About me
I am an Assistant Professor at UH Hilo (started January 2024), and interested in all things coral reefs. I have had the privilege to travel around the world performing research in some incredible places including Taiwan, Australia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and now in Hawaiʻi.
Professional Experience
- 2024 – pres. Assistant Professor, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Department of Marine Science
- 2023 Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Museum für Naturkunde
- 2019 – 2023 Part-time Assistant Lecturer, Northeastern University (Three Seas Program).
- 2022 – 2023 Postdoctoral Researcher, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
- 2019 – 2021 Postdoctoral Fellow, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH.
- 2016 – 2019 Postdoctoral Fellow, California State University, Northridge
Education
- Ph.D. Marine Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney (2017).
- M.Sc. Marine Biology. Northeastern University: Three Seas Program (2011).
- B.A.S. Biological Sciences, emphasis on Marine Biology and Music Performance Flute, University of California, Davis (2008).
Research interests
- Global Change Biology
- Coral Reef Ecology and Physiology
- Ecological Scaling
Research Grants
- 2024 UH Hilo Seed Grant “Developing metrics for ecological forecasting to support Hawaiʻi’s coral reefs. $30,000.
- May 2023 Naturkundemuseum Berlin “Taxonomy Funds” inhouse grant for taxonomic research 5,500€ with Prof. Dr. Carsten Lüter
- January 2018 Lizard Island Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation $30,000 AUD over 2 years. Jointly funded with Dr. Chiara Pisapia
- April 2015-6 Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship funded by Ian Potter Foundation: $8,000 AUD
- November 2015 Dr. Paris Goodsell Award for Marine Ecology: $1,500 AUD
- January 2013-14 Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship, American Australian Association: $21,100 USD
- May 2013 Joseph A. Cushman Award for Student Research: $1,000 USD
- April 2013 PADI Foundation Research Grant: $7,000 USD
- January 2013 Australian Coral Reef Society Student Research Award: $2,000 AUD
- May 2009 Lerner-Gray Fund for Marine Research: $2,000 USD
- May 2009 PADI Foundation Research Grant: $5,000 USD
- May 2009 Sigma-Xi Grant in Aid Graduate Research Grant: $400 USD
- May 2009 Geological Society of America Graduate Research Grant: $2,690 USD
Awards and Fellowships
- 2021 Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellowship June
- 2020 Online Speaker for the Next Gen Science Sessions at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Online Science Days
- 2020 Young Scientist, 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
- 2013 University of Sydney International Scholarship
- 2013 American Australian Association Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship
- 2016 Best Student Talk, 4th Oceans in a High CO2 World Conference, Hobart
For more information see my research page.