I conducted research on microbial contributions to environmental DNA (eDNA) degradation and accretion in the deep sea as a part of the Herrera lab at Lehigh University. My research was part of a larger project studying eDNA degradation for in-field applications (McCartin et al. 2022).
I helped to develop the methods for imaging slides and cell counts, as well as single-handedly created an automatic cell-counting method (in addition to the manual method). We are currently working on a manuscript for publication.
In August 2021, I participated as a member of the Science Team on the R/V Point Sur CYCLE Cruise: Connectivity of Coral Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico, where I filtered, ran chemistry, and collected water samples for eDNA analyses. I also assisted in the recovery and processing of ARMS (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures), deployment and recovery of the ROV Global Explorer, and data logging of the ROV dives.