Student Blogs & Vignettes

K. Lyka Confessor

ABOUT MY RESEARCH

My family's history is closely intertwined with the ocean; we lived close to the sea in the Davao province of the Philippines and would eventually travel across oceans to immigrate to the U.S. I was raised far from the ocean since then but would always reminisce of our home. Eventually, I graduated with a B.S. in biology and minors in psychology and chemistry at Heidelberg University (in Tiffin, Ohio, not Germany!). I originally had plans to be a genetic counselor, however, during my early junior year I took a field studies class and was reminded of my love of the ocean. It completely changed my career track! 

I got my master’s degree in ocean and earth sciences at Old Dominion University and am now pursuing my PhD in biological oceanography here at CMS. My current research within the Chappell Marine Molecular Ecology lab focuses on Trichodesmium clade interactions with Karenia brevis HABs at the West Florida Shelf. I will use molecular tools to analyze their gene expression variations alongside population dynamics, importing this data to K. brevis HAB machine-learning model predictions. I’m excited to further my studies here and build up the necessary skills to explore and protect the waters many have called home, just as I have to this day.

WHY USF CMS?

My advisor at ODU, Dr. Dreux Chappell, was given an opportunity here at USF and advocated for her current graduate students to join the college. That included me! Dr. Chappell has been a strong advocate and mentor throughout my studies, as my PI during an REU, my advisor during my master's, and now my advisor as a PhD student. Her research with marine molecular ecology and marine chemistry is something that I am very interested in. Since I come from a limited marine science background, she has ensured that I would learn and gain the necessary toolsets in this field, from grant writing, sample collecting on a research vessel, and publishing my first paper. She also introduced me to the CMS community where I immediately felt at home! The collaborative energy and extensive outreach initiatives are something I am excited to be fully immersed in. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity and am looking forward to my time here with everyone.