Cohort Level: Cohort - III

Career Goal: I plan to either continue my education and pursue a PhD or obtain a position with NOAA that allows me to continue research within the marine sciences that align with coastal resilience and conservation efforts of coastal ecosystems.

Expected Graduation Date: May 17, 2022

Degree: M.S Marine Ecology

Research Title: Relating coral reef health and coastal carbon sink strength in American Samoa

Research Synopsis: This project aims to examine the linkages between water quality, coral reef health, and coastal carbon flux by quantifying the effects of elevated nutrient conditions have on coral reef community metabolism, and, to determine whether this contributes to the direction and magnitude of carbon flux between the ecosystem and atmosphere.