Now soliciting PhD applicants for 2026!
Contact: ingacontijerpe@ln.edu.hk
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, 2019
M.S. Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2014
B.S. Biological Sciences and Environmental Science, Cornell University, 2010
I am an ecologist fascinated by what makes some organisms work together to their mutual benefit despite the fierce competition amongst living things for resources. I use diverse techniques including stable isotope analysis and molecular tools (RADseq, transcriptomics) to investigate the functioning and evolution of mutualisms in which partners exchange nutrients. While my MS and PhD work focused on symbiotic hard and soft corals, I have expanded my study systems to include diverse marine invertebrates that associate with algae (e.g. giant clams, nudibranchs, anemones, etc), lichens, and plant-mycorrhizal systems. Working across taxa allows me to ask questions about nutritional mutualisms broadly as opposed to within one phylogenetic group.
Ph.D. Ecology and Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong, 2025
B.S. Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, Cornell University, 2019
I am an ecologist with an interest in organismal responses to environmental change. For my PhD, I used stable isotope analysis of bulk tissues and amino acids to examine the mechanisms of trophic plasticity in scleractinian corals. I assessed resource sharing between coral hosts and algal symbionts, highlighting genus-specific differences in their ability to shift nutritional strategies under varying conditions. With my work, I aim to better understand vulnerable ecosystems and drivers of species resilience in the anthropocene.
B.A. Molecular & Cellular Biology and Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 2021
A.A. Chemistry, Bard College at Simon's Rock, 2019
I am a molecular biologist interested in understanding how the trophic strategies of coral species influence their thermal tolerance. My research is focused on understanding the bleaching tolerance of the coral-algal symbiont. Through the use of stable isotope analysis, gene expression, and transcriptomics, I aim to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of anthropogenic thermal stress on corals, thereby guiding future conservation efforts in coral community revitalization.