Independent Contractor, Mote Marine Laboratory, August 2019-February 2020; Coral Health and Disease Modeler
I  conduct mathematical modeling and statistical analyses on data collected by Coral Health and Disease Program projects.

Ph.D. Dissertation Research, Northeastern University, September 2015-Continuing; Network science insights into the resistance and resilience of coral reefs, from the colony to the reef
A better understanding of coral reefs as complex systems adapting to the multiple perturbations that they face is necessary in determining the fate of coral reefs under threat of global climate change. Networks conceptualize complex systems as components represented by nodes connected to other components by links. Even by limiting the study of coral reef stability to just considering the coral organism itself, there are multiple layers of networks. A coral colony is a network of individual units, the polyps, that must interact to perform as one organism. Different coral species associate with different symbiotic algae and microbes. The network of susceptible and diseased individuals can also be considered as a contagious disease spreads across a reef. I study the structure and adaptability of the aforementioned networks, and am exploring resistance and resilience metrics for each network.

Protect Our Reefs Grant Project, 2015-2016; The effects of black band disease and ocean acidification on the physiological performance of a scleractinian coral
Erinn Muller, Mark Patterson, and Sara Williams
We evaluated the metabolic costs of black band disease and pH by measuring respiration rate, photochemical efficiency, and skeletal growth; examined the effects of black band disease and pH on the oxygen and pH dynamics of the coral gastrovascular system; and characterized the oxygen and pH microenvironment of the microbial mat that makes up black band disease under normal and acidic environments.

Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Research Technician in the Field Robotics Lab with Dr. Mark Patterson, February 2014 – July 2015
My responsibilities included maintaining and caring for the coral microcosm system that I designed and built, using the Unisense underwater meter system and oxygen and pH microelectrodes to measure the dynamics of the coral gastrovascular system, building and maintaining the lab’s Autonomous Underwater vehicle fleet, purchasing supplies and overseeing lab accounts, and managing lab projects including graduate students, undergraduates, and volunteers.

Surface Support Team Member for Fabien Cousteau’s Mission 31 at Aquarius Reef Base, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, July 2014
I used microsensors to study the in situ oxygen dynamics of the gastrovascular system of Montastraea cavernosa and helped with the other research projects.

Field Assistant for Dr. Erinn Muller in St. Croix, USVI, February 2014
In collaboration with the National Park Service, we are studying the impact of Caribbean Yellow Band Disease (CYBD) on major reef-building coral species around Buck Island National Monument Park in St. Croix, USVI. We have completed one two week field session already, where we surveyed ~40 10 m x10 m quadrats for CYBD and coral cover. I was responsible for locating diseased corals, taking their measurements, photographing the diseased corals, and laying transect lines.

Senior Honors Thesis with Dr. Mark Patterson, College of William and Mary, August 2012-May 2013; Using an Electrical Network Model to Simulate Gas Flux in Perforate and Imperforate Corals: Calculating the Time Constant of Mixing in Gastrovascular Fluid Compartments
I designed and constructed a conductivity probe to fit inside the mouth of a coral polyp and measure the time constant of mixing inside of the coral coelenteron. I developed an accompanying analog circuit to measure/visualize the mixing on an oscilloscope. I also developed a differential equation model to analyze and interpret oxygen profiles during a light/dark shift inside a coral polyp as an alternative method to determine the time constant of mixing. During my research, I was responsible for care of the coral microcosm in the lab. I conducted water quality tests for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, salinity, magnesium, calcium, and alkalinity.

NSF REU with Dr. Erinn Muller at Mote Marine Lab, Summer 2012, continued with support of Charles Center Summer Research Grant in 2013; How does the spatial distribution of Montastrea annularis and M. faveolata impact Caribbean yellow band disease?
I used advanced spatial statistics applied to epidemiology to better understand coral disease dynamics on two species of major reef building corals in the Caribbean. I also developed a disease transmission model in the programming environment, R. During this project I developed skills in coral identification, using statistical modules in R, Coral Point Count with Excel extensions image processing software, and further advanced my skills in MATLAB. During the summer of 2013, I obtained funding from the College of William and Mary to return and continue working on this project.

Paid Undergraduate Researcher and Subject Matter Expert on Seabotix ROV for NSF Marine Archeology Project with Dr. Mark Patterson, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, November 2011-March 2012
As the SeaBotix ROV technician, I worked with local high/middle school students to use the ROV to survey the Cornwallis shipwrecks off of Yorktown beach. During this project, I performed ROV maintenance that included making repairs to the system, I deployed and recovered the ROV from a fishing pier, and I assisted with general survey operations.

Undergraduate Field Assistant for NSF Robotics Field Work with Dr. Mark Patterson in Grand Isle, LA, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, July 2011
The project worked on robot communication and control law algorithm development to coordinate assessment of oil contamination in a coastal marsh by autonomous marine vehicles. The VIMS AUV and an Autonomous Surface Vessel developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology were used in a demanding field environment. I gained experience in AUV operations, made a bathymetry profile of the study area using eonFusion, and used eonFusion to visualize data collected by the robots’ sensors.

HHMI Scholarship Researcher with Dr. Ashley Haines, College of William and Mary, Spring 2010
I was awarded the HHMI Scholarship in my freshman year of college to work with Dr. Ashley Haines on 16S rRNA analysis of Streptococcus parauberis in wild finfish in Chesapeake Bay, USA. I learned PCR and gel electrophoresis methods.