Laura Núñez-Pons

I conducted my PhD at the University of Barcelona, Spain (November 2012) on chemical ecology, defensive metabolites and bioactive natural products from Antarctic sponges, soft corals and ascidians. Part of my Thesis was performed in Italy (Marine Natural Products Lab at ICB-CNR, Pozzuoli, Napoli) and Antarctica (field work), among other locations. After my PhD I decided I wanted to "warm up" and also desired to expand the topic of my research towards the fascinating and complex coral reef ecosystems. I intend to apply molecular biology, microscopy and chemo-analytical tools to study the functional role of microbial symbiosis in holobiont physiology, enviromental adaptations and in ecological interactions in coral reefs. Currently I am working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Gates Lab. in the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) University of Hawai'i at Manöa.

March 2015