Lab Alumni

	Dr. Max Helmberger (he/him/his) was formerly postdoctoral researcher in the Rotjan Lab and lecturer in the Biology Department. He is now a lecturer at Michigan State University. Originally a soil ecologist studying belowground biological control before moving into soil invertebrate interactions with microplastics, his current project is to investigate microplastic contamination of deepwater coral samples. Max also designs educational board games. He received his BS in Biology from University of Minnesota Duluth, MS in Entomology from Cornell University, and PhD in Entomology from Michigan State University. You can follow him on Twitter @maxwellidae.
	Dr. Steve Auscavitch (he/him/his) was formerly a postdoctoral researcher in the Rotjan Lab. He is now a genomics contractor at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. His research broadly seeks to understand ecological patterns and processes in deep-water coral ecosystems, particularly on seamounts. His current project in the lab seeks to identify and describe protected deep-water coral biodiversity, as well as patterns in phylogenetic community structure, in the equatorial Pacific and surrounding waters. His work leverages data collected from remotely operated vehicles with existing collection resources present in museum archives. Steve is also an active member of the Corp of Exploration on the E/V Nautilus where he has contributed as science lead and science data manager on several cruises since 2014. He received his BS in Marine Science from the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, his MS in Marine Biology at the University of Maine, and PhD in Biology from Temple University. You can follow him on Twitter @SteveAuscavitch and via his personal website.
	Brooke Winsmann (she/her/hers) is a recent MS graduate from the Rotjan Lab. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Connecticut with a minor in Marine Biology. While at UConn, Brooke examined differences in sculpin specimens to determine the presence of an introduced species, the Knobfin Sculpin (C. immaculatus). At BU, Brooke will be completing a scholarly paper with direction from Dr. Rotjan and fellow lab members. Outside of the lab, Brooke enjoys photography, farmers markets, and visiting the South Shore.
	Noah Singer (he/him/his) is a recent MS graduate in the Rotjan Lab. He majored in Marine Science and Biology at The University of Miami RSMAS. He is working jointly on Eelgrass restoration in Nantucket Harbor with Dr. Alyssa Novak, restoring two half-acre sites by transplanting vegetative Eelgrass and planting over 250,000 Eelgrass seeds. Additionally, he will research bay scallop recruitment into newly restored Eelgrass environments and predation on bay scallops. He loves to go SCUBA diving, hiking, and other outdoor activities when he is not cheering on the New Jersey Devils or Boston Red Sox.
	Sarah Speroff (they/them/theirs) earned their MS in Biology in the Rotjan Lab in 2022 focusing on anthropogenic stressors on the metabolism and growth of Astrangia poculata corals. They then joined the lab again as a visiting researcher working on deep sea cruise video annotations, identifying coral species while working with Steve Auscavitch and NOAA.
	Chenyang Wu (he/him/his) is a recent graduate from the class of 2024, majoring in Biology with a specialization in Ecology and Conservation. In the lab, he is currently a member of the Pacific Plankton team and working on writing his senior thesis about the effects of fish size on the composition of fish assemblages. He’s fascinated by the organisms that lurk in deep sea biomes and what’s to be uncovered in the future. Outside of the lab, he likes to play badminton, stroll around Boston, and experiment with cooking new dishes.
	Drew Bouchie (he/him/his) graduated in 2024 in Earth and Environmental science with a minor in Marine Science. He grew up in Gloucester, Massachusetts with a deep love for the ocean and the ways that humans interact with it. Drew has previous experience researching how bottlenose dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea are responding to fisheries and tourism. In the Rotjan Lab, he will be helping to collect and analyze galls produced on native goldenrod (Solidago spp.). Outside of the lab, Drew spends his time cooking, fishing, and exploring the North Shore on his boat.
	Rene Murphy (they/them/theirs) is an BU graduate (‘24) from Florida majoring in Marine Science. In the lab, they work with the Coral Husbandry team. They have a passion for animal advocacy and research and hope to become a marine veterinarian after their time at BU. Outside of the lab and school, they enjoy reading, playing video games, and spending time with friends.
	Jacob (Jake) Risch(He/Him/His)is from Houston, Texas and is an undergraduate student in the class of 2025 majoring in Marine Science. He is currently a member of the plankton sorting team. Outside the lab he enjoys playing guitar with friends and in BU’s jazz bands.
	Divya Bhuvarahamurthy (she/her/hers) graduated in the class of 2024, majoring in Biology and minoring in Marine Science. She is currently a member of the plankton sorting team in the Rotjan Lab. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, playing badminton, and gardening.
	Victoria Witkowski (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate at Boston University in the class of 2025. She is studying Marine science with minors in Biology and Visual arts. She is currently a member of the plankton sorting team in the Rotjan Lab. Outside of school, she enjoys painting, making jewelry, reading, and being outside.
	Joana Arvanitis (she/her/hers)is an undergraduate student from Miami, Florida in the class of 2025 majoring in Marine Science with a Biology minor. In the lab, Joana works with the plankton sorting team. When she has free time she enjoys rollerblading, fishing, and baking!
	Vanessa Ferreira Lopes (she/her/hers) was formerly a Research Fellow in the Rotjan Lab, and is also currently a Fellow with the Ocean Voices program at the University of Edinburgh and a recent member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI) Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) working group. Vanessa received a Master of Science degree in Marine Biology from Boston University in 2021. Prior to working in Ocean Science, she completed her undergraduate studies at Suffolk University and obtained a Biochemistry degree and a Forensic Science concentration.   Her research interests include focusing on enabling capacity building for early career scientists in SIDS and exploring the linkage between ocean science and policy to identify challenges and options for a sustainable development of the ocean in Cabo Verde under the UN Ocean Decade framework.
	Abigail Grassick (she/her/hers) is from St. Petersburg Florida, and is an undergraduate student in the class of 2023, majoring in biology with a specialization in ecology and conservation with a minor in marine science. She is a part of the plankton sorting team and is interested in the trophic interactions of planktonic organisms. When she’s not in the lab, she can be found playing on BU’s water polo team or spending time enjoying the outdoors.
	Jacqueline (JC) Wihardja (she/her/hers) recently graduated from BU in the class of 2023 with a major in Biology and minors in Statistics and Earth and Environmental Science. In the lab, JC works on sorting plankton samples from the equatorial Pacific. Outside the lab, she loves playing badminton, accumulating an unhealthily large collection of LEGOs and plants, and passionately cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
	Deeya Modhwadiya (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate student in the class of 2023 majoring in biology and psychology. In the lab, she is working on the photomosaic project to record changes of coral cover in the equatorial Pacific. When she is not in class or lab, you can find Deeya walking along the Esplanade or taking pictures of the amazing views in Boston. Some other hobbies are hiking, playing tennis, and watching TV.
	Grace Beery (she/her/hers)just completed her BA/MS in the Rotjan Lab, and she recently defended her thesis on immune challenges and symbiosis in Astrangia poculata.
	Itasca Motter (she/her/hers) is a third year undergraduate student in the Rotjan lab. She is a Marine Science major at Boston University with a minor in Environmental Science, and she is working on the Astrangia poculata energy budget project alongside Caroline Fleming. She grew up on the coast of Southern California, where she first discovered her passion for any and all things related to the ocean. Fun facts about Itasca: she has been to 28 different countries at her current age of 20, she grew up speaking both English and Spanish fluently, and her favorite sea animal is the chambered nautilus!
	Grace Newsom (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the class of 2023, majoring in Biology with a specialization in Ecology and Conservation minoring in Environmental Analysis and Policy. She is currently a member of the plankton sorting team in the Rotjan Lab.  When she’s not in the lab, Grace enjoys being creative through journaling, sewing, crocheting, and playing ukulele.
	Calvin Yu (he/him/his) is a BA/MS student in the class of 2023, majoring in Conservation Biology and minoring in Marine Science. In the lab, Calvin spends his day disentangling plankton from samples collected throughout the Pacific and feeding coral. Enamored with the ocean and its denizens, Calvin is right at home there. While he’s out of the lab, Calvin enjoys wandering the streets of the city to find new places to eat.
	Erica Harmon (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the class of 2023, majoring in Biology and minoring in Environmental Analysis and Policy. In the lab, she is a member of the plankton sorting team.Outside of the lab she enjoys too frequent coffee outings and going to BU Hockey games.
	Originally from Denver, Colorado, Brianne Dent (she/her/hers) completed her Bachelors of Science degree at the University of Denver in 2002. She relocated to Boston in 2003, where she worked as a veterinary technician and volunteered at the New England Aquarium.  In 2005 she joined the New England Aquarium full time as an Aquarist and eventually became the Senior Aquarist responsible for the Tropical Gallery.  She was responsible for caring for a variety of Indo-Pacific fish species, cephalopods and corals. Brianne has reared countless generations of cuttlefish and several generations of banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). Brianne joined the Rotjan lab in 2019 as a senior research technician and uses her skills as an aquarist to keep the lab running smoothly.
	Coretta Granberry (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the Class of 2021, pursing a degree in marine science and a minor in earth and environmental science. She is currently looking at coral photomosaics of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. Fun facts from Coretta: she loves traveling and watching nature documentaries whenever she can. @CorettaGberry
	Isabela Trumble (she/her/hers) recently earned her  B.A. of Marine Science at Boston University (‘20), inspired by her early exposure to marine science at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. Isabela completed undergraduate research in the Rotjan Lab on nutrient sharing in Astrangia poculata. Isabela also participated in three BU Marine Semesters, and was awarded the 2020 Binland Lee Service Award from the BU Marine Program. During her time as an undergraduate, Isabela deepened her interest in aquaria maintenance and husbandry. Now, as a senior research technician at BU, she maintains and cares for aquarium systems in several BU labs with the goal to facilitate research. Out of the lab, Isabela loves to cook, eat, and give belly rubs to her puppy Leia. .@IsabelaTrouble
	Greg Pelose (he/him/his) is an undergraduate student in the class of 2020 (finishing up in December 2020), majoring in Marine Science and Environmental Science. He is currently working on an Honors Thesis in the lab, analyzing coral samples that were collected in Belize with the end goal of quantifying variations in coral polyp structure. He joined the lab in 2017, starting his work with the photomosaics team, a group in the lab that analyzes coral distribution in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. Fun Facts about Greg: Surfing and fishing are two of his lifelong passions; he has spent his entire life exploring marine environments and can not be too far away from them for an extended period of time. He is also a distance runner on the Cross Country/Track and Field team here at BU.
	Raziel Perez (he/him/his) is an undergraduate senior in the class of 2021, majoring in Marine Science. Originally from Miami, Fl. He relocated to Boston in 2016, where he volunteered at the New England Aquarium as an Aquarist and penguin volunteer. He is part of the plankton sorting team in the amazing Rotjan lab. He is an SSI Dive Guide and is currently working towards becoming a scuba instructor. He plans on continuing his education, pursuing his graduate studies and is also interested in dipping his feet into sustainable seafood farming. Fun fact about Raziel: When he’s not diving for treasure in New England waters, he is training for mixed martial arts tournaments.
	Rayner Perdana (he/him/his) is an undergraduate of the class 2021, currently majoring in biology with a minor in earth and environmental science. He is part of the photomosaic and deep-sea corallivore team in identifying corals and coral predators. Fun facts about Rayner: He is from Indonesia, and received his first scuba diving license at age 11, has an area of the ocean named after him (Rayner’s Point) off the coast of eastern Kalimantan, and knows how to drive stick shift.
	Cecelia (Cece) Gerstenbacher (she/her/hers) is a BA/MS Biology student in the class of 2021, specializing in Ecology and Conservation Biology with a minor in Marine Sciences. She is currently volunteering with the photomosaics team to look at coral distribution in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. Fun facts about Cecelia: She grew up between farmland and the ocean in South Jersey and has always been immersed in nature which inspired her to become involved in conservation. She is also a short sprinter on the BU Track and Field team and is almost always running when not doing schoolwork. @cecececewot
	Alexa Dudek (she/her/hers) is a research affiliate of the lab and is also a recent graduate from Boston University. As part of her project, Alexa worked with masters student Laura DiRoberts studying how the temperate coral Astrangia poculata takes up various forms of nitrogen. She also helped with other projects around the lab in her spare time. A fun fact about Alexa: She has been snorkeling since the age of three and has loved the ocean ever since.
	Giuliana (Giuls) Fillion (she/hers) is currently an intern in the lab and is also a recent graduate from Massachusetts in the class of 2022 at Boston University. She is majored in earth and environmental science with a minor in marine science. During the 2021 BU Marine Program, Giuls  developed an interest in marine ecology and conservation.
	Justin Fogliasso (he/him/his) is a senior studying Biology with a specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology, and minoring in Earth and Environmental Science. Justin is currently researching wound healing in mixed-symbiosis Astrangia poculata, following up from previous Rotjan-lab Ph.D. student, Liz Burmester’s, research. In his free time, Justin enjoys hiking, cooking, and trying new coffee shops around Boston. @JustinFogliasso
	Lara Hakam (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate (2020) with a major in Biology and minors in marine science and GIS. She is currently working with both the Rotjan Marine Ecology lab in Biology and Stellwagen Sanctuary using GIS and spatial analysis for a number of projects. She is currently working on the PIPA sperm whale project with Randi, analyzing spatial seabird data for the sanctuary, and working with Suchi Gopal from the Earth and Environment department on an offshore sanding mining and sand lance project in conjunction with Stellwagen and BOEM. When she is working, you can find her birding. Her aspirations are to one day become an ornithologist and work for the conservation and protection of US ecosystems using birds as a focus.
	Olivia Bible (she/her/hers) is a senior undergraduate student majoring in marine science and minoring in biology. She is working with the photomosaics team in the lab to look at changes in coral cover. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, running, and watching food videos.
	Valentina Vaney (She/Her/Hers) is an undergraduate student in the class of 2022, majoring in Biology and minoring in both Environmental Policy and Analysis and Environmental Science. In the Rotjan lab, Valentina works on sorting plankton from the Phoenix Islands and coral husbandry. Fun fact: Valentina grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil where she got scuba certified and has been passionate about the environment ever since.
	Amy Phan (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the class of 2022, majoring in Earth & Environmental Science with a minor in Marine Science. In the Rotjan lab, she works with the photomosaics team to look at changes in coral cover in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. She is also a member of the BU Vietnamese Student Association. Fun fact: she is currently learning how to play the ukulele.
	Hayley Goss (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate (2019) majoring in Marine Science. Her honors thesis focused on herbivory in seagrass communities in Belize. She is looking at interspecific competition and preferential feeding of epibionts in Thalassia testudinum (and just published her first paper in Marine Pollution Bulletin). She also worked in the lab sorting plankton samples to better understand larval tuna dispersal in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area.  Fun Fact: When not working in the lab, I enjoy skiing, scuba diving and sailing. @hayley_g7
	Nicole Haftel (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate (2020), majoring in public relations and minoring in marine science. Marine conservation is one of Nicole’s biggest passions and she is particularly interested in finding ways to reduce our use of plastics. Nicole is the genius behind our current lab photos, and she is also the director and producer of our first Rotjan Lab promo video! Fun facts about Nicole: She is a member of the all-female a cappella group, The Sweethearts. @NicoleHaftel
	Livy Golini (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate (2020), majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Spanish. She is currently working on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area plankton samples here in the lab and loves everything to do with the ocean. She’s recently fallen in love with manatees and their plump figures, and is looking forward to one day snorkeling with them. Fun fact: she doesn’t have a sense of smell, so working with fish is just meant to be. Livy also played for the Field Hockey team here at BU!.@ScienceLivyG
	Laura DiRoberts (she/her/hers) has recently completed her masters at Boston University and was the inaugural winner of the BU Biology Denton Award for her outstanding masters thesis.  Laura has a BA in Marine Biology from Salem State University and a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Saint Joseph.  Prior to coming to BU, Laura interned at the Ocean Alliance in Gloucester, MA on the snotbot project.  Her research is focused on symbiotic mediation of nitrogen cycling in the temperate scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata, with a particular interest on anthropogenic nutrient loading. Fun fact from Laura: David Bowie has always been my favorite musician, and I saw him live three times.
	Zoe Nelson-Barkan (she/her/hers) is a junior undergraduate student studying marine science with a minor in biology. She has worked under the guidance of Cece Gerstenbacher to process sediment samples and is now working on the photomosaics team. She received her PADI scuba diving license at thirteen years old and loves to paint in her free time
	Jack VanSchoick (he/him/his) is a recent graduate (2020), majoring in Biology. In the lab, he works with 3D coral photomosaics of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, helping to characterize coral growth, recruitment, and succession. He has also conducted research on Caribbean Spiny Lobster pathology in Turneffe Atoll, Belize, as well as microplastic ingestion in locally caught fish in Auckland, New Zealand. Fun fact about Jack: He loves to surf and play soccer. He can play three and a half songs on the ukulele and his favorite marine organism is the cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus).@JackV_12
	Dr. Stephanie N. Kennedy(she/her/hers) is a postdoctoral researcher working jointly with the Rotjan Lab and the Kagan Lab (Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital). She received her BSc in Zoology (Colorado State University), her MSc in Marine Science (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University) and PhD in Environmental Chemistry (University of Alaska). Her first research experience was with Dr. Gwong-Jen Chang (Centers for Disease Control) working on flavivirus vaccine efficacy studies. Her scientific interests, field explorations, and publications span multiple disciplines (assay development, conservation, environmental health, renewable energy, foraging ecology, toxicology, marine drug discovery, host-microbe interactions, and eco-immunology). Her past projects featured various megafauna (endangered Steller sea lions, Pacific harbor seals, California sea lions, Northern elephant seals, sea otters, seabirds, and shorebirds). Currently, her scientific endeavors are focused on coral defenses to investigate unique host-pathogen interactions and innate immunity in corals. Fun facts: Stephanie’s work has taken her all the way to Attu Island, the furthest western point of the U.S. Alaskan Islands in the Bering Sea.
	Kelsie Garretson(she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the class of 2021.  She is an Earth and Environmental Major (with a focus on Ecosystem science) with a minor in Marine Science. In the Rotjan Lab, Kelsie mainly works in taxonomically identifying zooplankton from the Phoenix Island Protected Area (PIPA). She is also working on a project on larval cephalopods from PIPA, in addition to assisting in a deep sea corallivory project with NOAA. Kelsie is a founder and current treasure of the professional environmental fraternity at Boston University, Epsilon Eta. She also works in the Finnerty Lab At BU looking at symbionts in sponges from Belize. @krebecca3
	Neha Chinwalla(she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the Class of 2022 studying earth and environmental sciences, with minors in marine science and political science. She is currently volunteering with the photomosaics team to help trace coral mosaics from the Phoenix Island Protected Area, as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. Neha is also the Director of the Department of Environmental Affairs for BU Student Government and a member of the BU Running Club.
	Ingrid (Allie) Cole(she/her/hers) is an undergraduate member of the class 2021, pursuing a degree in marine science with a minor in African studies. She works in the Rotjan lab on deep sea, open ocean, and coral reef fish larvae in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area on an ongoing 10-year project to determine how taxonomic assemblages change across ENSO cycles – check out her vlog about her summer 2019 fieldwork! This project is in collaboration with Jan Witting at SEA and the Llopiz Lab at WHOI. Fun facts about Allie: she spent a large part of her childhood living in Uganda and still goes back as often as she can to work with her parents. Allie is also an aerial artist and has been training since she was 9 years old in the art of trapeze, tightwire, lyra and many more! @123alliec
	Lindsy Voelker(she/her/hers) is an undergraduate sophomore at BU. She is studying Behavioral Biology, and is interested in marine biology, conservation, and ecology as well. Lindsy is part of the PIPA Plankton Sorting Team in the Rotjan lab. Outside the lab, she enjoys trying new foods, skiing, hiking, road trips/traveling, and almost anything else outdoors.
	William Kim (he/him/his) is an undergraduate student in the class of 2021 pursuing a degree in Marine Science and a minor in Environmental Analysis & Policy. He is currently working on sorting through plankton samples collected from the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Fun Facts from Will: When I’m not in school or working, my favorite things to do are SCUBA dive, freedive, and pilot light aircraft. So far I’ve flown the Cessna 172, PA-28, and Cirrus SR-22.
	Adrienne Breef-Pilz(she/her/hers) is an intern in the Rotjan Lab. She received her Masters Degree from Northeastern University Three Seas Program in 2017 and her Bachelors Degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is Biology in 2013. In the lab she is currently working on a project looking at the behavior of Astrangia poculata under different feeding conditions, and her first paper was just published in Ecology and Evolution. She has had the pleasure of representing the Rotjan Lab in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area with SEA aboard the SSV Robert C. Seamans, conducting oceanographic research on larval distributions and reef research on coral resilience. Hands down, PIPA is her favorite place to dive. When not diving, Adrienne can be found exploring tide pools or with her nose in a book. @swimmerage
	Jacob Taylor(he/him/his) is a recent graduate (class of 2019) from the BU College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a degree in Marine Science. Even though he is on a Pre-Medical track professionally, Jacob has always had a passion for ocean conservation from growing up exploring the stunning waterways of the San Francisco Bay. Jacob hopes to gain a complex understanding of coral ecology by working on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) project. He is also a lab diver extraordinaire and recently led the dives for the #Astrangia things roadtrip. :-)
	Sarah Rosenthal(she/her/hers) is our remote Pacific lab member, living all the way in Hawaii! Sarah will be completing her master’s degree in Geographic Information Science and Technology from the University of Southern California in December of 2019. After sailing ontwo NOAA Okeanos Explorer cruises, the first of which mapped a part of the Phoenix Islands, her excitement for incorporating geospatial and data science with oceanography began to blossom. She currently is working with various institutions on mapping and GIS projects within the Pacific and the Phoenix Islands. Sarah holds project experience in spatial analysis, custom script tools, spatial databases and a has special passion for cartography. While she is especially enthusiastic about deep sea research, her broad research interests involve geostatistics and 3D modeling. She enjoys spending her free time away from computer screens by hiking, SCUBA diving and tending to her sourdough culture. @sarsrrosenthal
	Cassandra Swartz(she/her/hers) is a junior at Boston University Academy (BUA), where she is the captain of the women’s soccer and basketball teams. She is taking classes at Boston University in environmental engineering, biology, and Portuguese. Upon graduation she plans to pursue degrees in marine biology and environmental policy. Cassandra is aiding Sarah Speroff on their research surrounding climate driven stressors on Astrangia poculata. In her free time, Cassandra enjoys playing the flute and piano, skiing, hydrofoiling, sailing, and surfing.
	Jia Johnson(she/her/hers) is from Sarasota, Florida, and is an undergraduate student in the class of 2024. Jia is a Marine Science major on a pre-vet track. Her  favorite things to do are snorkeling/scuba diving, going hiking, and watching the sunset. She also plays on the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team at BU!
	Cara Johnson is a Senior Research Technician at Boston University. She received a BS from The University of New Hampshire in Marine and Freshwater Biology, and a MS from Florida Institute of Technology in Marine Biology. She served as a fish and invertebrate biologist at various public aquariums across the US before pursuing a Master’s Degree. Her thesis research looked at the transcriptional stress responses of heat shock proteins in seahorses in China. Her current work involves the husbandry and maintenance of all living specimen and their enclosures in the Rotjan and Buston Labs, as well as assisting students in the experimental design and set up of their research. Fun facts: Cara is a former competitive Irish step dancer, loves to travel, is mom to the world’s cutest chihuahua, and is a member of a Spartan Race team (even though she dislikes running).
	Ryen Guthrie (she/her/hers) is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Computer Science. She is a part of the team annotating deep sea videos collected from a research expedition in the summer of 2021. Ryen is also a member of the BU Figure Skating Team so you can usually find her on the ice in her free time.
	Sasha Schuele is a member of BU’s class of 2018, graduating with a B.A. in Biology and a B.S. in Science Education. She has been interested in biology and environmentalism from an early age, and her coursework, lab work, student teaching experience, and extracurriculars revolve around science and the natural world. After seeing the diversity of life in the water column while sifting through phytoplankton during her work in the Rotjan Lab, she now works on a project reviewing deep sea footage ROV footage from recent PIPA cruises on the Okeanos and Falkor to catalog encounters with a probable coral predator. Through work with the Environmental Student Organization and the club Wizards, she often volunteers at earth-friendly causes in the Greater Boston area, and enjoys hiking and cooking in her spare time. Fun fact from Sasha: I’m an ordained minister in the state of California, so contact me if you need a marriage officiated!
	Emma Martin, class of 2019, majored in Biology, specializing in Ecology and Conservation Biology, and minoring in Marine Science. She has a current UROP award. Her honors thesis project focuses on whether and how the distribution of larval deep sea and coral reef fishes in the central Pacific shift in response to ENSO events, in collaboration with Jan Witting at SEA and the Llopiz Lab at WHOI. Fun fact from Emma: I am a huge hockey fan, though I’m not quite as good at skating-Go Bruins!
	Jacob Taylor, class of 2019, graduated from the BU College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a degree in Marine Science. Even though he is on a Pre-Medical track professionally, Jacob has always had a passion for ocean conservation from growing up exploring the stunning waterways of the San Francisco Bay. Jacob hopes to gain a complex understanding of coral ecology by working on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) project. He is also a lab diver extraordinaire and recently led the dives for the #Astrangia things roadtrip. :-) @jake_Taylor_510
	Nico Colletier is an undergraduate Junior at BU. I’m majoring in Marine Science and double minoring in Environmental Analysis & Policy and Remote Sensing & GIS. He is volunteering on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area photomosaics project in the lab as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. He likes to focus on conservation and will be working on a coral reef restoration project this summer. Fun fact from Nico: In my free time, I enjoy playing sports, hiking, and being outdoors!
	Jamie Dela Cruz is part of of BU’s class of 2021, majoring in biology with a specialization in cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. Currently, she is preparing for an oxidative stress experiment on the temperate coral Astrangia poculata, in collaboration with the Rotjan Lab, John Finnerty and Sarah Davies under a current UROP award. She will then complete a wounding experiment coupled with oxidative stress on these corals to study their responses and see if there is variation among them. Fun fact from Jamie: When I’m not in the lab, I’m probably learning how to play the ukelele or hoping to see Rhett (the actual dog) on campus.
	Siobhan Sheehan just graduated from Boston University (’19) studying marine science and science education. In the Rotjan lab she is working on analyzing ROV footage from recent Phoenix Islands Protected Area cruises on the Okeanos and Falkor where we are trying to describe the feeding behavior of a novel corallivorous jellyfish in the deep sea. Siobhan is now a teacher, which is the perfect place to promote sustainability, share her love for the marine ecosystem, and train the next generation of ocean stewards.
	Daniel Cutillo is an undergraduate student in the Class of 2019. He is majoring in Biology, with a specialization in Cellular, Molecular, and Genetics. While most interested in evolutionary biology, Daniel is fascinated by the cellular and genomic underpinnings that diversify all life, including life in the ocean. When he’s not being a scientist, he’s being a soldier, and is part of the Army ROTC Charles River Battalion here at BU. Fun fact: Daniel is an Airborne Qualified Paratrooper and has experience jumping out of military aircraft.
	Courtney Moller is an undergraduate student in the class of 2020. She is majoring in Biology and working towards someday becoming a Clinical Pharmacist. In the lab, Courtney is currently working on sorting the 2018 plankton samples from the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Fun fact about Courtney: When she’s not in the lab, she is also heavily involved in theatre at BU!
	Roseline Ewa is a senior majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Sociology. She is on the plankton sorting team. She is interested in increasing socioeconomic and racial diversity in STEM fields and bringing scientific issues to the public through outreach. In the future, Rose hopes to look into the ways social and environmental issues are linked and how these problems affect everyday people in society.
	Julia Winberg is an undergraduate in the Class of 2019. She is majoring in Advertising and has a concentration in Marine Science. She is volunteering on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area photomosaics project in the lab as part of the 100IslandsChallenge. Fun facts from Julia: She is from Block Island, a small island off the coast of Rhode Island, which is where her love for the ocean began as a baby. When not in class, you can find her in Agganis Arena interning for BU Men’s Hockey or watching a documentary about the ocean (or Finding Nemo).
	Chloe Brown is an undergraduate in the Class of 2020, majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Biology. Chloe works on multiple projects in the Rotjan Lab with her nickname “the everything girl” but is currently working on a coral reef internship in Roatan (she’ll be back on campus in September). A fun fact about Chloe is that she once pet a penguin and found it fluffier than her hyper Siberian Husky, Kona.
	Emily Veninga (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate in the Class of 2021 majoring in marine science with a minor in computer science. She is currently reviewing footage collected by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to identify corallivory in deep-sea corals in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Fun fact from Emily: she spends a lot of her time with her cats, Charlotte and Georgie, in her apartment watching crime TV shows or listening to D&D podcasts.
	Anna Lapadula (she/her/hers) is a sophomore from Manchester, New Hampshire working with Sarah Speroff in the Rotjan Lab. Anna has elected to double-major in Marine Science and Earth & Environmental Sciences in order to surround herself as much as possible with nature throughout her education, career, and beyond. She spent most of her childhood outside, and, by this point in her life, Anna and her family have owned over 20 pets! When she isn’t attending to schoolwork, Anna loves to practice languages, try her hand at new recipes, rollerblade along the Esplanade, or explore Boston with friends.
	Caterina (Micat) Po is an undergraduate student majoring in Earth and Environmental Science, with a focus on Ecology. She is an international student from the Philippines and is fascinated by tropical ecosystems. In the lab, she will be working on the newly-collected 2018 plankton samples from the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. In her spare time, Micat loves rock climbing, snorkeling, and exploring nature. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to marine conservation back home in a meaningful way.
	Erin Dracup (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate student in the class of 2023 majoring in Health Science with a minor in Marine Science. As part of the Rotjan Lab, Erin is working with Justin Fogliasso to research wound healing in mixed-symbiosis Astrangia poculata. Fun facts about Erin: She grew up in Ithaca, New York and got PADI scuba certified in Cayuga Lake! When not in the lab, she loves to run along the Charles River and explore Boston with friends!
	Ian Kwit (He, Him, His) is an undergraduate student of the class of 2023, majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Mandarin Chinese. He is a part of the photomosaics team, working to monitor and record the changes in coral growth within the reefs of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Ian also assists the Coral Husbandry team in taking care of the polyps of Astrangia poculata kept within the lab. Ian is a member of the BU running club. When he isn’t in class, you can usually find him running along the Charles River or in the BU Library enjoying the quiet and calm atmosphere.
	Gabriella Villani (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate student from central Massachusetts in the class of 2024 at Boston University. She is majoring in biology with a specialization in ecology and conservation and a minor in marine science. She is a member of the PIPA plankton sorting team in the Rotjan lab and loves competition, whether it be Mario Kart or soccer.
	Nina Zhao (they/them) is an undergraduate in the class of 2024, majoring in Conservation Biology and minoring in Anthropology! Ae is part of the Rotjan Lab husbandry team. Nina enjoys learning about the complex world ae lives in, whether that be through quantitative or qualitative lenses. In aer spare time, ae enjoys dancing, “music-ing”, and learning more about birds.