Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley
Principal Investigator

Dr. Goodbody-Gringley received her B.Sc. from the Univ. of Georgia where her undergraduate research examined distributions of salt marsh snails. She then participated in the Three Seas: Marine Biology Program, in which she examined the aggressive behavior of damselfish in Jamaica, and then worked as a Research Technician for K. Sebens at the Univ. of Maryland studying temperate subtidal benthic communities in New England. She received her PhD from Harvard University in 2009, under the advisement of R. Woollacott and G. Giribet. Her dissertation research examined the reproductive ecology and phylogeography of a brooding coral compared to a broadcasting coral in the Western Atlantic. She subsequently worked as a postdoctoral scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory, focusing on reef restoration and coral larval ecology with K. Main and K. Ritchie. She held a second postdoctoral position as a EURIAS Fellow at the University of Bologna working with S. Goffredo examining populations of a Mediterranean coral. She now leads the Reef Ecology and Evolution Laboratory at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, combining large-scale in situ ecological surveys, small-scale laboratory experiments, and molecular ecology to answer questions related to reef health, evolution, resilience, and recovery.

Sabrina Weber
CCMI ​Ocean Science Scholar and Research Intern

Sabrina has grown up in Grand Cayman and has been diving since the age of 14. She twice attended the CCMI Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp while in high school. Since that time, she has had a passion for ocean science and wanted to pursue a career in marine research and education. Sabrina graduated from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, with a Bachelor's of Science (Honors) in environmental science. Sabrina has spent her past couple of summers working for the conservation group, Operation Wallacea, as a marine scientist in Akumal, Mexico. There she assisted with research and education initiatives and helped run a fast-paced, dynamic research site. Sabrina plans to pursue a master’s degree in marine biology in September 2022. 

Gaby Carpenter
​Research Intern

Gaby Carpenter recently graduated with an MS in marine biology from Northeastern University. In Little Cayman, she is examining the mechanisms of molecular and morphological adaptation by corals to extreme environments. Gaby is originally from Southern California where she first learned to scuba dive in the temperate kelp forests. She completed her BA in Environmental Science and Economics (honors) at Colby College in Maine, and she worked briefly in environmental consulting. After leaving that position, Gaby pursued her passion for travel and the oceans during a divemaster internship with Marine Conservation Philippines. While there, she studied the effectiveness of marine protected areas and coral restoration techniques. Since that time, she received her certification as an open water scuba instructor as well as an open circuit and closed circuit technical diver. 
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Alumni
Dr. Samuel Faria, Post-Doctoral Researcher: Evaluating the eco-physiological responses of corals to future climate change scenarios.

Kevin Wong, PhD Student, University of Rhode Island: The potential for rapid acclimatization of reef-building corals to environmental change.

​Kate Gould, Teaching Assistant and PhD Student, University of North Carolina: Thermal tolerance and adaptation of Bermudian coral populations from shallow to mesophotic depths.

​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.

​Rebecca Ju, Research Intern, Yale University: Thermal tolerance of coral larvae from various reef sites and thermal histories.
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​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.

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. 2017-2018

Cameron Walsh, CABIOS Intern, St. Francis Xavier University: Cleaning service gaps in Bermuda, North Atlantic. 2017

​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. 2015-2016

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. 2015
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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