I am originally from Reading, Pennsylvania in the USA. My earliest childhood memories are all inspired by animals. Pretty from much from the day I started crawling I was in awe and chasing after any animal I came across. I developed a true love for ectothermic animals, and with the aid of my supportive parents grew a very large collection of tarantulas, fish, amphibians, and lizards.
By the age of 15 my passion for herpetology took me to Australia, where I studied with frog expert Michael J. Tyler at the University of Adelaide during a school summer break. During this visit to Australia I developed a project examining the effects of pollutants on the embryonic development of frogs. This project received international awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, The Intel Science Talent Search, and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
In 2003, I completed a Bachelor of Science in biology from Stony Brook University in New York. During this time I continued research throughout my studies and completed two internships at Merck Research Laboratories in Animal Pharmacology and was involved in researching nerve regeneration in zebra fish at Stony Brook University, which lead to a co-authorship in the publication Science.
After completing my bachelor degree, I worked as a project manager for a start-up company that created customized educational software for university level science courses. After several years in the education industry, I missed being involved with animal work, so a career change was in order. In 2007 I received the Dr. Jerry Thornton Academic Scholarship and moved to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands to attend St. Matthew’s School of Veterinary Medicine. After a year of study and lots of SCUBA diving the opportunity to move to Australia arose and in 2008 I returned to Australia to study veterinary medicine at Murdoch University in Western Australia.
In 2012 I moved to Victoria and began working at Dandenong Veterinary Hospital as a companion animal doctor and surgeon and part time work with The Aquarium Vet under the guidance of Dr. Rob Jones. In 2015 I started fulltime with The Aquarium Vet. Most of my time is looking after the animals at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. However I keep busy in lots of other exciting areas such as elasmobranch artificial reproduction research, sea turtle rehabilitation, zebra fish facilities, and the E-Aquarist course just to name a few.
I moved to Australia with my wonderful wife and our globetrotting canine companion, Luna, nearly nine years ago. In that time we had two children who are pure awesomeness and we now call Australia home.
From a very young age I realised I had a real passion for the sea and its creatures. My fascination for sea life stemmed from my grandfather who was an avid sailor and fisherman. As a young child I had a bedroom full of aquariums which I would stock with small fish and invertebrates I caught locally.
I studied Marine Biology degree at Flinders University in Adelaide, complemented by an Honours year investigating the growth rates of Green Lipped Abalone being fed diets containing various sources of protein. After graduating I worked in various aquaculture farms from Barramundi to Mussel farms.
In mid 1999 as the Melbourne Aquarium was nearing completion I was successful in obtaining a position as an aquarist. Being involved in the start up of a large public aquarium was a fantastic experience during which time I learnt much about fish health, husbandry, transport and life support systems. In my nearly six years at MAQ I successfully achieved the role of senior aquarist. Working with Dr Rob Jones at MAQ rekindled my interest in becoming a vet, so I successfully applied to the University of Quenslaand. During my veterinary studies I worked at UnderWater World as senior aquarist.
In late 2009 after graduating from Vet school I worked in a large busy mixed practise veterinary clinic. Soon after graduation I started to consult to Underwater World. In 2015 I started up my own consulting business, following my passion of fish vet work. I had the exclusive contract for the veterinary care of all animals for Sealife Mooloolaba, I also worked with many fish collectors and breeders.
I live with my partner of over 20 years and our two beautiful daughters. On my days off you'll find me spending time with my family, or if it is windy, racing about Moreton Bay on my windsurfer, often competing in the Bayside Sailboard Club.
In late 2017 I was very excited to be offered a veterinary role with The Aquarium Vet to start early 2018. I look forward to meeting you and helping with all your animal health enquiries.
Dr Michael Grima
I have always loved animals and had a particular fascination with the ocean and its inhabitants. From a very young age I always dreamt of becoming a marine biologist or a veterinarian.
Since the age of 15 I have worked in the retail aquarium industry and have learnt invaluable husbandry and practical skills.
I graduated from the University of Sydney in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours degree majoring in immunology and microbiology with a minor in marine biology. My honours project was in immunology investigating the interactions between mycobacterial and influenza A virus infection in the lung. I have worked as a medical scientist at a number of research institutions in Sydney including the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology and the Heart Research Institute. During my time as medical scientist, I held casual employment as an immunology, haematology and parasitology demonstrator at the University of Technology.
Following this, I volunteered for a number of animal welfare organisations including; Sydney Wildlife Rescue, Taronga Wildlife Hospital and the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health as a diagnostic laboratory assistant.
In 2012, I completed a Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Studies focusing on wildlife health and population management and in 2015 commenced the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Sydney as part of the inaugural cohort from which I graduated in 2018. Since then, I have worked as a veterinarian at a number of busy small animal clinics in Sydney's Inner and North Western suburbs. I have a particular interest in all things pathology as well as internal medicine, dermatology, oncology, exotic, wildlife and most importantly, aquatic medicine. I routinely consult for the Wildlife Assistance and Information Foundation veterinary clinic in Sydney's Upper North Shore.
In early 2020, I was offered a veterinary position with The Aquarium Vet, predominantly consulting at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and feel extremely honoured to be able to contribute to the field of aquatic medicine, welfare and conservation.
In my free time, I love spending quality time with family and friends. I enjoy relaxing by the coast and am an avid snorkeler, frequenting the many coves, bays and rock platforms of Sydney. I tend to spend my time bush walking, cooking, gardening, singing and caring for my tropical freshwater and marine aquariums, tree frogs and my cheeky feline son Chartreuse.
Dr Astrid Loch-Wilkinson
Dr Astrid Loch-Wilkinson joined the Aquarium Vet team part-time in 2020. After 14 years in Small Animal practice, Astrid realised her inner passion for Aquatic animals needed to meet with her Veterinary career! After some continuing education in Marine Conservation through the University of Florida, she found the Aquarium Vet team, and joined as a trainee in the field of Aquatic medicine. She is currently building her skills and study with the Aquarium Vet Team as mentors.
We are excited to have her join us. The first time we met we couldn't wait to chat as we saw in her CV that she is an Olympic Athlete. I know! So we all sucked our tummies in a bit more.
Dr Chris Cheng
Dr Chris joined the team at The Aquarium Vet part-time in December 2021. She has been practising as a zoo and wildlife vet since 2014, when she undertook a Veterinary Residency at the Melbourne Zoo. Beginning her undergraduate science journey in Marine Biology, she then completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (University of Melbourne, 2010). Post-graduation, she has completed a Master of Marine and Antarctic Science (University of Tasmania, 2014), a Master of Veterinary Science (University of Melbourne, 2017), a Clinical Residency in Zoo Animal Medicine (Melbourne Zoo), and ANZCVS Membership examinations in Zoo Animal Medicine.
Chris loves working with all animals both aquatic and terrestrial, and strives to improve the welfare and health of animals of every species that she has the privilege of working with. Outside of work, you’ll most likely find Chris snorkelling, drawing, painting, hiking, or photographing wildlife.
