From a young age, my brother and I were always knee deep in some water system; my favorites being the creek behind my house, or a beach in Santa Cruz, California. Thus in 2009, I sought my B.S. degree at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC), and majored in Marine Biology and minored in Legal Studies. During undergrad, I worked the night shift at CVS pharmacies so that I could volunteer at multiple labs and pursue my scientific diving certification. Becoming a scientific diver truly changed my life, for I had found my niche studying the underwater environment.
Following graduation in 2013, I assisted with a number of projects spanning the Pacific Northwest, and gained an appreciation for my nice, "warm" wetsuit;). The idea of protecting such an invaluable resource, kelp forest ecosystems, by using research divers and technicians filled me with admiration for the marine science field and those who we so deeply engrossed in the conservation efforts. This led me to the Dr. Matt Edwards Lab (BEERPIGS) at San Diego State University.
I began my thesis in Fall 2015, and am working in the subtidal kelp forest ecosystems of Monterey Bay and San Diego, California. My thesis is investigating how frequent and strong disturbance events (like El Niño storms) impact subtidal algal communities, and how the physiology of red algae structures community assemblages. Understanding how kelp forests respond to disturbance events is incredibly important, because storm events are predicted to occur in increased frequencies in response to anthropogenically induced climate change.
Stay tuned for more updates and additions;)
Following graduation in 2013, I assisted with a number of projects spanning the Pacific Northwest, and gained an appreciation for my nice, "warm" wetsuit;). The idea of protecting such an invaluable resource, kelp forest ecosystems, by using research divers and technicians filled me with admiration for the marine science field and those who we so deeply engrossed in the conservation efforts. This led me to the Dr. Matt Edwards Lab (BEERPIGS) at San Diego State University.
I began my thesis in Fall 2015, and am working in the subtidal kelp forest ecosystems of Monterey Bay and San Diego, California. My thesis is investigating how frequent and strong disturbance events (like El Niño storms) impact subtidal algal communities, and how the physiology of red algae structures community assemblages. Understanding how kelp forests respond to disturbance events is incredibly important, because storm events are predicted to occur in increased frequencies in response to anthropogenically induced climate change.
Stay tuned for more updates and additions;)