Li Ling Hamady
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Marine Research Facility 225, MS#50 Woods Hole, Ma. 02543,
office phone: 1 508 289 3868,
EDUCATION
2008-presentPh.D. (expected) Biological Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution Joint Graduate Program, Cambridge/Woods Hole, MA.
Advisor: Dr. Simon Thorrold. Current GPA: 4.6/5.0.
2002-2006College of Creative Studies (CCS) Biology with Honors, University of California, Santa
Barbara. Extensive study of ecological system dynamics, focused on marine systems.GPA: 3.72.
Study Abroad Semester: James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. 7-12/04.
Relevant Graduate Course Work:
GeneticsPopulation GeneticsMarine Chemistry
Marine Geology & GeochemistryIntro to Physical OceanographyOceans and Human Health
Biological Oceanography Marine Geodynamics: Climate Change Tropical Coastal Ecology
Science Writing for the General Public
Relevant Undergraduate Course Work:
Introduction to EcologyDevelopmental Biology & labBehavioral Ecology
Coral Reef EcologyEcological ModelingRainforest Ecology
Applied Marine EcologyInvertebrate Zoology I&IIEvolutionary Medicine
Principles of EvolutionAdvanced Biological StatisticsSex & Evolution
Biology of FishesMarine Ecological PhysiologyPaleontology
Aquatic Ecology (A,B,C) & labsDeep Sea BiologyGlobal Warming
Plant SystematicsRestoration Ecology SeminarParasitology
Mangrove EcosystemsGraduate Seminar on Early Life
Graduate Seminar on Global EcologyTropical Coral Reef, Rainforest, & Wetland Ecology
RESEARCH & WORK EXPERIENCE
2008- present Graduate Student under the guidance of Dr. Simon Thorrold.
• Course work at MIT and WHOI
•14C and stable isotope ICP mass spectrometry analysis of basking shark, whale shark, great white shark, and dusky shark vertebrae, coupled with PSAT tagging of live individuals to determine
migration and feeding patterns.
2005- present Independent Researcher under the guidance of Prof. Steve Gaines, UCSB.
• Collaborated with a fellow student to design & carry out a unique lab experiment examining the
evolutionary basis of differing feeding behaviors of two intertidal dogwhelk congeners (Nucella
emarginataN. ostrina) with distinct northern and southern CA ranges, on a barnacle (Tetraclita
rubescens) whose range is extending northward, likely due to climate change.
• Collected snails & barnacles from Baja CA to Bodega Bay, designed seawater table equipment & feeding trial setup, monitored multiple experiments, organized & analyzed results.
•Presented poster on preliminary results at the 2007 International Biogeography Society Conference.
•Anticipate project completion & write up for publication shortly.
2006-2008 Laboratory Technician & Manager ofProf. David Lea’s paleoclimatology lab, UCSB.
• Processed foraminifera from ocean sediment samples for trace metal & isotopic analysis by mass
spectrometry.
• Supervised & coordinated daily lab operations & physical facilities of lab, including clean room
procedures, product ordering, service arrangements, & data analysis.
2005-2008Independent Researcher under the guidance of Prof. Steve Gaines, UCSB.
• Collaborated with graduate students to investigate the historical frequency of SST extremes along the US west coast with the goal of evaluating their influence on the geographical distribution of marine organisms.
•Used Matlab & JMP to eliminate trends & create contour plots for analysis.
2005Research Assistant with Prof. Steve Gaines’ Lab, South Africa & UCSB.
•Conducted intertidal habitat surveys & sampling for several biogeographic studies along entire South African coastline. Processed limpet reproductive tissue samples.
•Attended the Mellon Foundation conference in South Africa. Presented poster on preliminary results of personal work at the 2005 Western Society of Naturalists Conference.
2005Research Assistant for Scott Hamilton & Ben Ruttenberg, students of Prof. Bob Warner, UCSB.
• Conducted laboratory phase of study of larval connectivity of reef fishes by analyzing the chemical composition of their otoliths using ICP mass spectrometry.
• Extracted, cleaned, & prepared otoliths from egg masses for trace element analysis in a clean
laboratory using trace-metal grade chemicals. Dissected & polished juvenile otoliths.
2004Research Assistant with James Cook University graduate student, JCU, Australia.
• Took abiotic stream measurements & algal samples for stream research in the outback of
Queensland, AUS on a week-long trip.
2004Research Assistant with James Cook University graduate student, JCU, Australia.
• Assisted with trap setup, bird capture, handling & measurements of male Great Bowerbirds in Queensland, AUS.
2003-2004Research Assistant with Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) UCSB.
•Identified & counted barnacle settlement & invertebrate recruitment. Dissected & identified recruit fish otoliths. Conducted intertidal habitat surveys.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2010Hamady LL, LJ Natanson, L Houghton, G Skomal, SR Thorrold. “Resolving Basking Shark
Migratory Connectivity in the Western Atlantic: Incorporating Satellite Archival Tagging and
Ecogeochemistry Techniques.” Eos Trans. AGU 91(26), Ocean Sciences Meeting Suppl., Abstract BO43B-05. Oral Presentation. Portland, OR, USA.
2007Swezey DS, LL Hamady. “Shifting Ranges in Past and Present Climate: the Inability of Northern Whelks to Drill the Range Extending Barnacle Tetraclita rubescens.” Poster Presentation at: The 3rd International Biogeography Society Conference. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
2005Hamady LL, SE Lester, BP Kinlan, GE Hofmann, & SD Gaines. “Is it Hot in Here or is it Just You?: Thermal Stress & Range Boundaries of Two Barnacle Species on the East Coast of South
Africa.” Poster Presentation at: The 86th Annual Western Society of Naturalists Meeting. Monterey, CA, USA.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2009Science Club for Girls Leader at Fletcher Maynard Elementary School, Cambridge, MA.
•Volunteered leading 1st grade girls belonging to underrepresented groups in science through free,
after school based experiential science learning.
2004-2005Los Marineros Naturalist with the SB Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA.
• Educated 5th grade classes on tidepool & Snowy Plover ecology & conservation efforts on fieldtrips to the habitats. Led activities & hands-on education.
HONORS, FELLOWSHIPS, & CERTIFICATIONS
2010- presentNational Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2010Honorable Mention Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship
2008Honorable Mention Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship
2008SEASPACE Fellowship
2005CCS Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
2005Worster Research Grant
2004Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certification
2003UCSB Research Diving Certification
Manuscript Reviewer for: Marine Ecology Progress Series
Society Memberships: ASLO
Current as of January 2011