508-228-9198

Chelsea has been working as a marine biologist for last 12 years but has been an ocean enthusiast since childhood. Having her first fish tank as a teenager and loved exploring the beautiful waters of where she grew up in Clearwater Beach Florida, Chelsea knew from then on she wanted to work with marine animals. 

Chelsea went to earn a B.S. in Biology at the University of Central Florida, getting firsthand experience with oyster reef restoration, explored cypress swamps looking for juvenile recruitment, and completed undergrad research looking at the possible misidentification of “hitching” species that happens within the aquarium trade industry.

Post graduation, Chelsea worked as a wildlife biology intern on Sanibel and Captiva Islands (small barrier islands on west coast Florida) assisting in husbandry of live animals at their nature center, spent early mornings patrolling the beaches for nesting activity from sea turtles and taking on small projects figuring out what leads to early life stage mortality events in those nests, as well as in the field assisting research on frogs, turtles, terrapins, and snakes local to the Islands. After this Chelsea went to Pigeon Key (a small island in the very middle of the Florida Keys) where she was a marine science educator.

Chelsea spent the summer there teaching marine focused STEM-based programs to students, taking advantage of being within sight distance of mangroves, coral reefs, and tide pools. Some of Chelsea’s favorite memories are snorkeling around the island collecting animals and bringing them to touch tanks to teach about what is right off the islands shore. Chelsea also utilized aquariums as a tool to educate others on amazing sea creatures in those waters and created opportunities to teach students how to take care of animals in aquariums. 

With research advancing and seeing firsthand environments changing even over the course of a few years in the Florida Keys, Chelsea wanted to learn more and explore concepts that could help the environment she loves. So, Chelsea went on to earn a M.S. in Marine Biology and Ecology from James Cook University in Australia (located on the coast of the Great Barrier Reef). Chelsea wanted to work in Australia as she lived in New Zealand in her childhood and wanted to return to that side of the world again. There she specialized in marine invertebrate ecophysiology and climate resilience with a strong focus on understanding how environmental stressors impact ecosystem health, species acclimation and adaptation, and long-term projections for marine invertebrates.

Chelsea went on to become a biologist at Mote Marine Laboratory in the Florida Keys doing both applied aquaculture practices and scientific research, including animal husbandry, experimental design, field and laboratory techniques, and public science communication. As well as coordinating research happening within a highly specialized aquaculture system for experimental research on the effects of ocean warming and acidification of corals, urchins, crabs, lobsters, sponges, and a plethora of key species to the waters of the Florida Keys. After that Chelsea worked as a manager for a marine research laboratory at Nova Southeastern University, where she oversaw day to day operations of an indoor and outdoor aquaculture system designed for inducing spawning, larval rearing, juvenile grow out, and long term holding of broodstock of a variety of species, mainly marine invertebrates. 

Throughout Chelsea journey, her passion about advancing marine conservation through research-driven solutions, collaborative environmental stewardship, and sustainable aquaculture initiatives is what led her to Maria Mitchell Association as the Aquarium Manager.