Research

Exploring and monitoring the diversity of previously uncharacterized life — from viruses to sharks, and everything in-between — in tropical, estuarine, deep-sea, subsurface, and other unique environments. Tools and approaches used include, but are not limited to, eDNA, metabarcoding, and genomics.

In order to study copepod populations at a finer scale, I have further developed a DNA-based method that allows me to estimate animal abundance using a combination of size-based separation and quantification of species-specific DNA. I have also dabbled in DNA barcoding of deep-sea larval invertebrates — a location where we know almost nothing about organism diversity and even less about larval ecology.

Currently, I am working on a project using DNA sequencing to study the larval diet of a threatened species of fish in the San Francisco Estuary — the longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthyes). This fish is one of many struggling fishes in the San Francisco Estuary ecosystem and my work will help us to understand what food resources they need to survive and whether food is what is limiting their populations.

Surveying and mapping ocean and deep-sea environments and life. Human-occupied, remotely-operated, and autonomous vehicles are used to access this unique environment.

I am very interested in the cryptic interactions that occur in marine plankton. Many of these interactions — from predation to parasitism to mutualism — are hidden in plain sight. Understanding these hidden but important ecological relationships is essential for a complete picture of marine food web dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

Advancing genomics, technology and scientific infrastructure. Developing and implementing standards for biological data to ensure valuable widespread utility.