People

Katie grew up in California, and began her marine biology career as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and learned to dive in the cold water of the Channel Islands.  After a few years of diligently volunteering, Katie received an opportunity to go to Moorea, French Polynesia as a field assistant.  That experience solidified her desire to continue on the marine biology path.  After finishing her undergraduate career, she began her Masters research at San Diego State University in the fish ecology lab.  Her research combined field work, remote sensing, and spatial analysis to explore how the spatial configuration of kelp forest rocky reef habitat alters fish population dynamics.  Upon completing her masters, Katie returned to the tropics and received a US Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research in the Philippines.  There, she was introduced to JCU researchers, and was inspired to use the Fulbright as a jumping off point to begin her PhD.  Working with Prof Garry Russ and Dr. Rene Abesamis, Katie is exploring the effects of multiple habitats types on tropical reef fish population and community dynamics, and is particularly interested in how multiple habitat types may alter coral reef No-Take Marine Reserve performance in the Philippines.