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. Rachel is active in environmental policymaking and has worked at the US EPA Office of Water, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and other policy roles. She 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.
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.
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.
We are recruiting one Postdoctoral Scholar and one PhD Student to begin in January and August, 2026. Please learn more about joining our team here.
Lab Alumni
Ethan gnoffo
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.
