Rene Francolini

Personal site: rfrancolini.github.io
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfrancolini/

Rene is investigating the how the kelp forests along the coast of Maine are adapting and responding to
our changing climate. She is studying the genetic structure of our kelp forests – determining how many
populations exist along the coastline and what the thermal tolerance of these populations are. With this
information, she plans to project what we expect the Gulf of Maine kelp forests will look like in the years
to come – which will also provide stakeholders (particularly our growing aquaculture industry) with
information they need to make scientifically sound management decisions. With a better understanding
of these wild kelp beds, we can protect the biodiversity of our environment while simultaneously
informing aquaculturists where may be best to harvest their kelp spores from and create the basis of a
trait-specific breeding program. Prior to working in Maine, Rene spent several years in Woods Hole
developing new protocols to explore the biodiversity of the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, managing a
lab researching the impacts of toxicants on our development, and as an oyster farmer. When not
working in the lab, Rene can often be found on stage performing and playing saxophone, in the kitchen
baking meticulously decorated baked goods, and enjoying the beauty of Maine’s natural environment.

Rene is also a co-host of the LabOratory Podcast.

Personal site: rfrancolini.github.io

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfrancolini/