Ask A Grad Student

I am a PhD candidate in Animal Behavior at UC Davis. I graduated from Williams College in 2015 with degrees in Biology and English. My research focuses on the link between physiology, behavior, and movement in salmon and sharks. I am also very interested in science communication, and consequently maintain my own research blog (Move.Eat.Meet.Repeat) and edit The Ethogram, the official blog of the UC Davis Animal Behavior Grad Group.

Hi I'm Alisha! I am a PhD student in the Ecology Graduate Group studying marine ecology, based out at the Bodega Marine Lab. Coming from a freshwater background in the midwest, I am highly interested in understanding how the confluence of carbonate chemistries (along with other abiotic conditions) from marine and freshwater sources drive the patterns in ecological processes we observe in nearshore systems.

I am a PhD student in Ecology originally from the island of Guam. I earned my B.S. in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences from the University of Washington in 2018 and worked as a lab technician at Scripps Institution of Oceanography prior to coming to UCD. I am interested in marine fisheries, population and community dynamics, and conservation and resource management. I also enjoy playing soccer, exploring the food scene, and traveling to new places (near and far).

I'm a PhD Candidate in Ecology and the Genomic Variation Lab. My research combines field biology, aquatic ecology, conservation genetics, analytical chemistry, and bioinformatics. I'm currently studying fish, aquatic invertebrates, and Sacramento Valley bats. Much of my work involves developing environmental DNA (eDNA) methods in estuaries and coastal environments and interpreting results for potential applications in conservation and management. I have a BA from Cornell and an MS from San Francisco State's Estuary and Ocean Science Center.

I am a PhD Candidate in the Graduate Group in Ecology based out of the Bodega Marine Laboratory. I'm originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and have a background in stream ecology and environmental science. My research focuses on how environmental stress influences species interactions and filter feeding invertebrate communities. I have research projects in Tomales Bay, CA and Puerto Lindo, Colón, Panama with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. As a proud queer scientist, I am passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM and academia.

I am a 5th year PhD candidate in the Earth and Planetary Sciences department studying paleoceanography and paleoclimates using the geochemistry of planktic foraminifera. I completed my undergrad in geosciences and hispanic studies at Hamilton College in upstate New York and then a Master's in Geology at Penn State. I took a year off in between undergrad and grad school, which I spent doing sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica and working in Australia while completing my scuba certification. I love the ocean, tiny fossils, reconstructing what past oceans looked like, and sharing my passions with others through teaching and outreach.

Hey! I am a rising Third year PhD student in the Chemistry Graduate Group studying the properties of lipid molecules and their interactions with cellular machinery like reflectin proteins from D. opalescens. I am originally from the east coast (Virginia Beach, VA), and I received a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary. I love to play ultimate frisbee, surf, skate, and read with my free time.

I'm a third-year PhD student in the Grad Group in Ecology and part of the Sustainable Oceans NRT. I study how communities work together to govern marine and coastal resources in times of change. My current research features lobsters, whales, and public lands across Maine and California. Also into: writing, podcasts, hikes, and social dance (in the pre-pandemic world!).

I am currently a PhD student in the Population Biology Graduate Group at UC Davis. I got my B.S. in ecology and evolutionary dynamics at Brown University. I study local adaptation and eco-evolutionary dynamics in marine intertidal systems.

I am a fifth year graduate student in the Graduate Group in Ecology and I study fisheries ecology and oceanography at Bodega Marine Lab! I went to undergrad at American University, in Washington D.C., where I studied International Relations and Environmental Science. In between, I worked as a teacher and am very passionate about K-12 education, science, and policy.

I am a PhD candidate in the Animal Behavior Graduate Group interested in conservation management and assessing animal welfare in wildlife rehabilitation settings using behavior. The ocean, conservation, and outreach have been central themes throughout my life experiences.

I got my undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Marine Biology from University of Hawaii at Manoa. I worked as an aquarist, zoo keeper, & animal trainer for 4 years before going back and getting a Master's in Psychology from California State University San Marcos.

My research examines wildlife rehabilitation with a conservation behavior lens. I am currently studying how we can use behavioral management interventions to improve foraging behavior and ultimately reintroduction success with pinnipeds (i.e. seals, sea lions, & walruses).

I am currently a second year PhD student in the GGE in Anne Todgham's lab. Prior to joining the GGE, I received my B.S. in Marine Science, Biology, and Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami, RSMAS in 2017 and my M.S. in Animal Biology from UC Davis in 2019. My research interests lie in understanding how animals "stretch" their physiology and behavior to cope with anthropogenic stressors such as ocean warming and acidification. I am especially interested in polar species, because their adaptation to extremely cold environments makes them particularly vulnerable to climate change.

I'm a PhD candidate in Geography here at UC Davis working on marine debris, gender, and political economy. I use artistic research for a critical lens on marine debris in a tradition of feminist political ecology. I have worked with Tessa Hill at Bodega Marine Lab and am interested in interdisciplinary projects! A first-generation college student, I hold my BA in Language Studies (Spanish) from UC Santa Cruz and my MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from Mills College. When I'm not working, I love to surf.

I'm a third-year PhD student in the graduate group in Ecology and the Lead Mentor for undergraduate students in the Marine and Coastal Science Major. My research explores the effects of climate change on shellfish aquaculture in California. I am working with the Hog Island and Tomales Bay Oyster Companies to explore whether pre-conditioning the commercially farmed Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) to elevated seawater temperatures improves the species’ resistance to disease outbreaks. Prior to beginning my PhD, I received my Master’s in Ecology from San Diego State University and my Bachelor’s from UC Davis in Environmental Science and Management, with a minor in Oceanography. I have also worked as an environmental consultant, a high school teacher, a policy specialist, a public educator, and a lab manager. Additionally, I am an active science communicator and deeply invested in improving the accessibility of marine science.

I'm an ecology Ph.D. student in the Department of Environmental Science & Policy, in the Sustainable Oceans NRT program, interested in ocean and coastal policy. I'm currently also a volunteer in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. I recently completed my Masters in Marine Affairs (MMA) from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington in Seattle, and in 2014 earned a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Prior to that, I served in the US Navy for six years, four of which were onboard the submarine USS Ohio. I'm originally from Chicago, IL.

I only saw the ocean a few times during my childhood, so moving to coastal Boston to attend Northeastern University for undergrad opened my eyes to a brand new ecosystem and field of study. When I learned to dive my interest in marine science was solidified and when I worked on lobster boats after graduation, my passion for fisheries ecology emerged. Now, I'm a PhD candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology between UC Davis and San Diego State University. My research is focused on measuring spatial variation in the biology and ecology of an important, binational marine fishery species, the California spiny lobster. Understanding more about how environmental conditions and fishing pressure impact the characteristics of lobster subpopulations will enable researchers, managers, and fishers to create more effective management plans for the benefit of coastal resource users and community members.