Current Members
- Michael Latz, Principal Investigator. Ph.D. in Marine Biology, UC Santa Barbara.
Research: Bioluminescence of marine organisms.
Adjunct Members
- Shengqiang Cai, UCSD Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Harvard University.
Research: Mechanics and chemistry of soft materials including synthesized polymers and biological tissues. - Alex Groisman, UCSD Department of Physics. Ph.D. in Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
Research: Microfluidic approaches in biology and chemistry. - Melissa Carter, Scripps Coastal Phytoplankton Group. M.S. in Marine Science, University of San Diego.
Research: Coastal phytoplankton of the California coast and Caribbean. - Jim Rohr, National Marine Mammal Foundation (deceased). Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics, UC San Diego. Formerly a physicist at the Space and Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego.
Research: Flow stimulation of bioluminescence. - John Frangos, La Jolla Bioengineering Institute. Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Rice University.
Research: Effect of mechanical forces on mammalian cells.
Artists in Residence
- Erika Blumenfeld, Artist in Residence 2000, 2010. Internationally exhibiting artist and Guggenheim Fellow with a BFA in Photography from Parsons The New School of Design.
Project: Photography and videography of bioluminescence presented at CARBON 12 exhibition in Paris, France, 2012. - Glenn Kaino, Artist in Residence 2013. LA artist with an MFA from UC San Diego.
Project: Bioluminescence Wishing Well for Glow Santa Monica art festival September 28, 2013. - Iyvone Khoo, Artist in Residence 2014. London-based artist with an MFA from Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London.
Project: ‘Ara Lucidas‘, glass sculpture and video projection, presented at GLASSTRESS GOTIKA 2015, Venice, Italy. - Iyvone Khoo, Artist in Residence 2015.
Project: Video and photography for Infinity Cube installation at the Birch Aquarium of Scripps during 2017-2018. - Jack Smith, Artist in Residence 2016. London communication design student.
Project: “Luminescymatics“ and Waves of Light article.
Past Members
Postdoctoral Researchers
- Jenny Lindström, 2015-2017. Ph.D. in Zoophysiology, University of Gothenberg, Sweden. Research: Characterization and evolution of signaling proteins involved in the regulation of dinoflagellate bioluminescence.
- John Stires, 2014-2017. Ph.D. in Chemistry, UC San Diego. Research: Relationship of dinoflagellate cell mechanical properties and physiological mechanosensitivity, using bioluminescence as a reporter system.
- Dimitri Deheyn, 1996-2004. Ph.D. Free University of Brussels, Belgium. Research: Bioluminescence assays in ecotoxicology. Currently Research Scientist at Scripps.
- Lilian Busse, 2003-2004. Ph.D. Technical University of Berlin, Germany. Research: Long time scale changes in phytoplankton biodiversity. Currently a member of the San Diego Regional Quality Water Board.
- Sara Lindsay, 1996-1998. Ph.D. in Ecology, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Research: Visual basis of luminescent camouflage behavior in a midwater shrimp. Currently Associate Professor of Marine Science at the University of Maine, Orono.
Graduate Students
- Mariska Beekman, M.Sc. Biological Sciences 2016, University of Amsterdam. Research: The involvement of heterotrimeric G proteins in the dinoflagellate bioluminescence signaling pathway.
- Aaron Hartmann, Ph.D. 2014. Research: Effects of environment and life history strategy on coral reproductive success. Currently a postdoctoral scientist at San Diego State University.
- Kelly Jin. M.S. Biology 2012. Research: Calcium regulation in the signaling pathway for dinoflagellate bioluminescence. Currently a Ph.D. graduate student in the department of Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease at the University of Washington.
- Melissa Roth. Ph.D. 2010. Research: Coral fluorescence and its potential as an indicator of coral health. Currently a postdoctoral scientist at University of California Berkeley.
- Elisa Maldonado. Ph.D. 2009. Research: Effect of environmental conditions on grazing and growth of echinoderm larvae. Currently graduate student outreach officer at UC San Diego.
- Kimberly Hoyt. M.S. 2009. Research: Metal contamination of marsh plants in San Diego County.
- Kim Thamatrakoln. Ph.D. 2006. Silicon transporter proteins in diatoms. Currently a research scientist at Rutgers University.
- Peter von Dassow. Ph.D. 2003. Research: Regulation of bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum. Currently a scientist at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
- Andrew Juhl. Ph.D. 2000. Effect of fluid shear on dinoflagellate growth, physiology and toxin content. Currently a Research Scientist at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.
- Jennifer Nauen. Ph.D. 1998. Biomechanics of two aquatic defense systems. Currently a preceptor at Harvard University.