I am an Assistant Professor of Biology in the Natural Sciences Department at the beautiful Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida, USA. Here, I combine my passion for research, teaching, and mentoring to incorporate undergraduate students in coastal ecosystems research and develop and teach courses in marine plant biology and ecology and other natural sciences. Currently, I am part of a team developing the curriculum for a new Biology major at the College.
I am a visiting scholar and was previously a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia. My research contributes to the U.S. National Science Foundation's Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research program (VCR LTER) and I am part of the Seagrass Research Group and McGlathery Coastal Resilience Lab. I am also a member of the VCR LTER DEI Committee. For information on my current research projects, please see this page.
I received my Ph.D. in Marine Ecology in 2019 from Deakin University, Australia, as a founding member of the Blue Carbon Lab, while also teaching undergraduate laboratory classes, volunteering as a scientific diver with the local marine parks department, and running a departmental writing group. |
I completed my M.S. in Biological Sciences (with distinction) in 2013 through Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo's, Center for Coastal Marine Sciences as a San Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA) Fellow. During my tenure as a masters student, I also worked with the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program, maintained long-term water quality monitoring stations in Morro Bay, worked as a volunteer scientific diver on a subtidal research project, and taught undergraduate laboratory classes.
I received my B.S. in Biological Sciences (magna cum laude), with a concentration in marine biology and fisheries, from Cal Poly in 2008. During this time, I worked as an undergraduate researcher studying marine invertebrates at Cal Poly, and completed a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, College of William and Mary, studying seagrass benthic ecology.
I received my B.S. in Biological Sciences (magna cum laude), with a concentration in marine biology and fisheries, from Cal Poly in 2008. During this time, I worked as an undergraduate researcher studying marine invertebrates at Cal Poly, and completed a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, College of William and Mary, studying seagrass benthic ecology.
Photo credit: Deakin University Media Communications
Grants, Scholarships, and Monetary Awards
2022 Caregivers Award, Ocean Sciences Meeting, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography
2014 – 2018 Marine Ecology PhD Scholarship, Deakin University and University of Technology, Sydney, stipend and tuition, $175K
2017 Higher Degree by Research Award, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, $4K
2016 Higher Degree by Research Award, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, $4K
2015 Higher Degree by Research Award, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, $4K
2015 Australian Institute of Nuclear Science & Engineering Research Award Grant, $11.6K
2015 Travel Award, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Marine and Coastal Carbon
Biogeochemistry Flagship Cluster, $1.2K
2009 – 2012 San Luis Obispo Science & Ecosystem Alliance Fellowship, graduate research scholarship stipend and tuition, $80K
2011 Student Award for Marine Science Research, California State University (CSU) Council on Ocean Affairs, Science, & Technology
(COAST), $1.5K
2010 Tenera Environmental Scholarship
2008 The John David Jackman Memorial Award
2008 The Barbara Lincoln Memorial Award
2007 The Mary Smith Marine Biology Scholarship
2007 The Montgomery/Richards Scholarship
2007 Research Experience for Undergraduates, paid internship, National Science Foundation, Virginia Institute of Marine Science,
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, $4K
2014 – 2018 Marine Ecology PhD Scholarship, Deakin University and University of Technology, Sydney, stipend and tuition, $175K
2017 Higher Degree by Research Award, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, $4K
2016 Higher Degree by Research Award, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, $4K
2015 Higher Degree by Research Award, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, $4K
2015 Australian Institute of Nuclear Science & Engineering Research Award Grant, $11.6K
2015 Travel Award, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Marine and Coastal Carbon
Biogeochemistry Flagship Cluster, $1.2K
2009 – 2012 San Luis Obispo Science & Ecosystem Alliance Fellowship, graduate research scholarship stipend and tuition, $80K
2011 Student Award for Marine Science Research, California State University (CSU) Council on Ocean Affairs, Science, & Technology
(COAST), $1.5K
2010 Tenera Environmental Scholarship
2008 The John David Jackman Memorial Award
2008 The Barbara Lincoln Memorial Award
2007 The Mary Smith Marine Biology Scholarship
2007 The Montgomery/Richards Scholarship
2007 Research Experience for Undergraduates, paid internship, National Science Foundation, Virginia Institute of Marine Science,
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, $4K
Honors and Awards
2017 United Nations Association of Australia, Climate Collaboration Forum Award, selected and funded to represent Deakin
University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences and participate in the Working Together to Manage Our Land workshop,
Melbourne, Australia, June
2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Partnerships, Deakin University, awarded collectively to our research group, the Blue
Carbon Lab
2014 Best Talk, Deakin Intercampus Higher Degree by Research Conference
2012 – 2013 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University
2008 – 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award, Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University
2006 – 2008 President’s Honors List and Dean’s Honors List, California Polytechnic State University
University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences and participate in the Working Together to Manage Our Land workshop,
Melbourne, Australia, June
2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Partnerships, Deakin University, awarded collectively to our research group, the Blue
Carbon Lab
2014 Best Talk, Deakin Intercampus Higher Degree by Research Conference
2012 – 2013 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University
2008 – 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award, Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University
2006 – 2008 President’s Honors List and Dean’s Honors List, California Polytechnic State University