Team

jordansims@berkeley.edu

Jordan is a microbial ecologist using molecular, field, and computational tools to advance solutions for coral reef conservation. During her doctoral work, she partnered with reef managers to investigate coral population diversity and connectivity and the ways in which microbial assembly and community dynamics shape coral settlement and disease in the Bay Islands of Honduras to support local evidence-based reef restoration efforts. She continues to prioritize community-informed research in her postdoctoral position, mapping sea cucumber diversity, distribution, and ecological impacts on the reefs of Moorea, French Polynesia and developing tools for automated remote detection and analysis of coral spawning in collaboration with reef practitioners and community members. Jordan holds a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rice University (2020) and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University (2025).

nsvarona@berkeley.edu

Natascha holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Davis and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Miami. Her doctoral work focused on identifying and characterizing viral infections in bacteria on coral reefs and in anoxic lakes using multiomics approaches and proximity ligation. As a postdoctoral researcher, she is expanding her focus to include the role of eukaryotic viral infections in Moorean coral reefs, while integrating outreach and collaboration with Indigenous communities.

4th year PhD student, www.carlykarrick.com

carly_karrick@berkeley.edu

Carly is broadly interested in the interplay between microorganisms, macroorganisms, and environmental change. Her research explores coral reef microbial ecology, focusing on the roles of (1) microorganisms in coral disease and (2) consumers in distributing microorganisms. She combines molecular, microscopy, and computational tools to explore how (1) dinoflagellate algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae) and viruses influence coral white syndromes and (2) sea cucumbers modulate bacterial communities in reef sediment. Carly received her B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Spanish from the University of Kentucky.

4th year PhD student

taylor_walker@berkeley.edu

Taylor’s research explores the role of microbial communities, especially dinoflagellates (Family- Symbiodiniaceae) and their associated RNA viruses, in shaping coral resilience under environmental stress, highlighting their significance in microbiology and biological control. By investigating infection dynamics and symbiont shifts in coral reefs, her work provides actionable insights for conservation strategies that leverage microbial interactions to enhance ecosystem health and adaptive management. Taylor earned her M.S. in Marine Sciences and Public Policy from the College of William & Mary | Virginia Institute of Marine Science (2022), studying bivalves’ utility as bioindicators for environmental change.

2nd year PhD student

willow_dunster@berkeley.edu

Willow is fascinated by the complex interactions between marine microbes and their hosts. Her research explores microbial ecology in tropical and temperate systems, focusing on the roles of microorganisms in seaweeds and the potential for the distribution of microbes by consumers. By investigating multi-kingdom microbial symbioses, she aims to connect the dots between microbial health and host ecology, identifying the drivers of both resilience and disease.

2nd year PhD student

sharasookhoo@berkeley.edu

Shara is broadly interested in how microorganisms influence coral health. She combines molecular, microscopy, and computational tools to explore the role of viruses and dinoflagellate algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae) in coral white syndromes and plans to use single cell RNA sequencing to investigate Symbiodiniaceae vial load and infection progression. She is also interested in how local scale anthropogenic changes impact the relationships between microorganisms and their host. She plans to use molecular tools to determine the impact of nutrient loading on Symbiodiniaceae viral infection. Shara is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and completed her Bachelors in Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami.

1st year PhD student

krithika_layagala@berkeley.edu

I am a first-year PhD student in the Correa lab. My research interests lie in microbial ecology, with a particular fascination for symbioses and the microbial dynamics that shape coral reef health. I am drawn to understanding how the coral microbiome mediates host resilience and disease susceptibility in changing ocean environments. Prior to joining the lab, I investigated the transmissibility of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) to Pacific coral species as a NOAA Hollings Scholar, contributing to ongoing efforts to understand this devastating and poorly understood disease. I received my B.S. in Biology from the College of William & Mary.