We are excited to welcome Dr. Jen Loch to the REEF Team! As a Research Associate, Jen works directly with the REEF Conservation Science program, and oversees the field implementation of the SMILE project, an initiative to incorporate fish size estimates into the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project using camera technologies. Jen comes to us with an extensive background in fish ecology. She holds a B.S. in biology from Florida State University and an M.S. in marine biology through the Three Seas Program at Northeastern University, where she studied the impacts of predation on reef fish recruitment in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Her diverse experience includes work as a biology professor at local community colleges in Orlando, an intern at Mote Marine Lab and Disney’s Epcot aquarium, and as a conservation lands biologist for a local county government. Jen received her Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida, where she was awarded Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Coastal Estuarine Research Federation scholarships for her research on the response of sportfish to coastal habitat restoration. She enjoys engaging with the public, anglers, and citizen scientists to better understand their knowledge of marine resources to ultimately further conservation through collaboration. Jen resides in Orlando with her husband and two young daughters. Her favorite fish is the Snook. Welcome to the REEF team, Jen!
