Maria Rosa

Maria Rosa's research focuses on the application of new techniques to enrich our understanding of how organismal physiology and morphology impacts marine invertebrate life history, performance, and ecology, and, in turn, affects the ecosystems these organisms inhabit. Suspension-feeding bivalve molluscs in near-shore marine waters have proven to be excellent study systems for addressing these questions.

All of Professor Rosa's work has the advantage of being accessible and inclusive for younger aspiring scientists, with methods that are easy for students to learn. Students in her lab are currently working on a project monitoring environmental conditions and doing passive sampling along the Connecticut College shoreline. This includes field sampling, and monitoring of plants and animals being re-introduced to the area. Besides ongoing research on local organisms and habitats, Professor Rosa has also started participating in marine ecology and conservation projects in Colombia.

"Interested students can expect to learn about, and have opportunities to participate in, my scientific research in the classes I teach."