Ph.D. graduate of University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric ScienceMy dissertation research focused on identifying molecular pathways involved in thermal stress-hardening of Caribbean corals currently propagated for coral restoration efforts here in Florida. The goal of my research was to better understand the underlying mechanisms of thermal priming so that assisted acclimatization may be used as a restoration technique in the future.
I conducted my research under supervision of Dr. Ian Enochs (NOAA) and Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles (UM). |
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Mechanisms for enhancing thermotolerance of Caribbean corals
My three dissertation chapters utilized in-situ and ex-situ experiments to study mechanisms for enhancing coral thermotolerance through thermal priming, otherwise known as stress-hardening. We demonstrated in Coral Reefs that pre-exposure to pulses of high temperature stress led to increased endurance in heat-stress before bleaching for Acropora cervicornis (the critically endangered staghorn coral).
What are the genetic mechanisms driving thermal priming, can this be applied to other species, and does this enhanced thermotolerance last in the long-term? |
Documenting coral reefs through environmental change
I've been lucky enough to travel to some great scuba diving sites and document the health of coral reefs through disease and bleaching events.
The diversity of fish and coral species illustrate how just important these ecosystems are for underwater life, and why it's essential for us to conserve them. |
Discover the beauty of these colonial organisms close-up
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Applying to grad school?
As someone who recently went through the graduate school application process, I wanted to share the resources that I found to be helpful.
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