Meet Our Scientific Advisory Board
The Ocean Discovery Institute Scientific Advisory Board oversees all of the organization's research and education initiatives and includes academic leaders from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Stanford, University of Hawaii, and the University of San Diego.
Eric CathcartEric Cathcart is a State of California registered Professional Geologist and Environmental Assessor with more than 14 years of experience providing geologic, hydrogeologic, site characterization, and environmental remediation services to private businesses, public organizations, and government agencies. Eric is an adjunct faculty member of the Marine and Environmental Studies Department at the University of San Diego and has a B.S. in Geology and an M.S. in Marine Science.
Dr. Paul Dayton Dr. Paul Dayton is a Professor of Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD. Paul received a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Arizona and earned a PhD in Zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle. Paul provides leadership to Ocean Discovery Institute by advising on the development of scientific projects, guiding the development of new programmatic efforts, and working directly with the students of Ocean Discovery Institute.
Dr. Mark Denny Dr. Mark Denny is a Marine Biologist at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station where he studies the plants and animals that live on wave-swept shores. By applying principles from engineering and physics to living organisms-an approach known as biomechanics-he specializes in predicting how changes in the environment will affect the ecology and evolution of marine life.
Dr. Miguel Garcia-GuzmanMiguel will provide scientific support to develop educational programs and mentorship to students. Miguel received his B.S. in Chemistry and a PhD in Molecular Biology and Neurosciences in Spain, his native country. Miguel worked at premiere research institutions in Germany and the USA, before joining the Biotechnology Industry in San Diego. Currently he is the scientific founder of a new start-up and is involved with several Biotechnology institutions in San Diego.
Dr. Sarah GraySarah C. Gray, an Associate Professor in Marine Science and Environmental Studies at the University of San Diego, received her BA in Geological Sciences from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After serving in the Peace Corps in Kenya, she completed her Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from UC Santa Cruz. She teaches courses in earth science, climate change, geological oceanography, and environmental geology and conducts research in paleoclimatology, marine sedimentology, and the geology of coral reefs.
Dr. John MendleinDr. Mendlein began his career studying bluefin tuna at NOAA and fish physiology at the University of Miami. Dr. Mendlein then earned a Ph.D. in biophysics and physiology from UCLA and a J.D. from UC Hastings. During the last fifteen years he has worked in biotech companies in senior leadership roles. He is an avid enthusiast of ocean-related activities. His work at Ocean Discovery Institute allows him to share his interests in science with future scientists and stewards of the sea.
Dr. Yonat Swimmer Dr. Yonat Swimmer is a Fisheries Biologist and works on fisheries' bycatch issues at NOAA Fisheries. Yonat incorporates Ocean Discovery Institute's students into studies designed to reduce the turtle and shark bycatch. Yonat holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Her dissertation work focused on physiology and behavior of green turtles in the remote Northwest Hawaiian Islands.
Dr. Theresa Sinicrope Talley Dr. Theresa Talley is a Post-doctoral Researcher and Instructor at the University of California, San Diego and Adjunct Faculty in Biology at the University of San Diego. Theresa works closely with Ocean Discovery Institute's students, overseeing the investigation of connections between coastal wetlands and adjacent ecosystems. Theresa completed her B.S. in Botany at Connecticut College, earned a M.S. in Biology at San Diego State University, and completed her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of California in Davis.
Dr. Drew Talley Dr. Drew Talley is an Assistant Professor for the Environmental Studies and Marine Science department at the University of San Diego. Drew received his B.S. in Biology from San Diego State University, and earned a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. His current research focuses on the complex ways in which different habitats are connected, often through the actions of animals or the movement of food.
Dr. John Wang Dr. John Wang is a Research Associate with the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and NOAA-Fisheries. John works with Ocean Discovery Institute to study why sea turtles and sharks are caught in fishing gear and to develop strategies to reduce this incidental capture. He received his B.S. from Duke University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Zhi-Yong (John) YinDr. Zhi-Yong (John) Yin is a hydroclimatologist in Marine Science & Environmental Studies department at University of San Diego. His research area includes climate variability and its impact on hydrological cycle. He has published articles on spatial and temporal variations of climate in various regions, including the Tibetan Plateau, in relation to macroscale atmospheric circulation patterns. He earned his B.S. and M.S. from Peking University in China and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.
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