Josette is a PhD student in the Marine Science and Conservation program at Duke University. She obtained her B.Sc. in Marine, Wildlife and Conservation Biology from St. George’s University in 2019; and a M.S. in Environmental Science from Hampton University in 2021. Throughout her career, she has conducted a wide array of research ranging from the tropical ecosystems of the Caribbean to the temperate tundra of Alaska. Specific projects include assessing the impact of marsh impoundment on phragmites carbon cycling, analyzing the impact of ocean acidification on blue crab juveniles, and quantifying microbial community structure in Alaskan permafrost.
Josette is broadly focused on marine conservation and outreach. As a marine ecologist, she aspires to increase coastal ecosystem resilience and inform conservation and management strategies. Her research investigates how facilitations and interactions between coastal foundation species (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses) can be harnessed to increase their resilience to anthropogenic disturbances (i.e. pollution, physical disturbance,) and climate change induced stressors (i.e. sea level rise and ocean acidification, etc.). Ultimately, Josette aspires to develop transferable restoration techniques that are not only applicable to coastal foundation species; but can also be integrated into global efforts to increase ecosystem resilience worldwide. In addition to this, Josette engages in student focused STEM outreach and science communication initiatives primarily through her work with international professional societies such as The Ecological Society of America, The Society of Wetland Sciences and The Oceanography Society.