Lab Member Bios

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith is an Professor in marine ecology and conservation in the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Dr. Smith’s lab studies human impacts on marine ecosystems from coral reefs to kelp forests. Her research often goes beyond basic ecology by integrating conservation, restoration, management, and sustainability. While much of the Smith lab is focused on addressing pressing issues in marine ecology, lab members are increasingly interested in seafood sustainability, coastal aquaculture and habitat restoration. Dr. Smith and her team are largely focused on the study of seaweeds because of their immense potential to improve global sustainability and contribute to a carbon neutral future.

 

 

 

Research Interests

• Phycology, the Study of Seaweeds
• Coral Reef, Intertidal and Kelp Forest Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Aquaculture
• Human Impacts on Marine Communities
• Global Change
• Ocean Solutions, Sustainability
• Blue Carbon

Dr. Jennifer Smith Curriculum vitae

Dr. Jennifer Smith Google Scholar Page and Research Gate

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Post Docs

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Postdoctoral Scholar: Dr. Or Ben-Zvi

Or has studied coral fluorescence and the ecophysiology of mesophotic corals (30-150 m) during her MSc and PhD (Tel-Aviv University, Israel). In her various projects she explored how physiological processes may impact corals’ ecology in the underexplored ecosystems inhabiting depths that are beyond the recreational diving limits. Or has joined the Smith lab in a joint project with the Jaffe lab in order to develop and implement a new underwater photosynthesis assessment tool. She enjoys dancing, music, baking, and spending time on the beach.

 

 

 

Postdoctoral Scholar: Dr. Adi Khen

Adi is curating, cataloguing and digitizing Scripps’ herbarium (i.e., pressed seaweed) collection. She completed her PhD studying coral reef ecology in the Smith Lab,  where she used image analysis to track the long-term responses of corals and algae to heat stress. Adi helps teach Phycology (Marine Plant Biology) at UCSD, has interned with The Nature Conservancy’s Hawaiʻi and Palmyra Program, and is involved in the Tribal Intertidal Digital Ecological Surveys (TIDES) project. Adi is passionate about using art to communicate science and she makes digital illustrations of marine life in her spare time. She also enjoys taking care of animals and volunteering at the SIO experimental aquarium.

Check out her blog! adlysia.wordpress.com

Selected Publications:

Khen, A., Johnson, M.D., Fox, M.D., Clements, S.M., Carter, A.L., & J.E. Smith (2022) Decadal stability of coral reef benthic communities on Palmyra Atoll, central Pacific, through two bleaching events. Coral Reefs, 1-13. [pdf]

Postdoctoral Scholar: Dr. Lingjie Zhou

Lingjie studied the transcriptome of the green tide algae (Ulva), which contributed to understanding why the massive algae bloom annually in China’s coastal water during her MSc (Shanghai Ocean University). She developed an efficient method to estimate the phytoplankton carbon biomass using DNA by establishing robust correlations between cellular DNA content, Carbon content, and rDNA copy numbers in phytoplankton during her Ph.D. (University of Connecticut). Now she is a postdoc at Smith Lab working on the cultivation and population genetics in the Asparagopsis project. She enjoys movies, painting, table tennis, and hanging out with friends.

 

 

Postdoctoral Scholar: Dr. Laís Lima

Lais joined the Smith lab/Wegley Kelly lab in a collaborative project that aims to investigate the carbon sequestration potential of kelp forests. She will be quantifying the amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released by kelp that could resist microbial consumption and be potentially sequestered. Before joining the Smith lab, Lais completed a post-doc on seaweed microbiome research for the Networked Blue Economy track of the NSF Convergence Accelerator grant (2021-2023, San Diego State University). She earned her joint PhD degree in Ecology (SDSU/UC Davis) by showing that coral microbiomes can be modeled according to temperature fluctuations and provide beneficial services to the coral host (2016-2021). She enjoys writing, beach time, travelling, exercising, and hosting friends and family.

More information: lais-lima.com
https://sea-trees.org/pages/kelp-carbon-science

Postdoctoral Scholar: Dr. Rosalie Harris

Rosie’s fascination with kelp grew from countless hours spent diving and surveying seaweeds in Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, where she researched sediment and seaweed community dynamics during her master’s at the Australian National University. Her curiosity about temperature’s impact on marine systems then led her down the path of physiology, prompting her to pursue a PhD at ANU. Working in a plant-focused lab, Rosie applied photobiology techniques traditionally used on land plants to study the thermal tolerance of habitat-forming kelps. This cross-disciplinary approach allowed her to bridge marine and plant sciences to gain new techniques and skills. Now a postdoc in the Smith Lab, she works on identifying thermally tolerant kelp for potential restoration in southern California. Outside of research, Rosie loves playing guitar, board games, surfing, hiking, birdwatching, gardening and making food with friends.

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PhD Students

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PhD Student: Daniel Conley

Daniel Conley is a PhD candidate studying coral behavior and photo-physiology in the Smith Lab. Prior to starting his PhD, Daniel received a BA in Japanese language and Literature and a BS in Biological Sciences with a minor in Theatre Arts from the University of Pittsburgh. He then went on to receive an MAS in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation and an MS in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Daniel primarily focuses on experimental designs which are completed in a laboratory setting. To this end, he has started and is currently maintaining a coral farm to supply his experiments with specimens. Daniel is interested in what makes corals behave the way that they do and how those behaviors influence how we observe them. This is to better inform the field of remote sensing where the goal is to understand what is happening on the surface of the Earth from space using satellites.

 

PhD Student: Sarah Romero

Sarah’s interest in coral reefs started when she volunteered in the Smith and Sandin labs and explored research as an undergraduate. Now as a PhD candidate, her research focuses on coral reef ecology, recruitment success, and the effects of anthropogenic stressors on the reef environment. This is done by using calcification accretion units (CAUs) to evaluate reef growth, benthic community composition, algal succession, and coral recruitment on Palmyra Atoll, in the remote Central Pacific. She is interested in how coral recruitment changes over time in the context of disturbances such as coral bleaching events. Sarah strives to be an advocate for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts in academia. Specifically, she has a passion for exposing minorities to ocean sciences through multiple avenues of outreach during her PhD. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading fiction and mystery/thriller books, cooking for friends, and running any flat road she can find!

PhD Student: Mohammad Sedarat

Mohammad’s PhD research explores the impact of climate change on the kelp forest environment across varying spatial scales. His work explores the ecological, physiological, and genetic aspects of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) in the face of rising ocean temperatures and changing environmental conditions. His goal is to understand the adaptability of southern California kelp forests, some of our most biodiverse marine ecosystems, and provide insights that may contribute to their conservation.

Check out his website to learn more: https://kelpstory.org/

PhD Student: Dillon Dolinar

Dillon joined the lab as an incoming PhD student in the fall of 2023. Prior to his time at SIO, he studied kelp forest ecology at SDSU and later worked as Reef Check’s Southern California Regional Manager. There, he oversaw the long-term monitoring efforts of sites from Santa Barbara to San Diego and also assisted with survey efforts from Monterey, CA to Magdalena Bay, BCS. Here in the Smith Lab, Dillon’s is studying environmental impacts on understory kelps through experimental manipulation as well as exploring long-term monitoring data to understand drivers of community structure on North America’s temperate rocky reefs. In his free time he enjoys running, SCUBA diving, traveling and reading.

Check out his website to learn more: https://dillondolinar.weebly.com/

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Master’s Students

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MS Student: Marie Diaz

Marie is a Master’s student utilizing large scale photoimaging techniques to study Diadema antillarum density thresholds and their effects on the recovery potential of degraded coral reefs in the Caribbean.  Marie graduated from UCSD in 2016 with a BS in Marine Biology. As an undergrad, she volunteered in the Smith and Sandin labs working with large-scale imaging techniques to quantify benthic composition on coral reefs.  As a volunteer, Marie found a passion for research and science communication. After graduating, she worked for Reef Environmental Education Foundation, as their Invasive Species Program Manager, educating and engaging volunteers in invasive lionfish mitigation efforts.  She now works for San Diego Coastkeeper as their Marine Debris Coordinator, where she strives to connect San Diegans to hands-on environmental stewardship opportunities and marine debris prevention strategies. In her free time, Marie enjoys surfing, painting, and playing with her giant golden retriever, Maverick.

MS Student: Will Schneider

Will is a Master’s student studying the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis, the role it could play in methane mitigation and its potential for aquaculture. He graduated in 2016 from California State University East Bay with a BS in Ecology and Conservation Biology and Minor in Chemistry. He began as a volunteer in the Smith Lab working on experimental aquaculture, and quickly became fascinated by the myriad possible applications of algae, particularly in regards to tackling climate change. Will is currently studying the relationship between genetics and environment to the quality of algae that can be produced. In his free time he’s in the ocean, reading a book or hiking with friends.

 

 

MS Student: Mitch Smelser

Mitch is a Master’s student studying coral reef ecology and population genetics on reefs across the Maui Nui region. His research currently focuses on using molecular approaches to better understand species boundaries between Porites lobata and Porites compressa and their respective reproductive strategies. Centering around long term-monitoring sites, Mitch works with Structure-from-Motion and Large-area imaging technology to map demographic patterns across time onto 3D models made for coral reefs. Pairing his genetic findings with morphometric and photometric color data, he hopes to offer more-concrete evidence for field identification used for in-situ management practices. Mitch completed his B.S. in Zoology at Miami University in 2018 and worked as a trainer and diver for the Navy Marine Mammal Program prior to joining the lab. In his free time, Mitch enjoys mountain biking, trail running, playing the drums, and his favorite – visiting National Parks!

 

BS/MS Student: Angelica Dimas

BS/MS Student: Kanisha Contractor

Kanisha is a Master’s student studying the chemical ecology of Asparagopsis taxiformis. In 2022, she graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Environmental Systems with a specialization in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, and a minor in Climate Change Studies. In her senior year of college, she took Dr. Jennfier Smith’s phycology class and was introduced to A.taxiformis as a unique climate change solution. Kanisha is specifically interested in investigating the alga’s response to grazing, its associated chemical cues, and how it might affect the production of bromoform. Before she got involved with A.taxiformis, Kanisha volunteered with PhD student Orion McCarthy on a project exploring the utility of Structure from Motion (SfM) modeling technology for coral reef conservation. In her free time, Kanisha enjoys music, spending time outdoors and the Arts.

BS/MS Student: Tess Rounds

Tess is a laboratory assistant contributing to the Asparagopsis taxiformis research project. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from UC San Diego in 2022. During her undergraduate studies, Tess volunteered in the Smith Lab, where she helped develop the Asparagopsis seedbank. This volunteer position sparked her passion for aquaculture and the unique potential of Asparagopsis taxiformis as a methane mitigator. As a Master’s student, Tess’s research focuses on the thermal tolerance of Asparagopsis taxiformis and its impact on methane reduction. Outside the lab, Tess enjoys reading, spending time with her dog Winston, and hanging out with family and friends.

 

BS/MS Student: Katelyn Meyer

Katelyn is a Master’s student in the Marine Biology BS/MS program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography studying how environmental stressors affect Macrocystis pyrifera at its early developmental stages. With this research, she hopes to determine the natural variation of environmental tolerances for M. pyrifera and other kelp taxa to better determine which populations are more naturally adapted and have the best potential to survive future marine heatwaves. She hopes with this work, naturally adapted individuals will succeed in experiments and be used later on in restoration efforts. As an undergraduate student, she volunteered in the Smith lab, working with Asparagopsis taxiformis and Macrocystis pyrifera. This volunteer position allowed Katelyn to discover her passion for M. pyrifera and explore the environmental tolerances of this species in order to better understand the impact of climate change on kelp forests. Katelyn graduated from UC San Diego with a BS in Marine Biology in 2023, and was a member of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer team. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys surfing, hiking, camping, playing soccer, and fieldwork!

 

BS/MS Student: Elayna Osterman

Elayna is a Master’s student with a deep passion for developing marine-based solutions to combat climate change. She is particularly focused on Asparagopsis taxiformis, a red seaweed known for its potential to drastically reduce methane emissions in the cattle industry. Her research investigates the microbiome of A. taxiformis, specifically how its microbial community changes as the algae transitions from its natural oceanic habitat to a controlled lab culture environment. By studying these shifts in microbiome dynamics, Elayna aims to better understand how microbes influence the growth and health of the algae, with the ultimate goal of optimizing large-scale algae production for environmental impact.

 

 

BS/MS Student: Conor Elliot

BS/MS Student: Natalie Zembsch

Natalie is a Master’s student studying Macrocystis pyrifera spore development and settlement technique for kelp forest restoration. Optimizing spore development ensures a robust stock of gametophyte cultures to use in settlement trials. She’s cautiously optimistic that gametophytes will find clay tiles to be a suitable substrate to reproduce on, and that we can outplant thermally resilient kelp strains on ceramic instead of plastic. She’s interested in working with other species as well, especially Laminaria farlowii as it is largely unstudied (despite its potential to be a high value aquaculture species in Southern California). She spent two summers working as a farm hand for Springtide Seaweed, an organic sugar kelp and alaria farm in Downeast Maine, and would happily be a kelp farmer when she grows up. Natalie graduated from UCSD in 2023 with a BS in Marine Biology, and started this contiguous master’s program a few months after graduation. She loves climbing, making pottery, reading, and doing science in the field.

 

BS/MS Student: Bella Wu

Bella is a Master’s student in the Marine Biology BS/MS program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She graduated from UCSD in 2024 with a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, a B.A. in Public Policy, and a minor in Marine Science. She has experience in terrestrial and coastal field ecology methods, as well as environmental chemistry laboratory techniques and marine conservation policy writing and analysis. As an undergraduate student, Bella volunteered in Dr. Smith’s lab, where she developed and maintained a seedbank of Asparagopsis taxiformis cultures harvested from various San Diego locations. As a Master’s student, Bella hopes to use her knowledge and experience with A. taxiformis to research its heavy metal composition and applications for biosorption, but her future goal is to contribute to long-term marine and coastal environmental policy and regulation by bridging the gap between scientific research and policy analysis. In her free time, Bella enjoys exploring tide pools, hiking, cafe hopping, reading, and spending time with friends, family, and her cat.

BS/MS Student: Bobby Wu

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Staff Researchers

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Lab Manager & Staff Research Associate: Sam Clements

Sam graduated from UCSD in 2012 with a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and a minor in Studio Art. She completed her M.S. research in the Smith lab in 2015, where she studied the functional roles of herbivorous fishes on coral reefs of Maui. In addition to her current role as the Smith Lab manager, Sam oversees the Scripps Ocean Acidity Real-time (SOAR) Monitoring Program. She also assists with a variety of projects, including the 100 Island Challenge, as a coral reef benthic scientist identifying coral, algae, and other benthic invertebrates. In her spare time Sam enjoys painting, beach volleyball, and competitive sandcastling.

 

Staff Research Associate: Kalani Ortiz

Kalani received her B.S. in Environmental Biology with a minor in Spanish from California Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where she discovered a passion for macro- and microalgae, which sparked her research interests in mariculture. While completing her masters in Fisheries Biology at Cal Poly Humboldt, her research focused on cultivating Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) from hatchery to open water in Humboldt Bay, CA.

As a staff researcher in the Smith Lab, Kalani’s work involves establishing and maintaining native seaweed cultures in the lab’s outdoor research facility, the “Slab Lab.” Her work also supports ongoing research projects focused on identifying and cataloging seaweed species from the San Diego coastal region, as well as contributing to culinary-focused seaweed initiatives. Outside of the lab, Kalani enjoys cooking, tidepooling and hiking.

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Volunteers

• Kiko Rubio
• Hayley Hall
• Emmaline Ocain
• Yulisma Martinez
• George Nassar
• Ella Coulson
• AJ Feller
• Kai Moore
• Rachel Zhou

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Past Members

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Postdoctoral Scholars

• Dr. Matthew Hargrave (2023)
  -Currently employed at Volta Labs
• Dr. Gal Dishon (2022)
  -Currently employed at Blue Ocean Barns
• Dr. Emily Kelly (2018)
  -Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions and World Economic Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
• Dr. Ryota Nakajima (2018)
  -Currently a Principal Investigator at JAMSTEC (find his website here)
• Dr. Nichole Price (2014)
  -Currently a Principal Investigator at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
• Dr. Andi Haas (2013)
  -Currently a Principal Investigator at NIOZ Royal Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University

 

PhD Students

• Dr. Orion McCarthy (2024)
  – Currently the Science Lead for SeaTrees
• Dr. Adi Khen (2022)
  – Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher with Dr. Jennifer Smith at SIO
• Dr. Abigail Cannon (2019)
  – Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Salk Institute for Biological Studies
• Dr. Amanda Carter (2018)
  – Currently employed at the National Science Foundation 
• Dr. Michael Fox (2018)
  – Currently an Assistant Research Professor at KAUST
• Dr. Levi Lewis (2016)
  – Currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory
• Dr. Maggie Johnson (2016)
  – Currently an Assistant Professor at KAUST
• Dr. Emily Kelly (2015)
  -Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions and World Economic Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
• Dr. Jill Harris (2015)

 

Master’s Students

• Isabella Doohan (2022)
• Sabrina Sauri (2022)
• Hannah Resetarits (2022)
  – Currently employed at Blue Ocean Barns
• Jonathan Charendoff (2021)
  – Currently employed at JIMAR 
• Corinne Amir (2019)
  – Currently employed at JIMAR 
• Christina Jayne (2018)
  – Currently employed at DAR Honolulu 
• Gideon Butler (2016)
• Nicole Pedersen (2016)
  – Currently employed at SIO with Dr. Stuart Sandin
• Sam Clements (2015)
  – Currently Lab Manager & Research Associate in the Smith Lab at SIO
• Molly Gleason (2013)
• Susan Kram (2013)
• Clinton Edwards (2013)
  – Currently a Ph.D. student at SIO with Dr. Stuart Sandin

 

Research Staff

• Isabella Doohan – Research Associate (2023)
• Hannah Resetarits – Research Associate (2023)
• Kyra Black – Research Associate (2022)
• Brant Chlebowski – Research Associate (2020)
  – Founder of California Seaweed Co. 
• Kelsey Miller – Research Associate (2019)
  – Currently a Ph.D. student at Simon Fraser University
• Niko Kaplanis – Research Associate (2017)
  – Currently a Ph.D. student at UC Santa Cruz
• Clinton Edwards – Research Associate (2016)
  – Currently a Ph.D. student at SIO with Dr. Stuart Sandin
• Susan Kram – Lab Manager & Research Associate (2016)
• Tiffany Teng (2013)
• Currie Dugas – Lab Manager (2011)
• Jackie Tran – Research Assistant (2011)

 

Past Volunteers

• Nicole Lopez (2024)
• Cai Rahman (2024)
• Madison Churchill (2024 – MAS Student)
• Cali Lingle (2024)
• Cal Costa (2024)
• Bella Wu (2024)
• Kaycey Bui (2023)
• Ailish Ullmann (2023)
• Lindsay Carroll (2023)
• Haley Chasin (2023)
• Kat Guerrero (2023)
• Megan Patton (2023)
• Beverly Scharnhorst (2023)
• Charlotte Sue (2022)
• Jenny Grossman (2022)
• Lindsey Badder (2022)
• Anna Custodio (2022)
• Brandon Tsai (2022)
• Andre Lai (2022)
• Victoria Vasquez (2022)
• Solomon Chang (2022)
• Varun Sachin Shirhatti (2022)
• Zach Yamada (2021)
• Elise Gonzales (2021)
• Steven Shuster (2021)
• Kimi Rogers (2021 – MAS Student)
• Jack Ewing (2021)
• Brooke Denney (2021)
• Kaniela Zhen (2021)
• Ashley Pries (2020)
• Chelsea Eckhart (2020)
• Conor Elliot (2020)
• Ella Kim (2020)
• Emily Bornhop (2020)
• Faith Huang (2020)
• Giulia Luerti (2020)
• John Carson (2020)
• Lauren Cho (2020)
• Lizzie Raphaels (2020)
• Peter Pham (2020)
• Alyssa Cohen (2019)
• Erin Hollander (2019)
• Jilian Goguen (2019)
• Sabrina Phan (2019)
• Claire Kosinski (2019)
• Sarah Romero (2019)
• Ryan Hur (2019)
• Kristina Dizon (2019)
• Emily Lever (2019)
• Shania Schull (2018)
• Katya Reshatoff (2018)
• Julie Kring (2018)
• Karina Arzuyan (2018)
• Will Schneider (2018)
• Chloe Kotik (2018)
• Matthew Pawinski (2018)
• Amanda Leu (2018)
• Michelle Loewe (2018 – MAS Student)
• Kelsey Miller (2018 – MAS Student)
• Michael Carlson (2018)
• Cassie Paumard (2018)
• Sara Borchers (2018)
• Michelle Prieto (2018)
• Cynthia Zhang (2017)
• Jessica Glanz (2017)
• Mario Gaytan (2017)
• Ellis Juhlin (2017)
• Maurizio Martinelli (2017 – MAS Student)
• Marelle Arndt (2017)
• Alexandra Reich (2017)
• Spencer Breining-Aday (2017)
• Mackenzie Brandt (2017)
• Annika Vawter (2017)
• Carolina Carpenter (2016)
• Ellie Williams (2016)
• Stephanie Lee (2016)
• Nathalie Staiger (2016)
• Aaron Keohane (2016 – MAS Student)
• Amelia Scharp (2015)
• Temur Imam (2015)
• Macey Rafter (2015)
• Mallory Morgan (2015 – MAS Student)
• Lenell Sagastume (2014)
• Jennifer Le (2014)
• Bella Doohan (2014)
• Garrett Stewart (2014)
• Alex Neu (2014)
• Laurence Romeo (2014 – MAS Student)
• Carolyn Kim (2013)
• Elena Perez (2013 – MAS Student)
• Conner Holland (2013)
• Erika D’Andrea (2013)
• Eric Engel (2013)
• Daniel Conley (2012)
• Krista Catelani (2012)
• Sarah Urata (2012)
• Ashley Cunningham (2012)
• Zoe Dagan (2012)
• Daniel Coffee (2012)
• Abigail Cannon (2012)
• Jennifer Bone (2012)
• Sierra Basegio (2011)
• Portia Seautelle (2011)
• Rachel Graham (2011)
• Grace Koyama (2011)
• Ellen Umeda (2011)
• Rachel Levin (2011)
• George Balchin (2011)
• Kevin Moses (2011 – REU Student)
• Karen Dunleavy (2011)
• Avantika Sinha (2011)
• Rebecca Soloway (2011)
• Shino Ogawa (2010)
• Javier Cuetos-Bueno (2011- MAS Student)