Sara T. Gonzalez
Ecologist/Evolutionary Biologist
Ecologist/Evolutionary Biologist
Education
University of California, Santa Cruz
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2022
Cornell University
B.S., Biological Sciences (cum laude, Distinction in Research) 2016
Organization for Tropical Studies
Tropical Biology Program in Costa Rica (Semester abroad) Spring 2015
University of California, Santa Cruz
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2022
Cornell University
B.S., Biological Sciences (cum laude, Distinction in Research) 2016
Organization for Tropical Studies
Tropical Biology Program in Costa Rica (Semester abroad) Spring 2015
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Scholar August 2022- Present
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, MA
Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2016-2022
University of California, Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA
Dissertation: Ecological and evolutionary drivers of morphology and alginate content in giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)
U.S. Fulbright Student Scholar March – Nov. 2017
Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Las Cruces, Chile
Worked with researchers to collect and analyze data on projects investigating the ecological effects of subtidal kelp harvesting; conducted interviews with fishermen about their kelp harvesting practices and perception of the future of the resource and scientific studies on kelp; designed, conducted, and analyzed results from an experiment on the effect of fish presence and nutrients on kelp growth.
Research Assistant May – Aug. 2015
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Assisted Cornell Ph.D. student and conducted my senior honors thesis on riparian food web dynamics across a land-use gradient.
Blog Journalist Feb. – May 2015
Cornell Abroad; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Wrote weekly blog posts on tropical wildlife, research, and culture during my semester abroad in Costa Rica.
Research Intern May – Aug. 2014
Shoals Marine Laboratory; Appledore Island, ME
Assessed reproductive success of nesting herring gulls; designed and carried out independent research investigating the presence of endoparasitism in herring gull chicks.
Insect Collections Staff Jan. – May 2014
Cornell Insect Collections; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Curated insects, updated species names, and recorded information about species’ author and zoogeographic region. Dissected and stained insect genitalia for species identification.
Research Intern May – Aug. 2013
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, MD
Conducted nearshore surveys of shrimp, fish, and crabs in a subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay; designed and carried out individual research investigating the influence of a trematode parasite on grass shrimp response to refuge and predator presence.
Intern Summer 2011
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Conducted research on plumage variation and salt marsh melanism among song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) subspecies using digital image analysis of museum specimens.
Postdoctoral Scholar August 2022- Present
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, MA
Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2016-2022
University of California, Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA
Dissertation: Ecological and evolutionary drivers of morphology and alginate content in giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)
U.S. Fulbright Student Scholar March – Nov. 2017
Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Las Cruces, Chile
Worked with researchers to collect and analyze data on projects investigating the ecological effects of subtidal kelp harvesting; conducted interviews with fishermen about their kelp harvesting practices and perception of the future of the resource and scientific studies on kelp; designed, conducted, and analyzed results from an experiment on the effect of fish presence and nutrients on kelp growth.
Research Assistant May – Aug. 2015
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Assisted Cornell Ph.D. student and conducted my senior honors thesis on riparian food web dynamics across a land-use gradient.
Blog Journalist Feb. – May 2015
Cornell Abroad; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Wrote weekly blog posts on tropical wildlife, research, and culture during my semester abroad in Costa Rica.
Research Intern May – Aug. 2014
Shoals Marine Laboratory; Appledore Island, ME
Assessed reproductive success of nesting herring gulls; designed and carried out independent research investigating the presence of endoparasitism in herring gull chicks.
Insect Collections Staff Jan. – May 2014
Cornell Insect Collections; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Curated insects, updated species names, and recorded information about species’ author and zoogeographic region. Dissected and stained insect genitalia for species identification.
Research Intern May – Aug. 2013
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, MD
Conducted nearshore surveys of shrimp, fish, and crabs in a subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay; designed and carried out individual research investigating the influence of a trematode parasite on grass shrimp response to refuge and predator presence.
Intern Summer 2011
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Conducted research on plumage variation and salt marsh melanism among song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) subspecies using digital image analysis of museum specimens.
Grants and Awards
- Carawan Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2022-2024)
- Mary Rosenthal Memorial Student Grant, The Algae Foundation (2021)
- Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship (2019-2022)
- Dr. Earl H. Myers & Ethel M. Myers Oceanographic & Marine Biology Trust (2019)
- Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Research, American Philosophical Society (2019)
- Graduate Student Policy Award, Ecological Society of America (2019)
- SEEDS Graduate Alumni Travel Award, Ecological Society of America (2018)
- Fulbright Student Scholarship, U.S. State Department (2017)
- Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellowship (2016-2019)
- SEEDS Student Travel Grant, Ecological Society of America (2016)
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Undergraduate Minority Research Grant, Cornell University (2016)
- Hunter Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar, Cornell University (2012-2016)
Skills
- AAUS Scientific SCUBA Diver
- Algal culturing laboratory techniques
- DNA extraction and purification from algal tissue
- Alginate extraction from algae
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Stable isotope analysis
- Fecal flotation for endoparasite identification
- Field banding and blood sampling of birds
- Fluent in Spanish language
Publications
Twining, C. W., Razavi, N. R., Brenna, J. T., Dzielksi, S. A., Gonzalez, S. T., Lawrence, P., Cleckner, L. B., and Flecker, A. S. 2021. Land use influences riparian bird’s risks from methylmercury and benefits from omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Environmental Science and Technology 55(9):5868-5877.
Bragg, W., Gonzalez, S. T., Rabeariosa, A., Stoltz, A. 2021. Communicating managed retreat in California. Water, 13(6): 781. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060781.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2016. Influence of a trematode parasite (Microphallus turgidus) on grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) response to refuge and predator presence. Journal of Parasitology, 102(6): 646-649.
Luttrell, S. A. M., Gonzalez, S. T., Lohr, B., & Greenberg, R. 2015. Digital photography quantifies plumage variation and salt marsh melanism among Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) subspecies of the San Francisco Bay. The Auk, 132(1): 277-287.
Twining, C. W., Razavi, N. R., Brenna, J. T., Dzielksi, S. A., Gonzalez, S. T., Lawrence, P., Cleckner, L. B., and Flecker, A. S. 2021. Land use influences riparian bird’s risks from methylmercury and benefits from omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Environmental Science and Technology 55(9):5868-5877.
Bragg, W., Gonzalez, S. T., Rabeariosa, A., Stoltz, A. 2021. Communicating managed retreat in California. Water, 13(6): 781. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060781.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2016. Influence of a trematode parasite (Microphallus turgidus) on grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) response to refuge and predator presence. Journal of Parasitology, 102(6): 646-649.
Luttrell, S. A. M., Gonzalez, S. T., Lohr, B., & Greenberg, R. 2015. Digital photography quantifies plumage variation and salt marsh melanism among Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) subspecies of the San Francisco Bay. The Auk, 132(1): 277-287.
Presentations
Gonzalez, S. T. Understanding drivers of morphology in giant kelp. 2019. Conference of Ford Fellows.
Gonzalez, S. T., Perez-Matus, A., and Fernandez, M. 2018. Effect of fish presence on growth and nitrogen enrichment in a Chilean kelp. Ecological Society of America.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2017. Explorar la ecología de algas y cultura de su pesca en Chile (Exploring the ecology of algae and culture of its fishery in Chile). The American Corner, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2017. Investigar la importancia de nutrientes derivados de peces para el crecimiento de algas (Investigating the importance of fish-derived nutrients for algal growth). Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Chile.
Gonzalez, S. T., Twining, C. W., & Flecker, A. S. 2016. Influence of land use on aquatic subsidies to a terrestrial consumer. Ecological Society of America and North American Ornithological Conference.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2014. The early bird gets the worm—and its parasite: Investigating endoparasitism in herring gull chicks. New York Ornithological Association and Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine.
Gonzalez, S. T. Understanding drivers of morphology in giant kelp. 2019. Conference of Ford Fellows.
Gonzalez, S. T., Perez-Matus, A., and Fernandez, M. 2018. Effect of fish presence on growth and nitrogen enrichment in a Chilean kelp. Ecological Society of America.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2017. Explorar la ecología de algas y cultura de su pesca en Chile (Exploring the ecology of algae and culture of its fishery in Chile). The American Corner, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2017. Investigar la importancia de nutrientes derivados de peces para el crecimiento de algas (Investigating the importance of fish-derived nutrients for algal growth). Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Chile.
Gonzalez, S. T., Twining, C. W., & Flecker, A. S. 2016. Influence of land use on aquatic subsidies to a terrestrial consumer. Ecological Society of America and North American Ornithological Conference.
Gonzalez, S. T. 2014. The early bird gets the worm—and its parasite: Investigating endoparasitism in herring gull chicks. New York Ornithological Association and Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine.
Teaching and Mentoring
- Teaching Assistant, Kelp Forest Ecology (Fall 2021)
- Teaching Assistant, BIOE 108 Marine Ecology (Summer 2021)
- Teaching Assistant, BIOE 20C (Summer 2020)
- Mentor, UC Santa Cruz Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (2021)
- Mentor, Raimondi-Carr lab undergraduate research internship (January 2020-present)
- Mentor, UC Santa Cruz Women’s Center M.I.N.T. Program (2019)
- Peer Mentor, UC Santa Cruz EEB Department Graduate Program (2019)
Science Outreach
- Featured in: America the Beautiful, National Geographic/Disney+, Season 1 Episode 6: Brave New World, (2022)
- Co-Host, Santa Cruz Naturalist radio program KSQD 90.7 FM (2020-present)
- Presentation, Untangling giant kelp: How do the environment and genetics shape giant kelp form and structure?, Seymour Marine Discovery Center Science Sunday (2021)
- Presentation (with Niko Kaplanis), California’s kelps: Global distribution and local diversity, Monterey Bay Aquarium (2018)
- Member/Outreach Volunteer, UC Santa Cruz Women in Science and Engineering (2016-2018)
- Guest educator for elementary, middle, and high school students in Santa Cruz County (2016-2020) – activities include: kelp forest ecology interactive demonstration, introduction to ecology presentation, science fair judge, seafood fraud DNA investigation program, research lab tours at UC Santa Cruz
Professional Memberships and Service
- Graduate Student Representative, UCSC EEB Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action Committee (2020-2022)
- Member, Phycological Society of America (2020-present)
- Member, Algae Biomass Organization (2020-present)
- Member, Ecological Society of America (2015-2019)
Community Activities
- Volunteer, The Salvation Army-Santa Cruz Corps (2016-2022)
- Panelist, “Understanding Graduate School” at UCSC African American Resource and Cultural Center (2018)
- Writing Project Assistant, Young Writers Program (2018)
- Tae Kwon Do, current rank 2nd dan Black Belt (2013-present)
Last updated: December 2022