EDUCATION 

2022—Current University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dept. of Biology - Ecology, Evolution, Marine Biology

2018—2022 Eunice High School

SKILLS

● R Statistical analysis

● Image J

● Deep-sea sample collection

● VARS Annotation

● Project Synthesis

● Presenting and Discussing Research

● Familiarity with ecological theory and biodiversity quantification methods

● Processing marine specimen samples for storage and molecular analysis

● Microscopy

● Identification of Gulf of Mexico vertebrate and invertebrate species in both salt marsh and deep-sea benthic communities

● Identification of Pacific ocean vertebrate and invertebrate species

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 

Undergraduate Researcher | McClain Lab (2023-Current)

● Used ROV footage of Deepwater Horizon to identify and quantify species. Utilized data to analyse temporal impacts on biodiversity related to hard substrate communities surrounding the wellhead.

● Participated in Terrebonne Bay sampling to collect organisms to determine the impacts of hurricanes on shallow-water benthic communities over time.

● Identified, sorted, and counted deep-sea invertebrates from woodfall communities to assess biodiversity and energy movement.

Intern | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (Summer 2025)

● Used a Timelapse photo series to 1) quantify novel bacterial mat behavior and determine seasonality and 2) analyze the mobile macrofauna community surrounding the bacterial mats with regards to abundance and community composition.

● Attended three cruises on R/V Rachael Carson where I gained experience in sample collection, ROV operations, and VARS data annotation.

● Attended meetings with other scientists and engineers and discussed project synthesis and direction. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant | Nelson Lab (2022-2023)

● Identified and processed salt marsh marine species for isotope analysis used to understand how mangrove encroachment affects food webs.

● Assisted in drop-sampling fieldwork in Port Fourchon.

● Assisted in water quality sampling in the swamp of Broussard, Louisiana.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

● Presentation: “Temporal Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Deep Sea Hard Substrate Communities” K. Sonnier, S. McDermott, C. McClain - UL Undergraduate Research Symposium, 2024

● Presentation: “Temporal Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on a Deep Sea Hard Substrate Community” K. Sonnier, S. McDermott, M. Benfield, C. McClain- 53rd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, 2025

● Presentation: “Temporal Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on a Deep Sea Hard Substrate Community” K. Sonnier, S. McDermott, M. Benfield, C. McClain- UL Annual Science Day, 2025 (upcoming)

● Presentation: “Timelapse Observations Reveal Novel Microbial Mat Dynamics in the Oxygen Minimum Zone of Sur Ridge" K.Sonnier, Steve Litvin, Jim Barry - MBARI 29th Annual Intern Symposium, 2025

● Paper: “Temporal Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on a Deep Sea Hard Substrate Community” K. Sonnier, S. McDermott, M. Benfield, C. McClain- (upcoming)

● Paper: “Timelapse Observations Reveal Novel Microbial Mat Dynamics in the Oxygen Minimum Zone of Sur Ridge" K.Sonnier, Steve Litvin, Jim Barry - (upcoming)

REFERENCE

 Craig R. McClain, Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Department of Biology craig.mcclain@louisiana.edu

James P. Barry, Senior Scientist MBARI, barry@mbari.org, www.mbari.org/staff/barry

James A. Nelson, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Marine Science at University of Georgia jimmy.nelson@uga.edu

AWARDS

2025 - Advance Student Research Experience (ASRE) Leaf Award in Life Sciences