Graduate Research
My dissertation research in the Coral Reef Health and Molecular Ecology Lab at FAU-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Joshua Voss focused on assessing the population genetic structure of the great star coral, Montastraea cavernosa, and their algal symbiont communities across shallow and upper-mesophotic reefs throughout the Tropical Western Atlantic. Montastraea cavernosa is widely used in coral population genetic studies because it is commonly found on reefs throughout the wider-Atlantic basin, occurs across depths anywhere between 3 - 136 m deep (!), and it releases its gametes into the water column resulting in potentially high levels of larval dispersal and population connectivity.
I combined field-based approaches including ROV, scuba, and technical diving surveys and sample collection with lab-based molecular techniques including microsatellites, RADseq SNP genotyping, and ITS2 sequencing approaches to expand our knowledge of the population dynamics of M. cavernosa and their algal symbiont assemblages to characterize the fine-scale genetic structure of this species in locations that are likely playing important roles in the regional metapopulation but have not been previously assessed (e.g. Cuba, Mexico, and the upper-mesophotic zone of the Florida Keys). |
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Past Research
In the Cnidarian Immunity Lab at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science I worked with Dr. Nikki Traylor Knowles on an experiment characterizing the wound healing processes following micro-lesioning in the coral Pocillopora damicornis. This study utilized a micro-lesioning technique to mimic a wound produced by corallivory in the wild. This study allowed us to determine best practices/methods to monitor tissue regeneration and allowed us to produce a base timeline of stage progression of the healing process.
Video courtesy of Kevin Rodriguez and the Cnidarian Immunity Lab |
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Marine Policy, Education, and Outreach |
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I have been fortunate to have opportunities to supplement my research experiences with internships related to marine policy, education, and outreach across line offices at NOAA. As a NOAA EPP-MSI Undergraduate Scholar, I worked in NOAA Fisheries-Office of Protected Resources in the Endangered Species Conservation Division. During this internship, I got to learn the ins and outs of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the species listing process. During my time there, I was assigned the ESA species petition for the smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena, and was responsible for reviewing the petition and drafting a positive 90-day finding published and made available for public review in the Federal Register. This is the initial step in the ESA listing process and kick-started a 12-month peer-run status review for the species.
I also interned in the National Ocean Service's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries under the Education and Outreach Division. My duties were varied but included working with the team to process and evaluate applications for the Nancy Foster Scholarship program, managing a database recording volunteer hours and activities across the sanctuary system, assisting in the development, writing, and production of Sanctuary-related media, outreach, and educational materials including the Sanctuary Watch magazine, fact sheets, brochures, lesson plans, and videos. I also participated in multiple outreach events including NOAA Open House events and Capitol Hill Ocean Week. In 2023, I returned to NOAA as a Knauss Fellow in the Coral Reef Conservation Program. My main roles include managing the US Coral Reef Task Force which is a team of leaders, scientists, and managers from Federal agencies, U.S. States, territories, commonwealths, and Freely Associated States. The USCRTF helps build partnerships, strategies, and support for on-the-ground action to conserve coral reefs. The best part of this fellowship has been getting to collaborate closely with experts on task force working groups that range in focus on coral reef related topics including climate change, disease, restoration, and fisheries. |
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