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Dr. Amy Moran
Dr. Amy Moran
I am a marine physiological ecologist with broad interests in invertebrate form, function, and evolution. Research in the Moran Lab is diverse, combining laboratory and field approaches to understanding how marine organisms respond to environmental change on multiple time scales, and in marine environments from the intertidal to the deep sea and from the tropics to the Antarctic.
Read about the graduate students and researchers in the Moran lab and their interests below!
photo by R. McLachlan
Recent Graduates and Current Lab Members
Dr. Caitlyn Genovese
Dr. Caitlyn Genovese
PhD May 2024, Zoology Program. My research investigates the effects of temperature on life history traits and larval thermal tolerance, including intergenerational effects, or how adult thermal history changes the temperature tolerance of their offspring. Caitlyn successfully defended her dissertation on April 5, 2024, and is currently a Fish and Wildlife Biologist at the PIFWO branch of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dr. Kanoe Morishige
Dr. Kanoe Morishige
PhD May 2025, Marine Biology Program. I conduct interdisciplinary research integrating indigenous knowledge and research to support community-based management of coastal ecosystems. I am interested in reproduction and larval biology of marine invertebrates, particularly hā'uke'uke, in Hawai'i and other Pacific islands. Kanoe successfully defended her PhD on Dec. 2, 2024, and is currently the Native Hawaiian Program Specialist at the NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Dr. Gabi Mukai
Dr. Gabi Mukai
PhD May 2025, Zoology Program. My research combines laboratory and modelling approaches to understanding the transport of larvae between islands of the Hawaiian archipelago and around the Pacific. I also work with the NOAA Pacific marine fisheries lab researching 'ōpelu aggregation behavior. Gabi successfully defended her PhD on March 14, 2025 and is a postdoctoral associate in the Oceanography Department at UHM.
Dr. Graham Lobert
Dr. Graham Lobert
PhD May 2025, Zoology Program. I'm interested in the effects of temperature on embryological and larval development in a range of marine invertebrates, particularly sea spiders. I have worked extensively on cold-temperature metabolism and benthic ecology in Antarctic systems and deployed for two long field seasons at McMurdo Station. Graham successfully defended his dissertation on May 2nd, 2025.
Dr. Ming Wei Aaron Toh
Dr. Ming Wei Aaron Toh
PhD May 2025, Zoology Program. My research focuses on the larval and visual ecology of Antarctic invertebrates, particularly sea spiders and nudibranchs. I have considerable field experience in Antarctica and as past advisory board member at the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO). Aaron successfully defended their dissertation on April 22, 2025.
Ethan Nash
Ethan Nash
MS May 2025, Marine Biology program. My research focuses on the planktonic duration and phenotypic plasticity of the larvae of echinoderms found within the Hawaiian Islands and other Indo-Pacific archipelagos. I'm interested in the connectivity of the oceans as well as how echinoderm larvae acclimate and adapt to changing ocean conditions. Ethan successfully defended his thesis on April 30, 2025 and is currently a Marine Technician with NOAA.
Emily Palmer
Emily Palmer
Ph.D student, Marine Biology program. My interests are currently focused on investigating the physiology of marine invertebrates. I am particularly interested on the how factors such as oxygen and temperature effects the develop and chemical compositions of marine larvae and embryology.
Megan Potapa
Megan Potapa
BA graduate, Marine Biology. I'm currently working as a technician in the larval lab studying echinoderm larvae. I hope to continue future research in invertebrate larval development, possibly focusing on echinoderms or molluscs.
Nicole Giannetti
Nicole Giannetti
MS student, Animal Science. I am currently one of the lab technicians involved in the larval development project, where I help rear and study sea urchin larvae. I also work in the WormLab with offshore benthic samples, where I classify and identify polychaete worms and other invertebrates for a biomonitoring research project.
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