Please introduce yourself.
My name is Gabrielle Corradino and I am originally from Connecticut. I have always known that I wanted to study marine science, so I went to a school right on the water in Rhode Island for an undergraduate in biology and minor in psychology. During my undergrad I started research projects right away with my advisor Dr. Jameson Chace. For my PhD I moved down to North Carolina and studied with Dr. Astrid Schentzer at North Carolina State University.
Please describe your research journey.
I have been pursuing marine science since high school with my first research internship in Bermuda. I followed my passion into my undergrad and worked closely with my biology professors, who have turned into life-long mentors. I reach out to them a few times a year and to discuss research and all things career related. Something I learned during my senior year as an undergrad was the importance of building my network and mindfully work to maintain it.
Fast forward to 2015 and I joined Dr. Schentzer’s Lab. I saw that Dr. Schnetzer had posted a new PhD position in her lab that was attached to an NSF grant on plankton and carbon cycling. I emailed her straight away, and after a phone call, I applied and went down to Raleigh to meet her lab. Now post-PhD, I can say that working with Dr. Schentzer has really changed my life for the better and made me a stronger scientist. We continue to meet weekly on research papers and grant proposal ideas.
In addition to my mentors through academia, I have also met phenomenal researchers and photographers through seasonal field positions, grants, conferences and my work with National Geographic. Having advisors and mentors outside of your direct field can offer a perspective change. Sean Graesser and Dr. Asha de Vos are profound scientists and extremely dedicated in their respective fields. I often turn to both for advice and I value their mentorship and friendship tremendously.
I now continue my work in plankton ecology, specifically on heterotrophic nanoflagellates (a type of zooplankton). I truly love to work under the microscope and am always looking for new ways to tie my research into both citizen science and science communication efforts on a local and national scale.
I look forward to continuing to mentor students in all things STEM and to help them build their own networks. Hopefully I will inspire a few students to pursue marine biology and plankton research along the way!
What brought you to Barnard? What excites you most about mentorship in the classroom and the lab?
I cannot express how truly excited I am to be at Barnard. Barnard is this rare college that really focuses its time and resources on both undergraduate education and research experience. It is incredible to work with such dedicated and creative student body. I look forward to continuing to mentor students in all things STEM and to help them build their own networks. Hopefully I will inspire a few students to pursue marine biology and plankton research along the way!
When not in the lab/classroom, what do you most like to do? Any favorite NYC must-go-to places?
Plankton sampling at Chelsea Pier (you’ll see me with my net trying not to get in trouble while I collect water). While I am at the pier I usually swing by Los Tacos No. 1 at Chelsea Market or attend some yoga classes nearby. I really enjoy cooking fresh pasta or bread each week while listening to The Moth podcast (NPR) or Josh Ritter.
Also, since the pandemic, I have turned my apartment into a greenhouse and have over 13 fruit and nut trees. Ideally, some of them will be replanted in an actual garden over the next year or two.
To learn more about Professor Corradino or to contact her, check out the resources below:
- New publication just came out this past spring
- I am in a few podcasts and Youtube pieces—this is my NatGeo Explorer Classroom and In the Field
- I really have to update it, but this is my NatGeo page. I am a current NG Explorer and work with them on all things plankton, ocean conservation and science communication
- Lastly this is my scicomm page of microscopic plankton images/research
- Students can reach out to me at gcorradi@barnard.edu