheim J, Downey RV, Egilsdóttir H, Eilertsen MH, Gaudron SM, Gebruk A, Golikov A, Hasemann C, Hilario A, Jørgensen LL, Kaiser S, Korfhage S, Ku¨rzel K, Lo¨rz A-N, Buhl-Mortensen P, Olafsdo´ ttir S, Piepenburg D, Purser A, Ribeiro P, Sen A, Soltwedel T, Stratmann T, Steger J, Svavarsson J, Tandberg A, Taylor J, Theising F, Uhlir C, Waller R, Xavier J, Zhulay I, & Saaedi H (2024). The emerging picture of a diverse deep Arctic Ocean seafloor: From habitats to ecosystems. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2023.00140.
  5. Pakhomova S, Berezina A, Zhdanov I, Mekhova O, Ilinskaya A, Golyakov A, Polivanova T, Gebruk A, Lusher A, Yakushev E (2024) Floating microplastics in Svalbard fjords: High spatial variability requires methodological consistency in estuarine systems. Marine Pollution Bulletin 207 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116803
  6. Solovyova M, Gebruk A, Artemyeva S, Rozhnov V, Isachenko A, Lazareva R, Chukmasov P, Glazov D, Ermilova Y, Kokorin A, Mardashova M, Shabalin N (2024) The movement patterns and foraging resources of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in Franz Josef Land archipelago and connectivity with the Kara-Barents Sea population. Marine Mammal Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13103
  7. Gebruk A, Dgebuadze P, Rogozhin V, Ermilova Yu, Shabalin N, Mokievsky V (2023) Macrozoobenthos of the Pechora Bay in 2020–2021 indicates a likely change of common bivalve molluscs in the Arctic estuary. Polar Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-023-03138-4
  8. Bradley A, Eicken H, Lee O, Gebruk A, Pirazzini R (2023) Shared Arctic Variable Framework Links Local to Global Observing System Priorities and Requirements. Arctic 74 (1): 69-86.  https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic7642
  9. Dgebuadze P.Y., Basin, A.B., Chikina, M.V., Udalov, A.A., Balakin, A.A., Razgon, I.L., Ermilova, Y.V., Chava, V.A., Gebruk, A.A., Shabalin, N.V., Mokievsky, V.O. (2021) Transformation of Benthic Communities in Pechora Bay and the Probable Loss of the Portlandia aestuariorum Population in the Typical Habitat. Oceanology 61(6): 976-983. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437021060059
  10. Chava A, Gebruk A, Kolbasova G, Krylov A, Tanurkov A, Gorbuskin A, Konovalova O, Migali D, Ermilova Y, Shabalin N, Chava V, Semiletov I, Mokievsky V (2021) At the Interface of Marine Disciplines: Use of Autonomous Seafloor Equipment for Studies of Biofouling Below the Shallow-Water Zone. Oceanography 34 (3): 1-10 http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2021.302
  11. Yakushev E, Gebruk A, Osadchiev A, Pakhomova S, Lusher A, Berezina A., van Bavel B, Vorozheikina E, Chernykh D, Kolbasova G, Razgon I, Semiletov I (2021) Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers. Communications Earth & Environment 2(23) https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00091-0
  12. Gebruk A, Zalota AK, Dgebuadze P, Ermilova Y, Spiridonov VA, Shabalin N, Henry L-A, Henley S, Mokievsky V (2021) Trophic niches of benthic crustaceans in the Pechora Sea suggest that the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio could be an important competitor. Polar Biology 44:  57–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02775-3
  13. Gebruk A, Mikhaylyukova P, Mardashova M, Semenova V, Henry L-A, Shabalin N, Naryanaswamy B, Mokievsky V (2021) Integrated study of benthic foraging resources for Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Pechora Sea, south-eastern Barents Sea. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 31(1): 112-125. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3418
  14. Gebruk AA, Borisova PB, Glebova MA, Basin AB, Simakov MI, Shabalin NV, Mokievsky VO (2019) Macrozoobenthos of the shallow waters of Pechora Bay (SE Barents Sea). Nature Conservation Research 4(4): 1–11. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2019.058
  15. Temereva E., Gebruk A., Malakhov V (2015) Demonstration of the preoral coelom in the brachiopod Lingula anatina with consideration of its phylogenetic significance. Zoologischer Anzeiger 256, 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2015.03.002

Book chapters:

  • Gebruk A, Ermilova Y, Henry L-A, Henley S, Spiridonov V, Shabalin N, Osadchiev A, Yakushev E, Semiletov I, Mokievsky V (2022) Microplastics in the Arctic benthic fauna: a case study of the snow crab in the Pechora Sea, Russia. In: Berkman, P.A., Vylegzhanin, A.N., Young, O.R., Balton, D.A., Øvretveit, O.R. (eds) Building Common Interests in the Arctic Ocean with Global Inclusion. Informed Decisionmaking for Sustainability. Springer, Cham. pp 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89312-5_6

Data publications:

  • Kokorin, Alexander; Gebruk, Anna; Mardashova, Maria; Melnikova, Viktoria; Artemyeva, Svetlana; Isachenko, Artyom; Lazareva, Renata; Rozhnov, Viatcheslav; Shabalin, Nikolay (2024): Macrozoobenthos wet biomass of Franz Josef Land obtained from grab samples collected during the RV Ivan Petrov expeditions in Summer-Autumn 2020-2021 [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.967647 

  • Gebruk, Anna; Fyodorov, Ilya; Kokorin, Alexander; Artemyeva, Svetlana; Isachenko, Artyom; Lazareva, Renata; Rozhnov, Viatcheslav; Shabalin, Nikolay (2024): Depth, bottom temperature and bottom salinity measured during the RV Ivan Petrov expeditions from Franz Josef Land archipelago in Summer-Autumn 2020 and 2021 [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.967646

  • Gebruk A, Dgebuadze P, Rogozhin V, Ermilova Yu, Shabalin N, Mokievsky V (2023) Macrozoobenthos of the Pechora Bay – list of species with biomass and abundance, grab samples collected in 2020-2021 from 10 stations. [dataset]. PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.955701

  • Cleland, Jason; Gebruk, Anna; Roberts, J Murray; Mather, Rod; McClenaghan, Beverly; Ross, Steve W (2023): Conductivity, temperature, and depth measurements at the RMS Titanic wreck and Nargeolet-Fanning Ridge, Northwest Atlantic, in summer 2022 [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.96118

  • Roberts, J Murray; Gebruk, Anna; Bai, Yang; Sim, Gavin; McClenaghan, Beverly; Mather, Rod; Cleland, Jason; Ross, Steve W (2023): Total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon measurements at the RMS Titanic wreck and Nargeolet-Fanning Ridge, Northwest Atlantic, in summer 2022 [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.961187

Conference presentations

  • Udovik D., Glazov D., Shabalin N., Konovalova O., Gebruk A. (2021) Marine mammal observing – analytical review of advanced technologies in monitoring and research of marine mammals and their feasibility for operations in the Arctic. Arctic Science Summit Week 2021, Theme H, ID46: https://assw2021.pt/?accao=detailedprogram

  • Mikhaylyukova P., Semenova M., Gebruk A., Titov G., Shabalin N. (2021) Shared Arctic Variable framework links global and Arctic observing system priorities and requirements. Arctic Science Summit Week 2021, Theme H, ID68: Abstracts https://assw2021.pt/?accao=detailedprogram

  • Bradley AC, Eicken H, Lee OA, Gebruk A (2020) Evaluating global and regional observing frameworks for use in a coordinated Arctic observing system. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2020: SY003-0003

  • Anna Gebruk, Yulia Ermilova, Lea-Anne Henry, Vasily Spiridonov, Nikolay Shabalin, Alexander Osadchiev, Evgeniy Yakushev, Igor Semiletov, Vadim Mokievsky – Microplastics in the Arctic benthic fauna: the case study of the snow crab in the Pechora Sea, Russia – Arctic Frontiers 2020, Tromso, Norway, 29 January – https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/614/theme-1-arctic-food-security/

  • Egeniy Yakushev, Anna Gebruk, Elena Vorozheikina, Anfisa Berezina, Svetlana Pakhomova, Amy Lusher, Alexander Osadchiev, Igor Semiletov –  Studies of distribution of marine microplastics in the Russian Arctic Seas during the RV “Academic Mstislav Keldysh” cruises in 2018 and 2019  –   SETAC SciCon 2020, 4 May (Online poster session, Poster Final ID: 3.21P.7). SETAC Book of abstracts, ONLINE ISSN 2310-3043, 2019, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Europe (SETAC Europe), p. 234 https://dublin.setac.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SETAC-SciCon-Abstract-book_v2.pdf

  • Gebruk A, Henry L‐A, Narayanaswamy B, Shabalin N, Vadim M, Mardashova M (2017) Revealing food resources of the Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Pechora Sea – UK Arctic Science Conference 2017 19th – 21st September, 2017. Oban.

  • Gebruk A, Temereva E, Malakhov V (2015) Description of the preoral coelom in adult brachiopods and its phylogenetic significance. Book of abstracts of 7th International Brachiopod Congress, Chinese Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology.

  • Gebruk A, Temereva E, Malakhov V (2015) Organization of the coelom in Lingula anatina: 3D and ultrastructural studies. Book of abstracts of 7th International Brachiopod Congress, Chinese Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology.