Lab members
Dr. Simon J. Brandl (He/hiM)
Principal Investigator
simon.brandl@austin.utexas.edu
2021: Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2019 – 2020: Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity, University of Perpignan, France
2017 – 2019: Banting Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Simon Fraser University, Canada
2015 – 2017: MarineGEO Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Smithsonian Institution, USA
2015: PhD, James Cook University, Australia
Postdocs
Dr. Christopher R. Hemingson (He/Him)
Stengl-Wyer Postdoctoral Research fellow
christopher.hemingson@austin.utexas.edu
2021 – 2022: Team Leader and Science Writer, Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Strategic Management
Program, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
2017 – 2021: PhD, James Cook University
2015 – 2016: MS, James Cook University
2010 – 2014: BS, Texas A&M University
Dr. Philip M. Souza, JR. (HE/HIM)
Postdoctoral Researcher
2019 – Present: PhD Student, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2018: MPS, University of Miami, USA
2014 – 2016: Fisheries Observer, New Bedford, MA, USA
2014: Shark Biology Intern, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
2013: BS, Boston University, USA
Dr. Lucía Pombo-Ayora
Postdoctoral Researcher
2019-2024 Ph.D., King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KSA
2017-2019 MS, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KSA
2011-2016 BS, Universidad del Valle, Colombia
Graduate Students
Mariana rIVERA-HIGUERAS (SHE/HER)
PhD Student, CONTEX Fellow
Research topic: Quantifying drivers of community assembly in Neotropical cryptobenthic reef fishes
2021 – Present: PhD Student, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2019: MS, Instituto Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (Marine Science and Limnology Institute), UNAM, Mexico
2015: BSc, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
Kyra jean cipolla (she/her)
PhD student, NSF GRFP Fellow
Research topic: Examining the relationship between coral reef structural complexity, biodiversity, and functioning
2021 – Present: PhD student, University of Texas at Austin
2020: Teaching Assistant, Study Intercultural Training Experience Program, Milan, Italy
2019: Somers Scientific Diving Intern, AAUS/OWUSS, Moss Landing Marine Labs, USA
2019: BA, Drew University, USA
Mel Neill (he/him)
PhD student, NSF GRFP and UT AUSTIN Harrington Fellow
Research topic: Assessing the physiology of cryptobenthic reef fishes under global change
2022-Present: PhD Student, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2021-2022: Amphibian Toxicology Technician, Sepúlveda Lab, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
2019-2021: Marine Science Instructor/Divemaster, Sea Camp San Diego, CA, USA
2018: Electrofishing Technician, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN, USA
2018: BS, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, USA
Bailey Bonham
PhD student
Research topic: Investigating biogeochemical halos in marine reef systems
2024 - Present: PhD Student, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2022 -2023: Education Coordinator & Research Assistant, CSULB Shark Lab, USA
2022: BS, California State University Long Beach, USA
Joyce Velos (she/her)
PhD Student
maryjoyce.velos@austin.utexas.edu
2023-2025: Research Technician, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2021-2022: University Research Associate, Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines
2021: MSc, Ghent University, Belgium
2014-2019: Research Assistant, \University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines
2014: BSc, University of the Philippines Cebu, Philippines
Megan Do (she/her)
MSc Student
2025 - Present: MS Student, University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, USA
2025: BS, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Laura-Li Jeannot (she/her)
PhD Student (Lancaster University, co-supervised, NERC ENVISION Fellow)
2022 – Present: PhD Student, Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre, UK
2020 – 2022: Master’s Student, Ecole Normale Supérieure d’Ulm, Biology Department / CRIOBE, France
2019: Reef ecology intern, National Park of American Samoa, USA
2017 – 2020: Environmental Engineering Student, AgroParisTech, France
Leonardo Fonseca Reginato
Research Technician
2013 - 2018: BSc, Universidade Católioca de Santos, Brazil
2019 - 2022: MSc, Universidade de São Paolo, Brazil
Emma Chesley
research Technician
emma.chesley@austin.utexas.edu
2022-2023: Benthic Ecology Research Technician, Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
2022: Oregon Sea Grant Summer Scholar, Newport, OR, USA
2018-2022: BS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Mary Frances Finch
Research technician
2024: BS, University of Texas at Austin, USA
2024: Ecological Restoration Intern, Siglo, Austin, TX, USA
2023: Water Conservation Intern, Texas Parks and Wildlife, San Marcos, TX, USA
2022: Recreation Technician, US Forest Service, Montrose, CO, USA
Rodnyel Arosemena López
Research technician
rodnnyel.arosemena@austin.utexas.edu
2023: Research Technician, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2023: B.Sc, Universidad Marítima Internacional de Panamá | Panamá
2022-2024: Research Assistant, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá
2019: Field Research Assistant, Shark Defenders Panama, Panamá
Former students & Lab Alumni
Payton Bryant (UG student)
Elisabeth Frasch (research tech)
Juan Pablo Lozano Peña (research tech)
Isabel Agustin (UG student)
Dani Zanabria (UG intern)
Sophia Sutherland (UG student)
Emily Carley (UG student)
Nicole Foster (Postdoc)
John Majoris (Postdoc)
Isabel Grudowski (UG student)
Nina Prasil-Delaval (grad intern)
Zachary Topor (grad intern)
Jonathan Rodemann (UG intern)
