Elizabeth is a PhD student in Marine Science and Conservation at Duke University, and is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Elizabeth’s interest in studying marine habitats began with an undergraduate study abroad course in the Bahamas, but it was her employment with The Nature Conservancy’s Coral Reef Conservation Program that sparked her passion for conserving coral reefs. At TNC, Elizabeth assisted workshops, online courses, and webinars for coral reef managers. In her PhD, Elizabeth continues to study the interactive effects of coral predators and climate change. Though she has conducted three experiments and 200 dives, she strongly believes this scholarship will greatly enhance her ability to develop critical skills as an underwater researcher. Her personal goals are to communicate directly with managers, stakeholders, scientists, and conservationists while encouraging young female students to pursue SCUBA diving and science as careers.

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