Rene Francolini
Contact Information
Phone: 973-303-5203
Email: rfrancolini@bigelow.org
Lab website: Brady Lab @ UMaine & Rasher Lab @ Bigelow
Address: 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, Maine, 04544
Advisors: Damian Brady (UMaine), Doug Rasher (Bigelow Laboratory)
Education
Ph.D. Marine Biology, University of Maine, current
M.S. Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, 2016
B.S. Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 2015
Description
Rene is interested in the impact that climate change has on our coastal environments. Combining field work, computer science, and laboratory work, she is investigating the how the Gulf of Maine kelp forests and associated ecosystem are adapting and responding to our changing climate. With this information, she plans to forecast 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. Rene is funded by the Maine EPSCoR Maine-eDNA grant. When not working, you can find Rene baking, cooking, crafting, playing music, performing, and enjoying the great outdoors that Maine has to offer.