Dr. Kakani Katija is a Bioengineer, Principal Engineer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and a Research Associate at the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution). Originally an Aerospace Engineer (BSc from University of Washington and MSc from Caltech), Kakani received a PhD in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology. As lead … Continued
Kakani Katija is a Bioengineer dedicated to developing underwater technologies to better observe biological and physical processes where they happen in the ocean. Her research and engineering development efforts have contributed to our understanding of nutrient cycling, biologically induced mixing of the oceans, the ecology of gelatinous and soft-bodied invertebrates in deep-sea environments, and bioinspired … Continued
Dr. Amy Baco-Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Florida State University. Amy’s general research interests are in the evolution, ecology, and connectivity of benthic marine organisms. There will always be an imperative for basic research, but the reality of rising anthropogenic impacts on the world’s oceans … Continued
Dr. Amy Baco-Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Florida State University. Amy’s general research interests are in the evolution, ecology, and connectivity of benthic marine organisms. There will always be an imperative for basic research, but the reality of rising anthropogenic impacts on the world’s oceans … Continued
Thomas is a geoscientist and data engineer specializing in seafloor mapping, geophysical analysis, and ocean exploration data. He has extensive professional experience designing automated data pipelines, managing large geospatial databases, and coordinating shipboard operations that utilize various technologies, including telepresence-enabled, autonomous, and remotely-operated acquisition systems. Thomas earned a B.S. in geology from the University of … Continued
Allison Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science with a minor in Environmental Science from Coastal Carolina University, and a master of science degree in Oceanography from Florida State University. Prior to joining Schmidt Ocean Institute, she managed the National Oceanographic Partnership Program at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, facilitating partnerships in a variety … Continued
Kourtney Lewis is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography working with Dr. Brendan Roark at Texas A&M University. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Geology at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on understanding the resilience and vulnerability of deep-sea communities to anthropogenic influence using stable isotope analysis. She is currently … Continued
Virginia Biede is a deep-sea ecologist interested in community structure and disturbance ecology. After spending several years on commercial fishing trawlers as a fisheries observer, Virginia is committed to studying the recovery of natural habitats as she has seen first hand how they can be easily disturbed. Virginia will be starting as a graduate student … Continued
David Bowen is an award-winning studio artist and educator whose work has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions nationally and internationally. Bowen’s work is concerned with aesthetics that result from interactive, reactive, and generative processes as they relate to intersections between natural and mechanical systems. He is currently an Associate Professor of Sculpture … Continued
