MSI Student Wins Outstanding Thesis Award

MSI Graduate Student Leah Hurley (left) and her supervisor Dr. Tamara Pease

Leah E. Hurley completed her Master of Science degree a few weeks ago and within days she learned that she was honored with the Outstanding Thesis Award from the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin.  Leah's thesis, entitled "Spatial Variability in the Stable Isotope and Lipid Composition of Coral Tissues (Porites compressa)," was a unique assessment of biochemistry of corals and the algae that live inside the corals.  Her work involved sampling and analyzing over 144 samples of both corals and symbiotic algae for both stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and lipid class composition.

Worldwide, corals are under increasing threats due to pollution, eutrophication, coastal development, overfishing and global warming. Recent research has shown lipid class concentrations to be useful indicators of physiological status of corals relative to bleaching events. Leah's research is an important step toward understanding how corals around the world are being threatened and how they respond.

Recently, Leah's work has been presented at major scientific meetings.  This project is part of a larger study on the acquisition, allocation, and utilization of carbon in bleached and recovering corals and is funded by the National Science Foundation and is under the supervision of Dr. Tamara K. Pease of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.

For more information on the Outstanding Thesis award, go to http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/awards/thesis/winners/2008.html

Created: Friday May 23, 2008