Emperor Penguin Research in Antarctica

I completed my Ph.D. in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD in 2011 with Dr. Paul Ponganis.
My doctoral research investigated muscle oxygen depletion in freely diving emperor penguins in Antarctica.  In order to conduct this research, I developed a near-infrared spectrophotometer data logger to measure muscle oxygen depletion in a diving bird. My research demonstrated that emperor penguins use two different oxygen depletion strategies during dives – the first time such distinct oxygen depletion patterns were described in a diving vertebrate.

Endangered Leatherback Turtle Project in Costa Rica

During my Master’s program, I worked on, and then co-managed, a conservation research program on endangered leatherback turtles in Costa Rica. My research focused on turtle movements between nesting events, including determining how much protection the marine reserve provided turtles.
In addition to my own project, I also worked on other major program activities including monitoring nesting events, hatching success, and beach disturbances, as well as working with the local community to come up with ways to minimize disturbances to nesting turtles.

Studying Marine Turtles in Japan and Freshwater Turtles in California

After completing my Ph.D., I began a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. James Hicks at UC Irvine, examining cardiovascular responses to both routine activities and anthropogenic disturbances in freshwater and endangered marine green and loggerhead turtles. This work also focused on understanding the physiological responses during net entanglement events that may contribute to high marine turtle mortality in fishing nets.