Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.

Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.

Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.

Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.Serena Hackerott, Ph.D.
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    • Home
    • About Me
    • Research
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  • Home
  • About Me
  • Research
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  • Outreach
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CV Highlights

Full CV and Summary Resume Available to Download Below

2024-Present Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Delaware

Primary Advisor: Dr. Mark Warner 

Research Focus: Novel bio-optical tools for scaling up coral restoration practices in cooperatively managed reef systems in the Pacific. (CORDAP; Lead PI: Dr. Kenneth Hoadley)  

2018-2024 Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Florida International University

Primary Advisor: Dr. Jose Eirin-Lopez 

Dissertation Title: Evaluating the capacity and molecular underpinnings of phenotypic plasticity and environmental memory in Caribbean Acropora corals. Awarded FIU SEAS Best Dissertation

2013-2014 M.S. Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Primary Advisor: Dr. John Bruno 

Thesis Title: The effect of invasive lionfish on reef fish community structure along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

2009-2013 B.S. Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Minors in Chemistry and Marine Sciences GPA: 3.673

Research Advisor: Dr. John Bruno

Thesis Title: Native predators do not influence invasion success of Pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs. Highest Honors and Carolina Research Scholar

Positions

May 2024 - Present Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Delaware, Marine Science and Policy

Aug 2020 - Apr 2024 Research Assistant, Florida International University, Biological Sciences

Aug 2019 - Jul 2020 Teaching Assistant, Florida International University, Biological Sciences

Aug 2018 - Apr 2024 FIU NSF-CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment (CAChE) Fellow

Apr 2018 - Aug 2018 Data Analysis Consultant, Marshall Islands Marine Resource Authority (MIMRA)

Aug 2017 - Dec 2017 Marine Science Certificate Program Coordinator, College of the Marshall Islands

Jan 2016 - Dec 2017 Marine and Environmental Science Instructor, College of the Marshall Islands

Jun 2015 - Jul 2015 Instructor, Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Bonaire

Jan 2015 - Jun 2015 Teaching and Research Assistant, CIEE Bonaire

Aug 2013 - Dec 2014 Teaching Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Biology

Publications

Relationships between phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic variation in two Caribbean Acropora coral

S. Hackerott, F. Virdis, P. J. Flood, D. G. Souto, W. Paez, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2023) Relationships between phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic variation in two Caribbean Acropora corals. Molecular Ecology 32(17): 4814-4828

Age group DNA methylation differences in lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris)

Beal A. P., S. Hackerott, K. Feldheim, S. Gruber, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2022) Age group DNA methylation differences in lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris): Implications for future age estimation tools. Ecology and Evolution 12: e9226

Coral environmental memory: Causes, mechanisms, and consequences for future reefs

 Hackerott, S., H. A. Martell, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2021) Coral environmental memory: Causes, mechanisms, and consequences for future reefs. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 36: 1011-1023

Epigenetic responses in juvenile Lemon sharks during a coastal dredging episode in Bimini, Bahamas

Beal A. P., S. Hackerott, B. Franks, S. Gruber, K. Feldheim, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2021) Epigenetic responses in juvenile Lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) during a coastal dredging episode in Bimini, Bahamas. Ecological Indicators 127: 107793

Lionfish had no measurable effect on prey fish community structure on the Belizean Barrier Reef

Hackerott, S., A. Valdivia, C. E. Cox, N. J. Silbiger, J. F. Bruno. (2017) Invasive lionfish had no measurable effect on prey fish community structure on the Belizean Barrier Reef. PeerJ 5:e3270

Re-examining the relationship between invasive lionfish and native grouper in the Caribbean

 Valdivia A., J. F. Bruno, C. E. Cox, S. Hackerott, S. J. Green. (2014) Re-examining the relationship between invasive lionfish and native grouper in the Caribbean. PeerJ 2:e348 

Native predators do not influence invasion success of Pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs

Hackerott, S., A. Valdivia, S. Green, I. Côté, C. E. Cox, L. Adkins, C. A. Layman, W. F. Precht, J. F. Bruno. (2013) Native predators do not influence invasion success of Pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68259.  

For more on my publications

Check out my Google Scholar Profile

Highlighted Skills

Field Methods

Coral restoration methods

Nursery trees and outplanting

Coral thermal tolerance assays

Aquaria setup and temperature control programming 

Reef survey protocols

Caribbean and Pacific reef identification 


Lab Methods

Coral physiological assays

Symbiont density, chlorophyll, protein, biomass

DNA and RNA extraction

Extractions, quality assessment, quantification, visualization 

Epigenetic and transcriptomic characterization

DNA methylation- MSAP, Gene expression- Tag-Seq


Technology

R and Github

Data analysis and statistics 

Microsoft Access

Database creation and management 

APEX Program

Temperature control and other aquarium parameter settings


Certifications

PADI Dive Master

350+ Logged dives

AAUS Scientific Diver

150+ Logged AAUS dives

IYT Crew Member and Navigation Master

40 days sailing experience 

Download my Full CV or Summary Resume

Serena Hackerott_CV_2024_May (pdf)

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Serena Hackerott Resume 2024 (pdf)

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