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Dr. Iris Segura García
Iris joined our lab in April 2020. As a postdoctoral fellow, she integrated traditional genetics (neutral markers, DNA barcoding, etc.), and novel genomic methods (next generation sequencing) to investigate population identity (genetic diversity and structure), population dynamics (recruitment and connectivity), and biodiversity of marine sponges. She finished her appointment in May 2022. Her research has been focused lately on economically important species, but she has research experience with a wide diversity of marine taxa ranging from mammals, large crustaceans (highly harvested omnivores), fishes and recently with sponges and stony-corals. She has conducted research in several geographic locations including the Mesoamerican Reef System, Florida Keys, Gulf of California, and Myanmar in Southeast Asia. |
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Mariana Lopez
Mariana joined our lab from Aug 2019 to Apr 2020. As a lab technician, she focused on supporting population genetics research and helped with lab protocols and lab organization. Mariana is currently a graduate student at University of Florida. Mariana graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Biology from the Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida. Originally a pre-med student, she changed her focus to biotechnology. Mariana participated in two summer internships at FAU-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in 2017 and 2018. Her intern work consisted of identifying environmental DNA in integrated multi trophic aquaculture systems and applying molecular detection methods to identify target microbes in the Indian River Lagoon. She was also an intern at the molecular lab - Smithsonian Fort Pierce Marine Station. Her main interests in research are environmental and biomedical studies. Outside the lab Mariana enjoys hiking and spending time with friends. |