Current members

Tom DeCarlo, lab leader
Tom received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 2016. He is interested in how our ocean is rapidly changing today and the consequences of these changes on marine life. His work has included coral biological responses to climate change, carbonate geochemistry, Raman spectroscopy, paleoceanography, and remote sensing. Although his research has used a wide range of techniques, the unifying theme has always been a connection to coral reef ecosystems.
CV email
Tom received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 2016. He is interested in how our ocean is rapidly changing today and the consequences of these changes on marine life. His work has included coral biological responses to climate change, carbonate geochemistry, Raman spectroscopy, paleoceanography, and remote sensing. Although his research has used a wide range of techniques, the unifying theme has always been a connection to coral reef ecosystems.
CV email

Allyndaire Whelehan, Master's student
Allyndaire recently graduated from Hawai‘i Pacific University with a B.S. in Oceanography. She is interested in investigating the climate drivers of growth rate changes and creating past climate reconstructions from coral core records. She has also been working with Dr. DeCarlo on advancing coral growth rate analysis tools.
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Allyndaire recently graduated from Hawai‘i Pacific University with a B.S. in Oceanography. She is interested in investigating the climate drivers of growth rate changes and creating past climate reconstructions from coral core records. She has also been working with Dr. DeCarlo on advancing coral growth rate analysis tools.

Brighton Hedger, Master's student
Brighton is a recent graduate of University of San Diego with a B.S. in Environmental and Ocean Sciences with a concentration in Marine Ecology. She is interested in researching coral growth and calcification rates and developing a community-based system to measure coral cores.
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Brighton is a recent graduate of University of San Diego with a B.S. in Environmental and Ocean Sciences with a concentration in Marine Ecology. She is interested in researching coral growth and calcification rates and developing a community-based system to measure coral cores.

Hannah Weinstein, Master's student
Hannah received her undergraduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with a concentration in Ocean Science from Cornell University. She is now an MSMS student studying the comparison of coral growth measurements using x-rays and CT scans.
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Hannah received her undergraduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with a concentration in Ocean Science from Cornell University. She is now an MSMS student studying the comparison of coral growth measurements using x-rays and CT scans.
Maya Pompel, Undergraduate student
Maya is an undergraduate at Hawai’i Pacific University majoring in Oceanography with a concentration in Biology and a minor in Sustainability. She is interested in environmental conservation and how anthropogenic sources affect the ocean and its wildlife. In the future, she hopes to be involved in research in California or Hawai’i and help promote sustainable practices for large corporations. |
Kalli Tulipano (she/her), Undergraduate student
Kalli is an undergraduate at Hawaii Pacific University studying for a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in Sustainability. She is interested in endangered species conservation and understanding anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems. In the future she hopes to take part in creating sustainable environmental policies and work in marine mammalogy and ornithology. |
Devyn Perry, Undergraduate student
Devyn Perry is an undergraduate studying Marine Biology at HPU. She plans to work in conservation and field research in the future. |
Gabriel Stauring, Undergraduate Student
Gabriel is an undergraduate at Hawaii Pacific University studying Oceanography with a focus in Biology. He is interested in studying how different organisms can largely impact their marine habitat. His ultimate goal is to create a lasting, positive impact for the world's oceans for both humans and marine organisms to enjoy.
Gabriel is an undergraduate at Hawaii Pacific University studying Oceanography with a focus in Biology. He is interested in studying how different organisms can largely impact their marine habitat. His ultimate goal is to create a lasting, positive impact for the world's oceans for both humans and marine organisms to enjoy.
Alumni

Hannah Whitaker, Master's student
Hannah is now working on her Ph.D. at The University of Western Australia
After several years doing hurricane relief after graduating from UNC Wilmington in 2019 with degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Hannah is thrilled to return to research. For her Master's thesis, she examined the ways in which tropical corals record the details of thermal stress events in their skeletons.
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Hannah is now working on her Ph.D. at The University of Western Australia
After several years doing hurricane relief after graduating from UNC Wilmington in 2019 with degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Hannah is thrilled to return to research. For her Master's thesis, she examined the ways in which tropical corals record the details of thermal stress events in their skeletons.

Jess Hankins, Master's student
Jess is now working as a Lab Manager at University of Colorado Boulder
Jess is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.S. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and a focus in marine biogeochemical dynamics. Following two years of computational research at CU, a 3-month-long research excursion in Thailand, and a 1.5 year long position as a laboratory tech in the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Ocean Acidification Lab, she conducted her graduate thesis on utilizing Raman spectroscopic techniques to analyze the implications of ocean acidification on coral calcifying fluid. In her free time, Jess loves to play guitar, and adventure in both the mountains/ocean.
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Jess is now working as a Lab Manager at University of Colorado Boulder
Jess is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.S. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and a focus in marine biogeochemical dynamics. Following two years of computational research at CU, a 3-month-long research excursion in Thailand, and a 1.5 year long position as a laboratory tech in the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Ocean Acidification Lab, she conducted her graduate thesis on utilizing Raman spectroscopic techniques to analyze the implications of ocean acidification on coral calcifying fluid. In her free time, Jess loves to play guitar, and adventure in both the mountains/ocean.

Hanna Mantanona, Master's student
Hanna is current a Knauss Fellow in NOAA OAR's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab
Hanna is an alumnus of Hawaii Pacific University for both her B.S. degree in Marine Biology and her Master's of Marine Science. She is interested in studying how chemical processes and anthropogenic influences impact corals in hopes of informing how to better protect reef ecosystems.
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Hanna is current a Knauss Fellow in NOAA OAR's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab
Hanna is an alumnus of Hawaii Pacific University for both her B.S. degree in Marine Biology and her Master's of Marine Science. She is interested in studying how chemical processes and anthropogenic influences impact corals in hopes of informing how to better protect reef ecosystems.

Kathleen Matthews, post-bachelor's researcher
Kathleen received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in summer 2022. She is interested in how corals are responding to changes in the environment caused by anthropogenic impacts.
Kathleen received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in summer 2022. She is interested in how corals are responding to changes in the environment caused by anthropogenic impacts.

Jordyn Cotton, Master's student
Jordyn completed her Master's of Science in Marine Science at the Sclero lab in 2022. She is interested in studying the ever-changing health of coral reef ecosystems and is looking forward to continuing to study the human impacts on reefs with the goal to help protect these precious ecosystems.
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Jordyn completed her Master's of Science in Marine Science at the Sclero lab in 2022. She is interested in studying the ever-changing health of coral reef ecosystems and is looking forward to continuing to study the human impacts on reefs with the goal to help protect these precious ecosystems.

Fiza Zahid, Master's student
Fiza now works as an Assistant Program Manager/Educator at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Fiza completed her MSMS thesis in the Sclero lab in 2022 on the effects of upwelling and heat stress on damselfish otolith increments in the Red Sea.
Fiza now works as an Assistant Program Manager/Educator at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Fiza completed her MSMS thesis in the Sclero lab in 2022 on the effects of upwelling and heat stress on damselfish otolith increments in the Red Sea.

Susie Jones, undergraduate senior
Susie worked as an undergraduate in the Sclero lab on otolith processing and analysis for her capstone project. Susie now works for Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response.
Susie worked as an undergraduate in the Sclero lab on otolith processing and analysis for her capstone project. Susie now works for Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response.

Caitlyn Ogbaekwe, Master's student
Caitlyn spent time on various projects in the Sclero lab as an undergraduate. Caitlyn is now a marine science master’s student at Hawai’i Pacific University. She is interested in ocean circulation, plastics, and paleoclimatology. She enjoys singing, painting, and going to the beach. She’s currently designing the lab logo and merchandise featuring our mascot, Piper.
Caitlyn spent time on various projects in the Sclero lab as an undergraduate. Caitlyn is now a marine science master’s student at Hawai’i Pacific University. She is interested in ocean circulation, plastics, and paleoclimatology. She enjoys singing, painting, and going to the beach. She’s currently designing the lab logo and merchandise featuring our mascot, Piper.