Anna Knochel

Summary

Anna graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas with a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology. She attended King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia for her master’s degree. Her past research includes using microscopy techniques to visualize the spatial development of bacterial biofilms on marine plastic debris and using biotelemetry to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of manta rays in the Red Sea.

Upon graduating from her master’s program, Anna joined two NGOs dedicated to the research and conservation of manta rays and had the privilege of spending several months collecting data to describe a reef manta nursery ground in the Maldives. For her PhD, Anna is investigating the behavioral drivers of the ecological roles and importance of marine mammals and other large marine vertebrates, particularly on how these animals can affect habitat structure (bioturbation), or the foraging success of other predators, particularly seabirds and teleosts.

Previously