Sophia Kelly
E-mail: skelly@mbl.edu
I joined the Patel lab in Spring of 2019, after completing a B.S. in Marine Biology at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. After holding multiple animal care positions for a variety of animals, I realized that I wanted to get involved in research, so I began an independent study under Dr Lonnie Guralnick entitled, The Role of Photorespiration in the Facultative Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Species, Portulacaria afra. This project allowed me to gain exposure to the scientific community and to new lab techniques, and it also heightened my desire to be involved in research. After graduating a semester early, I joined the Patel Lab at the Marine Biological Laboratory with the position title, Arthropod Care and Research Specialist. This position could not be more fitting as I am able to continue my love of animal care, caring for crustaceans in the aquarium room and moths and butterflies in the vivarium, while also strengthening my lab skills. My goal is eventually to pursue graduate school, but for now I am very excited to be working on a butterfly project with Kyle and a crustacean project with Jenny!