Bio

Lara is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Washington in the Molecular Ecology Research Lab, where she is studying local adaptation in Washington’s eelgrass (Zostera marina) populations. She received a bachelor’s in environmental science on the East Coast before working as a fisheries technician in northern Idaho monitoring salmonid populations. Her interest in the ecosystems that supported healthy fisheries (and by proxy, us), led her to the Oregon coast to study eelgrass, a vital and threatened nearshore foundation species. At Oregon State University, she received a master’s in marine resource management while conducting science to support eelgrass conservation and restoration decision-making at the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. If she’s not in the field, lab or office, you can probably find her climbing on rocks, in her garden or on her bike.

Lara is motivated to study and work at the nexus of ecological inquiry and actionable science. She is currently studying how population genetic structure, local adaptation and adaptive capacity across multiple spatial scales influences eelgrass restoration success. Her work will inform state-wide efforts for enhancing the resilience of eelgrass populations through conservation and restoration activities.

Learn About Lara’s Research Project