Meet the Team
PROJECT LEADERS
Principal Investigator
Dr. Timothy Frawley
Dr. Timothy Frawley is a former commercial fisherman, coastal wildflower enthusiast, and mediocre surfer who has lived and worked in central California for over a decade. His fundamental goal as a researcher is to produce and communicate useful science capable of transforming the way people think about marine resource management and governance. As a transdisciplinary, coupled-systems scientist he relies upon mixed methods from the natural and social sciences and ongoing collaboration with active resource users to define research questions, collect data, and interpret results. His research to-date has spanned diverse sectors, scales, and geographies, including everything from the climate adaptation of small-scale fishers in Baja California Sur (Mexico) to the behaviors and operations of longline tuna fishing fleets in the Pacific high seas. Since obtaining his PhD from Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University in 2019, he’s been working as a member of the Fisheries Collaborative Program associated with University of California Santa Cruz and NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
Co - Principal Investigator
Dr. Jennifer Selgrath
Dr. Jennifer (Jenny) Selgrath works as a social-ecological researcher with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary’s science team. She is passionate about incorporating transdisciplinary spatial and social-ecological tools into research, monitoring, conservation, cultural preservation, and collaborative management of coastal ecosystems. She focuses on human dimensions of the ocean, including ocean access, subsistence fishing, historical ecology, climate impacts, cultural benefits, environmental justice, and on deep-sea coral habitats. Previously, she was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station where she integrated historical ecology and local ecological knowledge to assess biodiversity changes in Monterey Bay over the past two centuries. As a post-doc she also assessed the adaptive capacity of coastal fishing communities to respond to impacts from climate change. Jennifer completed her doctorate degree at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Oceans and Fisheries. During her PhD she worked in partnership with Project Seahorse, the Landscape Ecology Lab, and Zoological Society of London (ZSL)-Philippines. Her doctoral research focused on understanding long-term and spatial changes in the sustainability of small-scale fisheries, the influence of fisheries governance, and the impacts of fishing and other stressors on the spatial resilience of coral reefs. Jennifer earned her Master of Science degree in Biology from San Diego State University and her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University where she double majored in Dance and Earth & Environmental Science. She is a former AmeriCorps volunteer and a former Fulbright Scholar (Philippines).
COLLABORATORS
Graduate Student
Carlie Domingues M.A.
I am a relative, scholar and facilitator. I earned my Masters in American Indian Studies at UCLA and I am currently a doctoral candidate in the Native American Studies program at UC Davis. I collaborate with various people, orgs and programs to support our collective health in abalone and oak ecosystems, emphasizing Indigenous California presence and food systems.
Advisor & Researcher
Dr. Katherine Seto
Katherine Seto is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research lies at the intersection of political ecology, governance theory, and sustainability science. Her research investigates the equity, sustainability, and governance of marine and coastal systems, and the reciprocal relationship they have with human wellbeing and conflict. Her current research explores the social and ecological consequences of fishing, distribution of coastal and marine resource benefits, and the role of seafood in local and global food systems.
Advisor & Researcher
Dr. Larry Crowder
Larry Crowder is the Edward F. Ricketts Provostial Professor of Marine Ecology and Conservation at Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. He is also Affiliated Faculty at Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions and Professor by Courtesy, Department of Biology. is recent research has focused on marine conservation, including research on bycatch, spatial ecological analysis, nutrients and low oxygen, sustainable seafood, ecosystem-based management, marine spatial planning, and governance.
Advisor & Researcher
Dr. Rachel Seary
Rachel Seary is a postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz and the NOAA Environmental Research Division. She received a PhD in Geography from the University of Cambridge in 2019 before moving to the USA to study the California Current Ecosystem. Rachel is interested in the links between humans and the marine environment, and finding the balance between biodiversity conservation and sustaining ocean resources that people need for food, economy and well-being under changing environmental and regulatory landscapes. Her research investigates social-ecological challenges for fishing communities through participatory approaches.
Advisor & Researcher
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Duncan
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Duncan is a research ecologist with the NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Her work addresses the human dimensions of sanctuary management, deep sea coral ecosystems, spatial ecology, and climate change. Lizzie was formerly a Sea Grant Fellow, and completed her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in marine biology and biology from California State University, Long Beach.
Graduate Student
Emma Gee
Emma Gee is a PhD student in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz. She has a broad range of research interests, including discourses around Asian cultures in conservation, Indigenous fisheries sovereignty, and the ecological effects of fishing on the high seas. She is passionate about knowledge co-creation and how scientists can create conditions that catalyze transformative change. Prior to coming to UCSC, she completed a BS in Environmental Systems Engineering and an MS in Earth Systems from Stanford University
Graduate Student
Taylor Triviño
My name is Taylor Triviño and I am a first year masters student in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) at the University of Washington (UW). I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA where my interests lie in bridging the gap between science and policy/management. I pursued my passion for marine science by completing my undergraduate degree in Marine Science at CSU, Monterey Bay, and now on my next journey in graduate school. ​​
Advisor & Researcher
Teresa Romero
Teresa Romero is an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of Chumash, is a member Syuxtun Plant Collective, a traditional plant collective focusing on tending, gathering and preparation of traditional plants. Teresa has served on the MPA Statewide Leadership Team as a Tribal Representative since 2019. Teresa has worked for over 20 years assisting Tribal Communities on projects, such as acquiring lands for the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, protecting Treaty Rights (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians) and preserving traditional cultural knowledge for her Chumash community. Teresa has deep ties to her traditional homelands and the ocean.
INTERNS
2024-2025
UC Santa Barbara
Undergraduate Researcher
Lucas Lowe
Lucas is a fourth-year Environmental Studies major at UC Santa Barbara with a focus on Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology. His interest in the natural sciences stems from his time spent in Montana and Japan as a kid. He has a background in sustainability through volunteering as a sustainability chairman for various clubs and a startup. Recently, he took part in a field studies program where he conducted research on microplastic accumulation in queen conch (Aliger gigas). He has also worked as a research assistant for UC Santa Barbara faculty Dr. Peter Alagona assisting in his grizzly bear research project. This summer, Lucas is an intern at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary where he is working on a research project on ocean access, marine protected areas, and environmental justice for subsistence fishers in California. When he’s not working, Lucas is often found freediving around Santa Barbara or hiking the Santa Ynez mountains!
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Project Tasks: GIS database curation and spatial analysis
Project Tasks: Web design, valuation framework literature review, semi-structured interview administration and transcription, qualitative data analysis
UC Santa Barbara
Graduate Student
Manuela Diaz
My name is Manuela, and I was born and raised in a small town near Santiago, the capital of Chile. I completed my undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Design in Chile, and I am currently a MESM student at the Bren School at UCSB. Here I’m pursuing specializations in Coastal Marine Resource Management and Business and Sustainability. I’m a certified scuba diver, passionate about the ocean and committed to helping coastal ecosystems and local communities thrive. I’m excited to apply interdisciplinary approaches to advance coastal marine protection and promote inclusive access to coastal spaces.
UC Santa Cruz
Undergraduate Student
Jasmine Tseng
Hi, my name is Jasmine Tseng. I grew up in the Minnesota Twin Cities area. I’m a marine biology undergraduate student at UC Santa Cruz. I’m interested in marine ecology, people’s relationship with the land around them, and the influence of socioeconomic factors on access and use of coastal areas and resources, and I’m excited to be able to explore that in this project.
2023-2024
Stanford University
Undergraduate Researcher
Plengrhambhai (Pleng) Snidvongs Kruesopon
Pleng Kruesopon is a Sophomore at Stanford University, majoring in International Relations and Environmental Justice. Born and raised in Thailand, she spent a lot of her time near the ocean and is an avid diver. In High School, she founded Care for Coral, an NGO that strives to preserve Thailand’s marine environment through direct conservation and plantation efforts of corals nationwide. She has worked with the Thai Department of Marine and Coastal Resources as a policy advocate and was awarded a Gold Ocean Conservationist medal from the Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. This summer she is a Stanford Earth Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SESUR) intern working out of the Crowder Lab at Hopkins Marine Station. When she’s not in the water, she enjoys hiking, reading, and playing the guitar with her family and friends.
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Project Tasks: Web design, valuation framework literature review, semi-structured interview administration and transcription, qualitative data analysis
UC Santa Barbara
Graduate Researcher
Kennedy Flavin
Kennedy Flavin, a dedicated graduate from University of Utah, holding dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental & Sustainability Science and Political Science, with a focus on Air, Water, and Health, along with a minor in Earth Sciences. As a former member of the university's Sustainability Board, Kennedy organized engaging Climate Change Anxiety Discussions and passionately advocated for preserving Utah's precious gem, the Great Salt Lake. Her transformative internship experience with Save Our Canyons honed her skills in championing inclusive recreation and equal access to natural resources through innovative policies like "Transits to Trails." Kennedy now sets her sights on reaching greater heights by pursuing a Master's in Coastal Marine Resources Management at the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. This summer, she is working to advance her ultimate goal of having a tangible, positive impact on MPA planning processes as an intern at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Outside her academic pursuits, Kennedy finds solace and joy in the tranquility of the beaches, nurturing her passion for surfing, and also in yoga studios, where she seeks balance and inner peace.
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Project Tasks: Environmental justice literature review, Bren School Project Manager
Stanford University
Undergraduate Researcher
Roya Meykadeh
Born and raised in San Francisco, Roya Meykadeh has had a deep love and respect for the ocean since she was a toddler, and finds herself at peace when by the water. She will be an incoming sophomore at Stanford University next year, and is planning on focusing her studies on issues surrounding sustainability, environmental engineering, and biological and ecological processes. Maintaining the health and vitality of our planet is a deep passion of hers, and she has conducted research on the impacts of ocean acidification on calcifying organisms, materials research on helium implanted surfaces within fusion energy reactors, and the impact of anthropogenic pollution on our intertidal zones to name a few. This summer Roya is a Stanford Wood's Mentoring Undergradutes in Interdisciplinary Research (MUIR) intern working out of the Crowder Lab at Hopkins Marine Station. Outside of her academic life, Roya enjoys rock music, adventuring to find local swimming holes, hikes, and camping :)
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Project Tasks: Valuation framework literature review, semi-structured interview administration and transcription, qualitative data analysis, social media account management
Iowa State University
Undergraduate Researcher
Maryam Krauss
Maryam is a rising senior at Iowa State University, majoring in animal ecology with a focus on fisheries and aquatic science. Maryam's passion and interest for marine science and conservation stemmed from her upbringing in Malaysia and times spent on the local islands -- where she witnessed profound environmental apathy among coastal communities. This summer, Maryam is an Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF) intern at working out of the Crowder Lab at Hopkins Marine Station. During her free time, Maryam spends her time reading, drawing, or watching documentaries and sitcoms!
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Project Tasks: Quantitative analysis of Instagram social media database (#bayareafishing), netnography to define and characterize different ocean user groups