Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile

APECS Chile

My name is Layla Osman and I am 32 years old. I was born at Valdivia in southern Chile, which is one of the most beautiful cities of the country. I studied marine biology and later I did a PhD at Universidad Austral of Chile. I work with top predators, particularly fur seals and I have been working in two different ecosystems: Antarctica and the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. I am interested in the population ecology of top predators and my undergraduate thesis of marine biology was on the feeding ecology of Antarctic fur seals at Cape Shirreff, South Shetland islands, Antarctica. Later I did my PhD and I went to work to the Juan Fernandez Archipelago and my PhD thesis was on the Population Status, distribution and foraging ecology of the Juan Fernandez fur seal. Currently I am vice-president and pinniped program coordinator of the Blue Whale center, a Chilean NGO which is devoted to the conservation of marine ecosystems. 

My interest to become a member of the council of APECS is to be involved with the polar community and through this, be able to help the young Chilean researchers to be more connected and aware of funding opportunities, research collaboration and help them develop a stronger polar career.