Jillian is a research assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, where she applies molecular and imaging approaches to investigate developmental processes in invertebrates. Her research spans coral restoration in Florida, tropical seaweed aquaculture, and temperate coral–algal symbiosis, bridging applied conservation and biological questions. Committed to community engagement and education, she teaches marine ecology at the Children’s School of Science and volunteers with local conservation organizations. This fall, she will begin graduate training focused on coral physiological ecology and responses to climate change. This award supports essential dive training for her field-based research.  

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