Kayla Vidal

MSc Student SJSU/MLML

I study the physiological and molecular responses of marine organisms to environmental change, with a particular interest in how environmental stress shapes organismal function across biological scales. As a masters student at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, I investigate the individual and combined effects of ocean warming and hypoxia on the physiology, reproduction, and gene expression patterns of adult purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) from the Monterey Bay. My research combines controlled laboratory experiments, physiological measurements, and transcriptomic analyses to understand how environmental stressors influence organismal performance. After graduation, I hope to apply the molecular tools I have developed to questions at the intersection of marine science, biotechnology, and biomedicine, using an integrative approach to address environmental and human health challenges.