The Witman Lab @ Brown - Home



Marisa Agarwal69 Brown Street Box 3004Providence, RI 02912marisa_agarwal@brown.edu+1(650)575-1803EducationBrown UniversitySc.B. in Marine Biology (Honors Track)Graduation in April, 2021PublicationsAgarwal, M. 2017. First Record of Dendronotus orientalis (Baba, 1932) (Nudibranchia: Dendronotidae) in the Temperate Eastern Pacific. BioInvasions Records. 6(2): 135-138.AwardsExceptional Peer Advisor Award Finalist – Brown University, 2020Voss Fellowship in Environmental Science ($7500) – Brown University, 2020Misaki Marine Biological Station Practical Course – University of Tokyo, 2020 **International Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award ($5000) – Brown University, 2019Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship ($1000) – Women Divers Hall of Fame, 2019Presentations and Posters“Environmental and Ecological Drivers of Black Coral Populations in the Galápagos Marine Reserve”. 2020 Benthic Ecology Conference. April, 2020 **“Update on long-term change and aspects of ecosystem function in the Galapagos Marine Reserve”. Charles Darwin Research Station. August, 2019. Research ExperienceUndergraduate Research Assistant & Lab ManagerOctober 2019 – Present, Brown University, Witman LabAnalyzed photographic quadrat data to assess invertebrate abundance in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Utilized statistical software (R, JMP, Excel) to examine temporal dynamics in the system. Performed video-based fish biodiversity and herbivory surveys to quantify consumer pressure across biological and oceanographic gradients. Measured coral colony bleaching in the Galapagos using ImageJ. Trained peers in lab techniques and created data analysis protocols. Managed lab logistics, data organization, and delegation of research efforts. Independent Undergraduate Thesis ResearchMarch 2019 – Present, Brown University & Galápagos Islands, EcuadorConducted the first ecological survey of the depth distribution and health of black coral (Antipathes galapagensis) populations in the Galápagos Archipelago. Scientific SCUBA diving facilitated field assessments. Created a photo time series to track changes in individual black coral colony health. Conducted data analysis, statistical routines, and data visualization using R. Presented results within the Witman Lab and to faculty and park managers at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador. Publication and dissemination of results will be carried out within the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department at Brown and in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Witman Lab MemberSeptember 2017 – Present, Brown UniversityWorked on multiple projects using photo and video data from the Galápagos Islands including: long-term monitoring of invertebrate (urchin, sea star, barnacle) communities; quantification of barnacle recruitment; hard coral identification, abundance, and bleaching surveys; and fish diversity surveys. Presented research findings during weekly lab meetings. Managed social media outlets and lab outreach, including website updates and Instagram posts. Assisted in the field with long-term monitoring projects via scientific diving. Raimondi-Carr Lab Volunteer InternJune – August 2018, Long Marine Lab, University of California, Santa CruzMonitored recruitment and settlement patterns of subtidal invertebrates in the Monterey Bay, CA via sample collection in the field and lab processing. Designed and constructed experimental exclusion cages to deploy in kelp forests to study sea star predation. Surveyed mesocosm experiments biweekly using quantitative methodology.Bernardi Lab Volunteer InternJune – August 2018, Long Marine Lab, University of California, Santa CruzPerformed husbandry tasks (feeding, cleaning, maintenance) for Gilliycthys mirabilis. Set up experiments, constructed insulated tanks, and measured, weighed, and handled live fish. Teaching and MentorshipInvertebrate Zoology (BIOL 410) Teaching AssistantSeptember 2020 – December 2020, Brown UniversityPrinciples of Ecology (BIOL 420) Teaching AssistantJanuary 2020 – May 2020, Brown UniversityJanuary 2021 – April 2021, Head TA, Brown University Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) LeaderSeptember 2019 – present, Brown UniversityMet with co-leaders once per week to organize events for the DUG that promote diversity and student-body engagement within the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Department at Brown University. Held and presented at panels to describe my undergraduate research path and connect students to departmental resources. Women in Science and Engineering MentorSeptember 2017 – present, Brown UniversityPerformed one-on-one monthly advising sessions for female-identifying first year STEM students. Mentored women on how to approach courses, research, and science at Brown and beyond.Marine Science Institute InternMay 2015 – August 2017, Marine Science Institute, Redwood City, CAEducated elementary level students about Californian marine life. Oversaw aquarium maintenance, including feeding, cleaning, and equipment upgrades. Collected live plankton using tow nets to hand-rear pipefish. SkillsPADI-certified SCUBA DiverCompleted 67 dives as of October 2020. Rescue Diver, Red Cross CPR, and Enriched Air Nitrox certification.TechnicalMicrosoft Office Suite, Photoshop, evolutionary biology modelling programs (MEGA, AlleleA1, Mesquite, Populus), iMovie, Autodesk Fusion 360 CAD Software, R, ImageJ, JMP, GIS Additional BackgroundNCAA Division I Competitive DiverBrown University Varsity Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, 2017 – presentCompetitive diver, holding a spot as one of the University’s top-ten scorers and qualifying for the NCAA Division I Zone Championships. Volunteered at the Providence Boys and Girls Club to teach swim lessons to underserved children.Kappa Delta SororityBrown University Theta Gamma Chapter, 2017 – 2020Participated in charity event organization for Prevent Child Abuse America and local Girl Scouts of the USA troops. Clubs: Brown Outing Club, South Asian Student Alliance, Mixed Asian-Pacific Islander Student Heritage Club ................
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