I am a graduate student at Florida International University with aspirations to continue exploring, studying and conserving the world’s oceans. My graduate experience under Dr. Kevin Boswell (http://www2.fiu.edu/~kmboswel/Site/Welcome.html) has offered me global experience both with marine biology and hydro-acoustic technology. When not in the lab or collecting data, I am mainly interested in educating others about the incredible diversity and importance of the environment. My upbringing in landlocked Pennsylvania never hindered my fascination with the ocean thanks to a combination of Bill Nye the “Science Guy” and yearly trips to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. This fascination was reinforced early by obtaining a SCUBA certification in high school, allowing for numerous trips exploring quarries, rivers and coral reefs.
Currently, my research involves surveying local reefs in Miami-Dade and Broward counties through the use of high-resolution hydroacoustic technology. I am in search of characteristics that may structure reef communities in the hopes of enhancing conservation efforts on critically important and endangered reef habitats. This focus on conservation has recently taken me to the fjords of Iceland to study spawning cod and to the Prince William Sound in Alaska to examine potential lingering effects of the Exxon-Valdez oil spill. For me, Mission 31 is both an exciting realization of a dream to explore the ocean in a unique way and also an amazing opportunity to learn about important reef communities and share these findings with a broad audience.
Currently, my research involves surveying local reefs in Miami-Dade and Broward counties through the use of high-resolution hydroacoustic technology. I am in search of characteristics that may structure reef communities in the hopes of enhancing conservation efforts on critically important and endangered reef habitats. This focus on conservation has recently taken me to the fjords of Iceland to study spawning cod and to the Prince William Sound in Alaska to examine potential lingering effects of the Exxon-Valdez oil spill. For me, Mission 31 is both an exciting realization of a dream to explore the ocean in a unique way and also an amazing opportunity to learn about important reef communities and share these findings with a broad audience.