Meet the Group
Rachel Carlson
PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR
Rachel Carlson (she/her) is an interdisciplinary coastal ecologist who studies the effects of climate change on nearshore organisms and human livelihoods. She uses methods from geospatial science, ecology, and social science to research strategies to protect coastal biodiversity and social-ecological systems. Prior to joining Berkeley, Rachel was a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at Bodega Marine Lab and completed her PhD at Stanford University. She is active in environmental policymaking and has worked at the US EPA Office of Water, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and other policy roles. Rachel is the co-Director of the Berkeley Center for Ocean Futures (BeCOF), a research collaborative that aims to advance place-based ocean partnerships between academics and coastal communities. She enjoys running, backpacking, and playing on her East Bay soccer team, Trouble United.
Tal Gavriel
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Tal Gavriel (she/her) is an ecologist interested in understanding the patterns that shape communities and influence diversity across multiple spatial scales, with a particular interest in the contributions of protected areas and conservation efforts to diversity. She holds a PhD from Tel Aviv University, where she examined the effects of climate change, fishing pressure, invasive species, and extreme events on fish community structure in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Outside of her research, Tal tries to spend as much time as possible by the sea, where her personal and professional interests meet. She also enjoys backpacking and spending time in nature, being with her family, reading, and painting.
Farai Divan Patel
PHD STUDENT
Farai Divan Patel (he/him) is an ecologist who is increasingly interested in incorporating the social and ecological sciences to inform locally relevant and environmentally just conservation measures. He holds a Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in India and a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Bristol, UK. His past work has included studies on reef resilience in the Lakshadweep archipelago and on nature-culture relationships in his home of Goa. He is also an environmental activist and has been closely involved in ecological and climate organising in India. Through his PhD he will explore the role of community based coastal management regimes in furthering local governance and ecological outcomes.
Hayden Vega
PHD STUDENT
Hayden Vega (he/him/his) is a marine ecologist and science communicator who investigates how coastal ecosystems respond to disturbance and change. He holds a B.A. in marine science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he studied how fish help coral reefs respond to physical injury. His past work spans coral reef resilience, kelp forest functional ecology, and machine-learning approaches to shark morphometrics with a unifying focus in exploring how species-interactions influence ecosystem change. Beyond research, Hayden is a science communicator and his work includes a permanent art-and-science exhibit in Santa Barbara, California. In his doctoral research, Hayden investigates how non-native species affect the resilience of coastal ecosystems and the people who depend on them. When he isn’t in the ocean for work, he enjoys being in the ocean for fun. He is an aspiring spearfisher, surfer, and SCUBA diver. Feel free to explore more of Hayden’s work here.
Sofia Ferreira Colman
RESEARCH DATA ANALYST
Sofia Ferreira (she/her) is a quantitative coral reef ecologist passionate about uncovering the processes that drive ecosystem function in order to guide strategic conservation efforts. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Her research has focused on applying 3D photogrammetry and computational tools to quantify reef habitat complexity, monitor coral community changes over time, and examine how habitat structure influences fish assemblages. In her free time, Sofia enjoys surfing, scuba diving, freediving, and exploring Hawai‘i’s unique landscapes.
Sia Agarwal
HONORS THESIS STUDENT
Sia Agarwal (she/her) is a fourth year Environmental Sciences undergraduate at UC Berkeley with a passion for coastal ecology and marine conservation. Her current research in the Coastal Climate Resilience Lab investigates the impact of jointly managed terrestrial and marine areas on nearshore habitats. Using remote sensing techniques, her aim is to build a global map of colocated land-sea management. She is also preparing a thesis project on intertidal algae canopy dynamics in Bodega Bay, California. In her free time, Sia enjoys reading new finds and old favorites, curating playlists, and watching the sunset on the beach.
Nikita Mehta
HONORS THESIS STUDENT
Nikita Mehta (she/her) is a senior undergraduate majoring in Conservation and Resource Studies with a focus in marine ecology, conservation, and culture. Her Honors Thesis Research focuses on the impact of land use and geology on submarine groundwater discharge in Moorea, French Polynesia using GIS and remote sensing tools. Some of her additional research includes investigating other land-sea connections that impact nearshore coral reef systems. In her free time, Nikita enjoys scuba diving, baking/cooking new recipes, and backpacking.
Please learn about joining our team here.
Lab Alumni
Ethan Ignoffo
HONORS THESIS STUDENT
Ethan Ignoffo (he/him) completed his B.S. in Environmental Economics & Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. Ethan’s Senior Thesis research analyzed the impacts of federal investment on recovery outcomes for marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act. He previously interned at Defenders of Wildlife and the UC Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Ethan is broadly interested in climate change adaptation, coastal resource management, sustainable urban development, and marine species conservation, applying tools from environmental economics and policy analysis to data science and remote sensing in support of equitable and resilient coastal communities. After graduation, he will pursue an M.S. in Energy & Environmental Management at the University of Connecticut with focuses in Sustainable Environmental Planning and Management and Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data Analytics. In his free time, he enjoys attending concerts, cooking, playing video games, and traveling.
