![Renata Medeiros Mirra BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1663?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Renata Medeiros Mirra
(she/her)
BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a Lecturer in Medical Statistics in the Cardiff School of Dentistry since November 2017. My background is Biology and my previous reasearch interests are on Seabird Ecology. Through my research career I developed an interest in Statistics and I have also become passionate about teaching and Pedagogy.
I have a broad range of research interests in Biology, Medicine and Dentistry, and Pedagogy and I enjoy applying statistical methods to different contexts and challenges. I collaborate widely within the School, the University and externally. I am part of the Burwalls' network for Teachers of Statistics in the Health and Life Sciences.
I am Cardiff UCU branch Chair and departmental rep for the School of Dentistry.
Publication
2024
- Beard, A., Thomas, R. J., Xavier, J. C., Clingham, E., Henry, L., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Hailer, F. 2024. A taste for squid: Red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) diet in the South Atlantic. Waterbirds 47(1), pp. 1-16. (10.1675/063.047.0106)
2023
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Between-year and spatial variation in body condition across the breeding cycle in a pelagic seabird, the Red-billed Tropicbird. Ecology and Evolution 13(12), article number: e10743. (10.1002/ece3.10743)
- Harrop, E. et al. 2023. Prolonged grief during and beyond the pandemic: factors associated with levels of grief in a four time-point longitudinal survey of people bereaved in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health 11, article number: 1215881. (10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215881)
- Beard, A., Madeiros Mirra, R., Clingham, E., Henry, L., Thomas, R. J. and Hailer, F. 2023. Breeding ecology, population size and nest site preferences of red-billed tropicbirds at St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu - Austral Ornithology 123(3), pp. 185-194. (10.1080/01584197.2023.2205595)
- Farnell, D. J. J. and Medeiros Mirra, R. eds. 2023. Teaching biostatistics in medicine and allied health sciences. Springer. (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Vafidis, J. O., Smith, J. A. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Teaching data analysis to life scientists using “R” statistical software: Challenges, opportunities, and effective methods. In: Medeiros Mirra, R. and Farnell, D. J. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham: Springer, pp. 167-187., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_12)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Killing me softly with your stats teaching: how much stats is too much stats?. In: Farnell, D. and Medeiros Mirra, R. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 197–209., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_14)
- Selman, L. E. et al. 2023. ‘Sadly I think we are sort of still quite white, middle-class really’ – Inequities in access tobereavement support: Findings from a mixed methods study. Palliative Medicine 37(4), pp. 586-601. (10.1177/02692163221133665)
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Increasing use of artificial nest chambers by seasonally segregated populations of band-rumped storm petrels hydrobates castro at St Helena, South Atlantic. Marine Ornithology 51(1), pp. 85-96.
- Goss, S. et al. 2023. Bereavement during Covid-19: Findings from a UK-wide online survey on the use and perceived helpfulness of informal and formal support during the pandemic. Presented at: The Marie Curie Research Conference 2023, Virtual, 6-10 February 2023, Vol. 13. BMJ Publishing Group pp. A6., (10.1136/spcare-2023-MCRC.14)
2022
- Davies, K. J. M., Richmond, S., Medeiros Mirra, R. J., Abbas, H. H., Wilson-Nagrani, C. E., Davis, M. G. and Zhurov, A. 2022. Applying an automated method of classifying lip morphological traits. Journal of Orthodontics 49(4), pp. 412-419. (10.1177/14653125221106489)
- Selman, L. et al. 2022. OA05:02 The impact of COVID-19 on the provision of voluntary and community sector bereavement services: A cross-sectional survey from the UK.. Presented at: 12th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, Online, 18-20 May 2022, Vol. 36. Abstracts from the 12th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care Vol. 1. SAGE Publications, (10.1177/02692163221093145)
- Carreiro, A. R. et al. 2022. First insights into the diet composition of Madeiran and Monteiro’s storm petrels (Hydrobates castro and H. monteiroi) breeding in the Azores. Waterbirds 44(3), pp. 300-307. (10.1675/063.044.0304)
- Rowley, L. D., Felgueiras, M., Rethore, G., Braganca, F., Thomas, R. J., Huckle, E. and Medeiros, R. 2022. Reliability of morphological criteria for sexing of birds during ringing, assessed using molecular methods - a study of thirteen species of passerines and near-passerines. Ringing and Migration 35(2), pp. 83-93. (10.1080/03078698.2021.2009544)
- Goss, S. et al. 2022. Bereavement during Covid-19: Findings from a UK-wide online survey on the use and impact of informal and formal support among people grieving during the pandemic.. Presented at: European Grief Conference 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark, 21-23 September 2022.
- Davies, K. J. M., Richmond, S., Medeiros-Mirra, R. J., Abbas, H. H., Wilson-Nagrani, C. E., Davis, M. G. and Zhurov, A. 2022. The effect of maternal smoking and alcohol consumption on lip morphology. Journal of Orthodontics 49(4), pp. 403-411. (10.1177/14653125221094337)
2021
- Banza, P., Evans, D. M., Medeiros Mirra, R., MacGregor, C. J. and Belo, A. D. F. 2021. Short-term positive effects of wildfire on diurnal insects and pollen transport in a Mediterranean ecosystem. Ecological Entomology 46(6), pp. 1353-1363. (10.1111/een.13082)
- Masello, J. et al. 2021. How animals distribute themselves in space: energy landscapes of Antarctic avian predators. Movement Ecology 9, article number: 24. (10.1186/s40462-021-00255-9)
- Deakin, Z. et al. 2021. Decline of Leach’s Storm Petrels Hydrobates leucorhous at the largest colonies in the northeast Atlantic. Seabird 33, pp. 74-106.
2020
- Fernandes, L. et al. 2020. Endocrine therapy for the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in luminal breast cancer: a comprehensive review. CNS Oncology 9(4), article number: CNS65. (10.2217/cns-2020-0023)
- Woolley, S. M., Allen, M. and Medeiros-Mirra, R. 2020. Knowledge of sepsis risk and management amongst dental professionals in Wales: a service evaluation. British Dental Journal (10.1038/s41415-020-2022-8)
- Carreiro, A. R., Paiva, V. H., Medeiros Mirra, R., Franklin, K., Oliveira, N., Fagundes, A. I. and Ramos, J. A. 2020. Metabarcoding, stables isotopes, and tracking: unraveling the trophic ecology of a winter-breeding storm petrel (Hydrobates castro) with a multimethod approach. Marine Biology 167, article number: 14. (10.1007/s00227-019-3626-x)
- Cardoso, D. et al. 2020. Pancreatic cancer associated- cachexia: Role of the Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in outcome prediction. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Oncology 9(1), article number: 1000241.
2018
- Xavier, J. C. et al. 2018. Conventional and molecular analysis of the diet of gentoo penguins: contributions to assess scats for non-invasive penguin diet monitoring. Polar Biology 41(11), pp. 2275-2287. (10.1007/s00300-018-2364-8)
- Horswill, C., Jackson, J. A., Medeiros Mirra, R., Nowell, R. W., Trathan, P. N. and O'Connell, T. 2018. Minimising the limitations of using dietary analysis to assess foodweb changes by combining multiple techniques. Ecological Indicators 94, pp. 218-225. (10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.06.035)
2017
- Thuesen, E. V. et al. 2017. Sexual and individual foraging segregation in Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua from the Southern Ocean during an abnormal winter. PLoS ONE 12(3), article number: e0174850. (10.1371/journal.pone.0174850)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. O. and Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2017. Climatic impacts on invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Jones, T. H. and Johnson, S. N. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 295-316., (10.1002/9781119070894.ch15)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. and Medeiros Mirra, R. 2017. Invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Johnson, S. and Jones, T. H. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. John Wiley & Sons, pp. 295-316.
2016
- Fagundes, A. I., Ramos, J. A., Ramos, U., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Paiva, V. H. 2016. Breeding biology of a winter-breeding procellariiform in the North Atlantic, the Macaronesian shearwater Puffinus lherminieri baroli. Zoology 119(5), pp. 421-429. (10.1016/j.zool.2016.05.014)
2015
- Ramos, J. A., Isabel Fagundes, A., Xavier, J. C., Fidalgo, V., Ceia, F. R., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Paiva, V. H. 2015. A switch in the Atlantic Oscillation correlates with inter-annual changes in foraging location and food habits of Macaronesian shearwaters (Puffinus baroli) nesting on two islands of the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 104, pp. 60-71. (10.1016/j.dsr.2015.07.001)
- Pedro, S. et al. 2015. Feathers as a tool to assess mercury contamination in Gentoo Penguins: variations at the individual level. PLoS ONE 10(9), article number: e0137622. (10.1371/journal.pone.0137622)
- Pedro, S. et al. 2015. Mercury accumulation in gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua: spatial, temporal and sexual intraspecific variations. Polar Biology 38(9), pp. 1335-1343. (10.1007/s00300-015-1697-9)
2012
- Medeiros Mirra, R. et al. 2012. Molecular evidence for gender differences in the migratory behaviour of a small seabird. PLoS ONE 7(9), article number: e46330. (10.1371/journal.pone.0046330)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Ramos, J. A., Pedro, P. and Thomas, R. J. 2012. Reproductive consequences of nest site selection by little terns breeding on sandy beaches. Waterbirds 35(4), pp. 512-524. (10.1675/063.035.0402)
2010
- Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2010. The migration strategy, diet and foraging ecology of a small seabird in a changing environment. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2008
- Bolton, M. et al. 2008. Monteiro's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monteiroi: a new species from the Azores. Ibis 150(4), pp. 717-727. (10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00854.x)
2007
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Ramos, J., Paiva, V., Almeida, A., Pedro, P. and Antunes, S. 2007. Signage reduces the impact of human disturbance on little tern nesting success in Portugal. Biological Conservation 135(1), pp. 99-106. (10.1016/j.biocon.2006.10.001)
2006
- Paiva, V. H., Ramos, J. A., Catry, T., Pedro, P., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Palma, J. 2006. Influence of environmental factors and energetic value of food on Little Tern Sterna albifrons chick growth and food delivery: Capsule Chick diet and early growth parameters differed between birds breeding on natural (sandy beaches) and alternative (salinas) habitats. Bird Study 53(1), pp. 1-11. (10.1080/00063650609461410)
- Thomas, R. J., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Pollard, A. L. 2006. Evidence for nocturnal inter-tidal foraging by European Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus during migration. Atlantic Seabirds 8(1/2), pp. 87-94.
2004
- Bolton, M., Medeiros Mirra, R., Hothersall, B. and Campos, A. 2004. The use of artificial breeding chambers as a conservation measure for cavity-nesting procellariiform seabirds: A case study of the Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro). Biological Conservation 116(1), pp. 73-80. (10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00178-2)
2001
- Bolton, M., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Fraga, H. 2001. Potential flight range of snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis occurring in the Azores Islands in late March: a first analysis. Arquipelago 18(A), pp. 93-95.
Articles
- Beard, A., Thomas, R. J., Xavier, J. C., Clingham, E., Henry, L., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Hailer, F. 2024. A taste for squid: Red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) diet in the South Atlantic. Waterbirds 47(1), pp. 1-16. (10.1675/063.047.0106)
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Between-year and spatial variation in body condition across the breeding cycle in a pelagic seabird, the Red-billed Tropicbird. Ecology and Evolution 13(12), article number: e10743. (10.1002/ece3.10743)
- Harrop, E. et al. 2023. Prolonged grief during and beyond the pandemic: factors associated with levels of grief in a four time-point longitudinal survey of people bereaved in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health 11, article number: 1215881. (10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215881)
- Beard, A., Madeiros Mirra, R., Clingham, E., Henry, L., Thomas, R. J. and Hailer, F. 2023. Breeding ecology, population size and nest site preferences of red-billed tropicbirds at St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu - Austral Ornithology 123(3), pp. 185-194. (10.1080/01584197.2023.2205595)
- Selman, L. E. et al. 2023. ‘Sadly I think we are sort of still quite white, middle-class really’ – Inequities in access tobereavement support: Findings from a mixed methods study. Palliative Medicine 37(4), pp. 586-601. (10.1177/02692163221133665)
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Increasing use of artificial nest chambers by seasonally segregated populations of band-rumped storm petrels hydrobates castro at St Helena, South Atlantic. Marine Ornithology 51(1), pp. 85-96.
- Davies, K. J. M., Richmond, S., Medeiros Mirra, R. J., Abbas, H. H., Wilson-Nagrani, C. E., Davis, M. G. and Zhurov, A. 2022. Applying an automated method of classifying lip morphological traits. Journal of Orthodontics 49(4), pp. 412-419. (10.1177/14653125221106489)
- Carreiro, A. R. et al. 2022. First insights into the diet composition of Madeiran and Monteiro’s storm petrels (Hydrobates castro and H. monteiroi) breeding in the Azores. Waterbirds 44(3), pp. 300-307. (10.1675/063.044.0304)
- Rowley, L. D., Felgueiras, M., Rethore, G., Braganca, F., Thomas, R. J., Huckle, E. and Medeiros, R. 2022. Reliability of morphological criteria for sexing of birds during ringing, assessed using molecular methods - a study of thirteen species of passerines and near-passerines. Ringing and Migration 35(2), pp. 83-93. (10.1080/03078698.2021.2009544)
- Davies, K. J. M., Richmond, S., Medeiros-Mirra, R. J., Abbas, H. H., Wilson-Nagrani, C. E., Davis, M. G. and Zhurov, A. 2022. The effect of maternal smoking and alcohol consumption on lip morphology. Journal of Orthodontics 49(4), pp. 403-411. (10.1177/14653125221094337)
- Banza, P., Evans, D. M., Medeiros Mirra, R., MacGregor, C. J. and Belo, A. D. F. 2021. Short-term positive effects of wildfire on diurnal insects and pollen transport in a Mediterranean ecosystem. Ecological Entomology 46(6), pp. 1353-1363. (10.1111/een.13082)
- Masello, J. et al. 2021. How animals distribute themselves in space: energy landscapes of Antarctic avian predators. Movement Ecology 9, article number: 24. (10.1186/s40462-021-00255-9)
- Deakin, Z. et al. 2021. Decline of Leach’s Storm Petrels Hydrobates leucorhous at the largest colonies in the northeast Atlantic. Seabird 33, pp. 74-106.
- Fernandes, L. et al. 2020. Endocrine therapy for the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in luminal breast cancer: a comprehensive review. CNS Oncology 9(4), article number: CNS65. (10.2217/cns-2020-0023)
- Woolley, S. M., Allen, M. and Medeiros-Mirra, R. 2020. Knowledge of sepsis risk and management amongst dental professionals in Wales: a service evaluation. British Dental Journal (10.1038/s41415-020-2022-8)
- Carreiro, A. R., Paiva, V. H., Medeiros Mirra, R., Franklin, K., Oliveira, N., Fagundes, A. I. and Ramos, J. A. 2020. Metabarcoding, stables isotopes, and tracking: unraveling the trophic ecology of a winter-breeding storm petrel (Hydrobates castro) with a multimethod approach. Marine Biology 167, article number: 14. (10.1007/s00227-019-3626-x)
- Cardoso, D. et al. 2020. Pancreatic cancer associated- cachexia: Role of the Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in outcome prediction. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Oncology 9(1), article number: 1000241.
- Xavier, J. C. et al. 2018. Conventional and molecular analysis of the diet of gentoo penguins: contributions to assess scats for non-invasive penguin diet monitoring. Polar Biology 41(11), pp. 2275-2287. (10.1007/s00300-018-2364-8)
- Horswill, C., Jackson, J. A., Medeiros Mirra, R., Nowell, R. W., Trathan, P. N. and O'Connell, T. 2018. Minimising the limitations of using dietary analysis to assess foodweb changes by combining multiple techniques. Ecological Indicators 94, pp. 218-225. (10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.06.035)
- Thuesen, E. V. et al. 2017. Sexual and individual foraging segregation in Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua from the Southern Ocean during an abnormal winter. PLoS ONE 12(3), article number: e0174850. (10.1371/journal.pone.0174850)
- Fagundes, A. I., Ramos, J. A., Ramos, U., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Paiva, V. H. 2016. Breeding biology of a winter-breeding procellariiform in the North Atlantic, the Macaronesian shearwater Puffinus lherminieri baroli. Zoology 119(5), pp. 421-429. (10.1016/j.zool.2016.05.014)
- Ramos, J. A., Isabel Fagundes, A., Xavier, J. C., Fidalgo, V., Ceia, F. R., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Paiva, V. H. 2015. A switch in the Atlantic Oscillation correlates with inter-annual changes in foraging location and food habits of Macaronesian shearwaters (Puffinus baroli) nesting on two islands of the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 104, pp. 60-71. (10.1016/j.dsr.2015.07.001)
- Pedro, S. et al. 2015. Feathers as a tool to assess mercury contamination in Gentoo Penguins: variations at the individual level. PLoS ONE 10(9), article number: e0137622. (10.1371/journal.pone.0137622)
- Pedro, S. et al. 2015. Mercury accumulation in gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua: spatial, temporal and sexual intraspecific variations. Polar Biology 38(9), pp. 1335-1343. (10.1007/s00300-015-1697-9)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. et al. 2012. Molecular evidence for gender differences in the migratory behaviour of a small seabird. PLoS ONE 7(9), article number: e46330. (10.1371/journal.pone.0046330)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Ramos, J. A., Pedro, P. and Thomas, R. J. 2012. Reproductive consequences of nest site selection by little terns breeding on sandy beaches. Waterbirds 35(4), pp. 512-524. (10.1675/063.035.0402)
- Bolton, M. et al. 2008. Monteiro's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monteiroi: a new species from the Azores. Ibis 150(4), pp. 717-727. (10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00854.x)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Ramos, J., Paiva, V., Almeida, A., Pedro, P. and Antunes, S. 2007. Signage reduces the impact of human disturbance on little tern nesting success in Portugal. Biological Conservation 135(1), pp. 99-106. (10.1016/j.biocon.2006.10.001)
- Paiva, V. H., Ramos, J. A., Catry, T., Pedro, P., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Palma, J. 2006. Influence of environmental factors and energetic value of food on Little Tern Sterna albifrons chick growth and food delivery: Capsule Chick diet and early growth parameters differed between birds breeding on natural (sandy beaches) and alternative (salinas) habitats. Bird Study 53(1), pp. 1-11. (10.1080/00063650609461410)
- Thomas, R. J., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Pollard, A. L. 2006. Evidence for nocturnal inter-tidal foraging by European Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus during migration. Atlantic Seabirds 8(1/2), pp. 87-94.
- Bolton, M., Medeiros Mirra, R., Hothersall, B. and Campos, A. 2004. The use of artificial breeding chambers as a conservation measure for cavity-nesting procellariiform seabirds: A case study of the Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro). Biological Conservation 116(1), pp. 73-80. (10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00178-2)
- Bolton, M., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Fraga, H. 2001. Potential flight range of snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis occurring in the Azores Islands in late March: a first analysis. Arquipelago 18(A), pp. 93-95.
Book sections
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Vafidis, J. O., Smith, J. A. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Teaching data analysis to life scientists using “R” statistical software: Challenges, opportunities, and effective methods. In: Medeiros Mirra, R. and Farnell, D. J. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham: Springer, pp. 167-187., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_12)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Killing me softly with your stats teaching: how much stats is too much stats?. In: Farnell, D. and Medeiros Mirra, R. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 197–209., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_14)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. O. and Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2017. Climatic impacts on invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Jones, T. H. and Johnson, S. N. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 295-316., (10.1002/9781119070894.ch15)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. and Medeiros Mirra, R. 2017. Invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Johnson, S. and Jones, T. H. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. John Wiley & Sons, pp. 295-316.
Books
- Farnell, D. J. J. and Medeiros Mirra, R. eds. 2023. Teaching biostatistics in medicine and allied health sciences. Springer. (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0)
Conferences
- Goss, S. et al. 2023. Bereavement during Covid-19: Findings from a UK-wide online survey on the use and perceived helpfulness of informal and formal support during the pandemic. Presented at: The Marie Curie Research Conference 2023, Virtual, 6-10 February 2023, Vol. 13. BMJ Publishing Group pp. A6., (10.1136/spcare-2023-MCRC.14)
- Selman, L. et al. 2022. OA05:02 The impact of COVID-19 on the provision of voluntary and community sector bereavement services: A cross-sectional survey from the UK.. Presented at: 12th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, Online, 18-20 May 2022, Vol. 36. Abstracts from the 12th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care Vol. 1. SAGE Publications, (10.1177/02692163221093145)
- Goss, S. et al. 2022. Bereavement during Covid-19: Findings from a UK-wide online survey on the use and impact of informal and formal support among people grieving during the pandemic.. Presented at: European Grief Conference 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark, 21-23 September 2022.
Thesis
- Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2010. The migration strategy, diet and foraging ecology of a small seabird in a changing environment. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Xavier, J. C. et al. 2018. Conventional and molecular analysis of the diet of gentoo penguins: contributions to assess scats for non-invasive penguin diet monitoring. Polar Biology 41(11), pp. 2275-2287. (10.1007/s00300-018-2364-8)
- Horswill, C., Jackson, J. A., Medeiros Mirra, R., Nowell, R. W., Trathan, P. N. and O'Connell, T. 2018. Minimising the limitations of using dietary analysis to assess foodweb changes by combining multiple techniques. Ecological Indicators 94, pp. 218-225. (10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.06.035)
- Thuesen, E. V. et al. 2017. Sexual and individual foraging segregation in Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua from the Southern Ocean during an abnormal winter. PLoS ONE 12(3), article number: e0174850. (10.1371/journal.pone.0174850)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. O. and Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2017. Climatic impacts on invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Jones, T. H. and Johnson, S. N. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 295-316., (10.1002/9781119070894.ch15)
- Fagundes, A. I., Ramos, J. A., Ramos, U., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Paiva, V. H. 2016. Breeding biology of a winter-breeding procellariiform in the North Atlantic, the Macaronesian shearwater Puffinus lherminieri baroli. Zoology 119(5), pp. 421-429. (10.1016/j.zool.2016.05.014)
- Ramos, J. A., Isabel Fagundes, A., Xavier, J. C., Fidalgo, V., Ceia, F. R., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Paiva, V. H. 2015. A switch in the Atlantic Oscillation correlates with inter-annual changes in foraging location and food habits of Macaronesian shearwaters (Puffinus baroli) nesting on two islands of the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 104, pp. 60-71. (10.1016/j.dsr.2015.07.001)
- Pedro, S. et al. 2015. Feathers as a tool to assess mercury contamination in Gentoo Penguins: variations at the individual level. PLoS ONE 10(9), article number: e0137622. (10.1371/journal.pone.0137622)
- Pedro, S. et al. 2015. Mercury accumulation in gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua: spatial, temporal and sexual intraspecific variations. Polar Biology 38(9), pp. 1335-1343. (10.1007/s00300-015-1697-9)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. et al. 2012. Molecular evidence for gender differences in the migratory behaviour of a small seabird. PLoS ONE 7(9), article number: e46330. (10.1371/journal.pone.0046330)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Ramos, J. A., Pedro, P. and Thomas, R. J. 2012. Reproductive consequences of nest site selection by little terns breeding on sandy beaches. Waterbirds 35(4), pp. 512-524. (10.1675/063.035.0402)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2010. The migration strategy, diet and foraging ecology of a small seabird in a changing environment. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Bolton, M. et al. 2008. Monteiro's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monteiroi: a new species from the Azores. Ibis 150(4), pp. 717-727. (10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00854.x)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Ramos, J., Paiva, V., Almeida, A., Pedro, P. and Antunes, S. 2007. Signage reduces the impact of human disturbance on little tern nesting success in Portugal. Biological Conservation 135(1), pp. 99-106. (10.1016/j.biocon.2006.10.001)
- Paiva, V. H., Ramos, J. A., Catry, T., Pedro, P., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Palma, J. 2006. Influence of environmental factors and energetic value of food on Little Tern Sterna albifrons chick growth and food delivery: Capsule Chick diet and early growth parameters differed between birds breeding on natural (sandy beaches) and alternative (salinas) habitats. Bird Study 53(1), pp. 1-11. (10.1080/00063650609461410)
- Thomas, R. J., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Pollard, A. L. 2006. Evidence for nocturnal inter-tidal foraging by European Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus during migration. Atlantic Seabirds 8(1/2), pp. 87-94.
- Bolton, M., Medeiros Mirra, R., Hothersall, B. and Campos, A. 2004. The use of artificial breeding chambers as a conservation measure for cavity-nesting procellariiform seabirds: A case study of the Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro). Biological Conservation 116(1), pp. 73-80. (10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00178-2)
- Bolton, M., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Fraga, H. 2001. Potential flight range of snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis occurring in the Azores Islands in late March: a first analysis. Arquipelago 18(A), pp. 93-95.
Research
Dental Research
I am currently involved in various research projects on face shapes using the ALSPAC cohort. I am also developing research on dental aesthetics, mental health and socio-economics.
For an overview of my full research projects, including on seabird ecology, please visit my LinkedIn or Research Gate profiles.
Pedagogic Research
My pedagogic research interests focus on investigating effective ways of teaching quantitative skills in the biological and medical sciences. I am also particularly interested in the impact of statistical software choice in the perception, engagement and understanding of statisitcs, and in the teaching and learning of p-values and significance tests and their interpretations.
Teaching
I teach medical statistics to undergraduates dentists (BDS) and post-graduates in orthodontic dentistry (Orthodontics MScD). I am also involved in statistics support to staff and post-graduates across the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I thoroughly enjoy teaching and I am a great admirer of educators such as John Dewey, Paulo Freire and Bell Hooks. I was greatly honoured to be nominated for two Enriching Student Life Awards in 2016 (Most Effective Teacher and Most Uplifting Staff Member).
Previous Undergraduate Teaching Responsibilities
Cardiff University - Cardiff School of Biosciences
Data Analysis using R (BI1001 Skills for Science)
Taxonomy and Phylogenetics (BI1051 Genetics and Evolution)
Asexual and Sexual Reproduction (BI1003 Organisms and Environment)
Advanced Statistics (BI2001 Research Techniques)
Island Ecology Field course
Rainforest Biodiversity Assessment Field course
Optimality Theory (BI3132 Advanced Animal Behaviour)
University of South Wales - School of Applied Sciences
Evolution and Natural Selection (BI1S101 Genetics and Evolution)
Wildlife Conservation (BI2S111 Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Conservation)
Biography
I am a Biologist by background. Through the years, I developed a strong interest in Statistics, initially in the context of my research interests in seabird ecology and later as a teacher. I have lectured Statistics (with much pleasure) since 2013, first in the Cardiff School of Biosciences and, since November 2017, in the Cardiff School of Dentistry.
I am originally from Portugal and moved to Cardiff in 2006 to do a PhD at Cardiff University on the feeding behaviour of migrating European storm petrels Hydrobates pelagicus in the light of climate change. During this period, I was already involved in supporting the undergraduates statistics teaching in the School of Biosciences.
Before moving to the UK, I worked as Scientific Officer at A ROCHA Portugal, a Christian environmental organisation in the South of Portugal.
While working at A ROCHA, I also did an MSc degree, at Coimbra University, on the ecology and conservation of Little Terns Sternula albifrons.
I did a five-year Biology degree at Coimbra University, where my main interests were evolution and animal behaviour. For my final year project, I spent one year on a small islet off Graciosa Island on the Azores archipelago, studying storm petrels, where read my first Statistics book: “Statistics for Ornithologists” by J. Fowler and L. Cohen.
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Member of The Royal Statistical Society
- Member of The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD)
- Member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Academic positions
2017 – present: Lecturer in Medical Statistics, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University
2013 – 2017: Lecturer in Statistics, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
2011 – 2012: Independent Researcher, British Antarctic Survey
2006 – 2010: PhD Researcher and Postgraduate Demonstrator, Cardiff University
2002 – 2005: Scientific Officer, A ROCHA, Portugal
2001 – 2003: MSc in Ecology, University of Coimbra, Portugal
2000 – 2001: Professional Year, University of the Azores, Portugal
1997-1998: Assistant Nurse in Veterinary Clinic, Santo Tirso, Portugal
1996 – 2000: Undergraduate degree in Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Committees and reviewing
- Reviewer for Biological Conservation, Ibis, Journal of Ornithology, Marine Biology, Marine and Freshwater Research, Molecular Ecology Resources and the national/regional journals Seabird, Airo, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae and Pacific Conservation Biology.
- Scientific Advisor for A ROCHA Portugal, http://www.arocha.org/en/a-rocha-portugal/.
- STEM Ambassador between 2006 and 2019 (runner up on the “I’m a Scientist, Get me Out of Here” program).
- Coordinator of the project "Storm Petrels in Portugal", a research and engagement project on the migration strategies of European storm petrels. Volunteers are welcome to join the field expeditions every year (Project Promotional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLs5UdyzY7M).
Supervisions
Internal supervision
- Main supervisor for Gadheer Abdelsalam (MSc Orthodontics) - Using an Implicit Association Test to assess links between dental malocclusion and perceived social and intellectual competence (Started 2023)
- Co-Supervisor for Saarah Juman (MPhil) - Epidemiology of orofacial clefts and other craniofacial anomalies in a multi-ethnic population (Started 2022)
- Co-Supervisor for Ashjan Alrashidi (MSc Orthodontics) - What are the features of the lips that make them attractive? (Started 2020)
External supervision
- Co-Supervisor for Annalea Beard (PhD, Cardiff School of Biosciences, part-time) - The foraging and breeding ecology of cavity nesting seabirds on St. Helena (Started 2018)
Current supervision
Annalea Beard
Saarah Juman
Past projects
Internal supervision
- Co-Supervisor for Dharmika Tailor (MSc Orthodontics) - Orthognathic Patient Satisfaction (Started 2020 - Awarded 2023)
- Co-Supervisor for Rashed Alrashed (MSc Orthodontics) - The effect of digit sucking on facial shape at 15 years of age (Started 2019 - Awarded 2022)
- Co-Supervisor for Ler Chong (MSc Orthodontics) - The effect of the environmental surroundings on face shape at 15 years of age (Started 2019 - Awarded 2022)
- Co-Supervisor for Camilla Miles-Hobbs (MSc Orthodontics) - Are Differing Facial Shapes Associated with Differing Levels of Blood Pressure (Started 2018 - Awarded 2021)
- Co-Supervisor for Kristian Davies (MSc Orthodontics) - The Effect of Maternal Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Lip Morphology (Started 2017 - Awarded 2020; Dissertation won the British Orthodontic Society Houston Research Scholar Prize)
- Co-Supervisor for Yamama Alsabah (MSc Orthodontics) - Is facial attractiveness associated with the golden proportion? (Started 2017 - Awarded 2020)
External supervision
- Co-Supervisor for Zoe Deakin (PhD, Cardiff School of Biosciences) - The importance of being small: understanding the movements and foraging requirements of the smallest Atlantic seabird as a bio-indicator for marine conservation (Started 2017 - Awarded 2023)
- Co-Supervisor for Hannah Hereward (PhD, Cardiff School of Biosciences) - Climatic and trophic drivers of population change in one of the world’s rarest seabirds (Started 2018 - Awarded 2022)
- Co-Supervisor for Alex McCubbin (PhD, Cardiff School of Biosciences) - Mate choice and MHC variability in storm petrels (Started 2016 - Awarded 2020)
- Co-Supervisor for Nills Bouillard (MRes, Imperial College London) - First insights into the migration patterns of the European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) (Started Awarded 2018)
Contact Details
MedeirosMirraRJ@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 76292
University Dental Hospital, Room Room 110, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY
+44 29208 76292
University Dental Hospital, Room Room 110, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY