Lab Manager
I am a marine biologist and limnologist interested in the evolution, ecology, and resilience of tropical marine ecosystems. My research integrates modern ecological monitoring with the fossil record to understand how environmental change has shaped biodiversity and trophic structure through time.
At the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), I serve as Laboratory Manager of the O’Dea Lab in the Paleobiology and Marine Historical Ecology Group. I first joined STRI’s Physical Monitoring Program, contributing to long-term oceanographic and water-quality monitoring of Panama’s mangrove and coastal ecosystems. As a certified scientific diver (AAUS, Rescue & Nitrox), I conduct underwater fieldwork that complements my laboratory research on coral reefs and fossil assemblages.
Currently, within the Panama Paleontology Project, I focus on the analysis of fossil shark teeth from the Miocene Gatun Formation. My work aims to reconstruct ancient trophic networks and tentative nursery areas to discover the ecology of the formation 10 to 7 mya. I also work on modern communities, identifying changes driven by climatic events such as marine heatwaves and ocean acidification, to better understand how coral reef ecosystems respond to environmental stress. This approach helps identify ecological baselines to guide tangible and practical conservation efforts.
Beyond research, I am passionate about science communication and ocean advocacy. I have represented Panama in international forums such as the Our Ocean conference and Immersed in Change. I collaborate with Sustainable Ocean Alliance Panama to engage young people in marine conservation. My goal is to bridge marine biology and conservation paleobiology to better understand the past and protect the future of tropical oceans.
O'Dea Lab 
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