I am interested in interactions between organisms and their chemical environment. I previously was a NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow working at Friday Harbor Laboratories with Dr. Emily Carrington. I received my PhD from the Graduate Group in Ecology working in Dr. Brian Gaylord's lab at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory. My background is in both biology (BS, CSU Fullerton) and chemistry (BA, CSU Fullerton).

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​I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Ninokawa Lab studying how salinity and ocean acidification interact to influence the calcification physiology of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). My work includes developing a model to assess coastal water chemistry changes and their impacts on shell‑forming organisms.

​​I am a PhD student in the Ninokawa Lab working towards my PhD in Environmental Chemistry. I am researching the interactions of microplastics and invasive mussel species (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis) in upstate New York. I also have a passion for teaching and working with students and I hope to create an uplifting and inspiring teaching space​​

I am an undergraduate researcher in the Ninokawa Laboratory, working towards my bachelor's in chemistry. I have researched the effect of light variation and algae presence on the varying parameters in Mercenaria mercenaria and Crassostrea virginica. In the Spring of 2026, I will be looking into identifying freshwater sponges and their defining characteristics based on their location in the local CNY region. 

aaaustri@syr.edu

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​I am an undergraduate student working towards my BS in Environmental Science with a concentration in Watershed Science. I am currently studying the co-cycling between carbonate and phosphorus within freshwater ecosystems. 

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I provide important assistance during field work by ensuring sites are well-sniffed. I am interested in the behavior of small mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits.