I'm a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, scheduled to defend in May 2026. Prior to coming to UW, I completed my B.S. in Marine Biology at UCLA and worked as a research assistant in the Biological Oceanography Group at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).
I've embarked on a wide variety of projects during my time at UW, spurred by my interests in quantitative ecology. Unlike a traditional dissertation, my dissertation is unique in that no two chapters share a study system or species. However, what does unify my research is creativity and innovation in the application of quantitative methods, and direct links to conservation and management.
In addition to research, I am passionate about teaching and mentoring. I was the lead instructor for two quarters for our introductory and advanced R programming courses and a TA for our Quantitative Ecology course. I also led workshops and developed a course to teach undergraduates in the aquatic sciences key professional skills, for which I was awarded the UW College of the Environment's top award for commitment to equity. I greatly enjoy mentoring students, and have advised undergraduates on independent quantatitive research projects that they have presented at international conferences.
Feel free to reach out if you're interested in chatting about potential research collaborations, have questions about navigating the graduate school process, or anything else.
Email: mmin at uw dot edu