Dr. Gretchen Goodbody
Associate Professor & Director of the Coastal & Marine Institute (CMI) at San Diego State University

I began my academic career at the University of Georgia, where I earned my B.Sc., followed by a move to Harvard University for my PhD. Under the mentorship of R. Woollacott and G. Giribet, my dissertation explored the reproductive ecology and phylogeography of brooding and broadcasting corals across the Western Atlantic. Following my doctoral work, I pursued postdoctoral research at Mote Marine Laboratory, focusing on reef restoration and larval ecology, and later at the University of Bologna as a EURIAS Fellow, where I studied Mediterranean coral populations.

Prior to moving to San Diego, my career was shaped by leadership roles at international research stations. I spent several years as an Assistant Scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), where I founded the Reef Ecology and Evolution Laboratory. Most recently, I served as the Director of Research and Distinguished Scientist at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) in the Cayman Islands.
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At SDSU, my lab continues to explore the mechanisms that allow coral reefs to persist in a changing ocean. We combine large-scale in situ ecological surveys, laboratory experiments, and molecular tools to investigate reef health, evolution, and resilience. Whether we are diving on mesophotic reefs or working at the bench, our goal is to understand how coral communities recover and adapt to modern environmental pressures.

Alex Chequer
Lab Manager

As the Lab Manager for the Goodbody Lab, Alex provides the essential operational backbone for research initiatives and expeditions. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in the logistical and safety oversight of complex marine research projects, including management of equipment, budgets, protocols and experimental design. Alex is a recognized expert in technical diving, and has served as a Dive Safety Officer for several major organizations. He contributes to every aspect of research in the field and in the lab, and has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on coral reef resilience and mesophotic ecosystems. Alex is also a dedicated educator and dive instructor who has trained generations of scientists in safe diving practices and underwater field methodology.

PhD Students
​TBD

This could be you.....

Alumni
CCMI
Jack V. Johnson, Postdoctoral Researcher 2023-2025
Nicole Rotelle, Research Assistant 2024-2026
Matthew Doherty, Research Assistant 2022-2025
Janna Randle, Research Assistant 2022-2024
Lucas LeGall, Research Fellow & Research Assistant 2023-2024
Haley Davis, Research Fellow 2023-2024
Callie Grinkavitch, Research Intern 2021-2022
Gabrielle Carpenter, Research Intern 2021
Sabrina Weber, Research Intern 2021

BIOS
Dr. Samuel Faria, Post-Doctoral Researcher: Evaluating the eco-physiological responses of corals to future climate change scenarios. 2019
Kevin Wong, PhD Student, University of Rhode Island: The potential for rapid acclimatization of reef-building corals to environmental change. 2018-2019
​Kate Gould, Teaching Assistant and PhD Student, University of North Carolina: Thermal tolerance and adaptation of Bermudian coral populations from shallow to mesophotic depths. 2018-2019
​Taylor Tucker, MS Student, Northeastern University: Determining the current state and trajectory of the lionfish invasion, the potential for a sustainable fishery, and guiding future data-based management strategies. 2019
​Sofia McNally, Galbraith-Wardman Fellow, Eckerd College: coral reef photomosaics across depth to determine species distribution and cover. 2018
​Rebecca Ju, Research Intern, Yale University: Thermal tolerance of coral larvae from various reef sites and thermal histories. 2017-2018
​Erin Chile​, Research Intern, University of Rhode Island: Mechanisms causing intra- and trans-generational acclimatization of reef-building coral, Porites astreoides, in response to environmental change. 2017
Danielle Becker, Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant, Eckerd College: Reproductive ecology and early life history traits of the brooding coral, Porites astreoides, from shallow to mesophotic zones. 2017
Cameron Walsh, CABIOS Intern, St. Francis Xavier University: Cleaning service gaps in Bermuda, North Atlantic. 2016
​Katherine Salazar, Summer Intern, Lehigh University: Benthic biodiversity in mesophotic reefs through video transect analysis. 2016
Tyler Phelps, Summer Intern, University of Hawai'i at Hilo: Reproductive ecology and ontogenetic migration of invasive lionfish. 2016
​Andreas Ratteray, Bermuda Program Intern, Stanford University: Foraging behavior of parrotfish on Bermudian reefs. 2015
Hannah Reich, BA-MS Student, Clark University: Symbiont shuffling by Porites astreoides across a depth gradient and through early development. 2015
Kayley You Mak, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Barnard College: Variations in growth and survival of juvenile Porites astreoides reared from shallow and deep parental colonies. 2015
Takoda Edlund, Senior Thesis Student, Eckerd College: Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish using genetic barcoding. 2015
Jason Toy, Teaching Assistant and Laboratory Technician. BSc from UC Davis. 2014
Chiara Marchini, PhD Student, University of Bologna: Reproduction of Montastraea cavernosa on mesophotic reefs in Bermuda. 2014
Amanda Appelson, REU, University of Miami: Abundance and distribution of lionfish in Bermuda. 2014
Kelly Speare, Summer Intern and REU, University of North Carolina: Synergistics effects of sedimentation and temperature and juvenile coral growth and development. 2012-2013
Elizabeth McKenna, Summer Intern, Princeton University: In situ growth rates of juvenile corals under varying light conditions. 2013
Orlando Perez, Summer Intern, University of Havana: Habitat selection by larvae influences the depth distribution of two common coral species. 2013
Hanny Rivera, Summer Intern and Senior Thesis Student, Harvard University: Aggregation and cnidae development as early defensive strategies in juvenile corals. 2012