Olivia Isbell
Bren PhD student
Email: oisbell@ucsb.edu
Website: oliviaisbell.com
Olivia (she/her) earned her BS in Marine Science and Biology at the University of Tampa. She has worked internationally, from conducting underwater research in the Caribbean to managing a marine conservation organization in the Maldives. At Bren, Olivia is a NSF Graduate Research Fellow, broadly interested in understanding how shallow coral reef communities are adapting in the face of climate change.
Olivia’s research focuses on understanding the ecological impacts of severe disturbances on coral reef ecosystems and the drivers for recovery. Her goal is to provide support for better conservation and management of reefs and ultimately assist global communities that rely on these critical ecosystems. In addition to her work Olivia is also passionate about representation in marine science and graduate school and participates in groups like Black Women in Marine Science (BWEEMS) and helps facilitate outreach initiatives with other graduate students at the international research station in French Polynesia where she conducts her doctoral research. In her free time, Olivia enjoys cooking new recipes and painting.