Liza Gomez Daglio
Graduate student

I am interested in taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of jellyfish (Scyphozoa) and barnacles (Balanomorpha). My research focuses on the biodiversity and evolution of these organisms, especially for those species that belong to the Gulf of California and the Baja California Peninsula Pacific coast. I will describe and register the species that live in these areas, in order to understand the biogeography of the fauna in the Gulf of California. Morphometrics and molecular tools will help me to understand the biogeographic patterns of the invertebrates, as well describe their rich evolutionary histories.

Holly Swift
Graduate student

My main research focus is as an evolutionary ecologist, so I’m especially interested in how evolutionary differences between organisms manifest themselves in ecological differences, especially in pelagic ecosystems. I’m hoping to start research on the phylogenetics, feeding behavior and biomechanics of Mastigias jellyfish which live in marine lakes soon. I’ve worked before on ecological questions of feeding and biomechanics with ctenophores, which are also beautiful, pelagic gelatinous organisms (and best of all, they don’t sting when you catch them).