I have had the honor to work for many researchers across the globe. Many of my research questions are derived from these experiences, and I benefit from my continued interaction with the people and work we have done.

2013-2014 Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Fish, James Cook University

James White researches the behavioral ecology of damsel fish on the Great Barrier Reef, specifically boldness or the willingness of the fish to venture into it's environment. James is one of the first to attempt to examine animal personality traits in wild fishes in a natural setting. 

2007-2009 USFWS Midway Atoll, UCSC

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) have 10 emergent reefs and islands, and about 10 submerged banks that form the largest isolated and undisturbed reef system/marine protected area in the world. As a research assistant for Dr. Donald Potts and his students, I worked on a variety of multi-disciplinary projects at Midway Atoll. 

Dr. Potts:
              Surveys
              Coral Ecology
              Community Dynamics
              Habitat Monitoring
              Video Monitoring
              Reef Growth
              Cyanobacteria
              Ground Water Discharge

Ph.D. students:
              Dr. Wendy Cover: Urchin-Coral Interactions on Midway                 Atoll 
              Dr. Kristin McCully: Bivalves of Midway Atoll
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Undergraduate Student:
              Anne Warner: Atoll Sedimentology

​2006-2007 Conservation on Kenyan Coral Reefs, UCSC

Jennifer O'learys work focuses on resilience of marine ecosystems. I assisted with her Ph.D. research focusing on the diversity of coralline algae, grazer influences  and coral settlement in fished and managed coral reefs along the Kenyan coastline.

O’Leary, J.K.*, D. Potts, K. Schoenrock, T. McClanahan (2013). Fish and sea urchin grazing opens settlement space equally but urchins reduce survival of coral recruits. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 493: 165-177
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2006-2007 Ecosystem function at the land-sea interface, UCSC

This project investigated the effects of terrestrial and open ocean subsidies on near shore marine communities. Melissa Foley's Ph.D. research included sub-tidal community surveys, water chemistry analyses, trace metal chemistry, and stable isotope analyses. In my senior thesis with Melissa I looked at algal diversity in sub-canopy communities within kelp forests influenced by oceanic and river systems.