Prof. Maggie Johnson 

Assistant Professor, Marine Science

I am an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and PI of the Global Change Ecology (GCEco) Lab. I have devoted my career to tackling the question, how are humans altering the face of coral reefs? I have studies coral reefs across the globe, from the central tropical Pacific to Caribbean Panama and the Red Sea, and seek to understand what role humans are playing in the rapid degradation of these valuable ecosystems. I use a combination of field and laboratory-based approaches to 1) evaluate and monitor the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems, 2) quantify inherent natural heterogeneity in key environmental parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH, 3) explore the implications of environmental variability for ecophysiology of coral reef primary producers, 4) and determine the implications of local and global environmental change for these foundational coral reef taxa.  

Dr. Erik Krieger 

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am a marine biologist with a special focus on the physiology of calcifying macroalgae. With my research I try to answer the question, what physiological traits underlie species-specific tolerances to different anthropogenic drivers in this important functional group? To do this, I mainly use manipulative laboratory studies where I simulate changes in single or multiple drivers and examine differential tolerances employing standard physiological techniques, omics and geochemical analysis. Additionally, I am interested in improving the design and statistical analysis of ocean change experiments and our understanding of how extreme temperature events impact marine ecosystems.

Dr. Matthew Tietbohl 

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am a postdoctoral researcher in love with the unique and endemic fauna of the Red Sea. My research interests include exploring how fishes and other reef organisms interact with and influence the environment around them. I am particularly interested in understanding patterns and drivers of trophic ecology and using techniques like stable isotope and stomach content analyses to understand how energy moves through marine environments.

For my postdoctoral research, I will be using standardized sampling equipment (Calcification Accretion Units - CAUs for short), to understand the dynamics of calcification and early successional coral reef communities throughout the Red Sea. This information will be tied to the dynamics of reef fish feeding behavior to gain a clearer picture of how fishes influence these communities, with an aim to better understand the relationship between coral reef fish and calcification processes

Dr. Aurora Giorgi

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am a marine ecologist and microbiologist. I study crustose coralline algae (CCA) and their taxonomy to shed light into the role of different CCA species and their associated microbiomes in mediating coral recruitment. My main research question is to investigate whether larval settlement is mediated by intrinsic factors (physical characteristics of the CCA and/or secondary metabolites produced by them), by extrinsic factors (metabolites produced by the surface microbial community of the CCA) or an interaction of both. As a postdoc at KAUST I am also very excited to explore CCA diseases in the Red Sea from an ecological and microbiological perspective.

Dr. Chiara Pisapia

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am broadly interested in the community and population ecology of reef-building corals. My

research focuses on major disturbances in particular climate induced coral bleaching that impact reef community structure and function, with a view to understanding recovery trajectories of coral populations and ecosystem function.

I have conducted extensive research in understanding how coral populations and ecosystem primary production and ecosystem calcification are changing with global environmental change with particular focus on marine heat waves.

Fleur Bruggemann 

Ph.D. Student 

As a PhD student, I work at understanding how climate change driven abiotic transformations lead to shifts in coral reef algal communities. More specifically, I’m interested at looking at how these shifts will affect coral larvae settlement and survival in future reefs.

Jing Yan 

Ph.D. Student

I am interested in the effects of climate change and anthropogenic stress on coral reef ecosystems, especially on calcifying algae. My current projects include quantifying the calcification rates of reef algae in the central Red Sea and understanding the thermotolerance of crustose coralline algae.