Student Blogs & Vignettes
Lilianna Giuffrida
Lilianna Giuffrida, USF CMS master's student
About my research
I have always been drawn to the ocean from a young age, and through high school I became more and more passionate about marine conservation and sustainability. While working towards my undergraduate degree in marine science at Coastal Carolina University, I was fascinated by the impact of red tides around the world, especially in Florida. I chose to do my undergraduate honors thesis on phytoplankton population dynamics accompanied by nutrient analysis in the waters of Myrtle Beach State Park. As some harmful algal blooms (HABs) seem to increase in severity with climate change, I chose to focus my research efforts into this area of microbiology to hopefully make a positive impact on sustainability and the oceans.
Why USF CMS?
I discovered the USF College of Marine Science by looking at the research being conducted at the University. Dr. Margaret Mars Brisbin鈥檚 work with the HAB forming species, Pyrodinium bahamense, fascinated me and ultimately led me to apply to join her lab! After visiting the campus during the recruitment event - seeing the walkability of the downtown location, supportive faculty/fellow students, and research resources - I knew that USF CMS was the place for me! While at CMS, I鈥檓 excited to participate in public outreach and education, science communication, and build connections with the other cutting-edge researchers at this university.