As an undergraduate at Smith College, Giovanna completed a thesis investigating the partner-specific/ symbiont-host contributions to combined nutrient enrichment and light stress. Continuing on from her previous work, at KAUST, Giovanna’s research investigates the interactions between nutrient enrichment and the coral microbiome in contributing to thermal stress, resilience, and evolution of corals. She also hopes to investigate the potential vertical and horizontal transmission of BMCs in coral larvae and juveniles.

To foster her interest in coral biology and ecology, Giovanna studied abroad in Belize, Australia, and Spain in undergrad. As a Fulbright Scholar, she mapped and analyzed abundance, diversity, and distribution of octocorals in Maragogi, APA Costa dos Corais, Brazil with Dr. Beatrice Padovani at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). 

Coral Microbiology Coral ecology Marine microbes Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) Symbiont transmission Evolution Resilience Climate Change Vitamins