Fabiola Rivera Irizarry
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Fabiola Rivera Irizarry is a Puerto Rican Coral Reef Ecologist born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Passionate about coastal ecosystems, Fabiola completed a bachelor’s degree in Coastal Marine Biology at the University of Puerto Rico Humacao Campus, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus specializing in Coral Ecophysiology. Currently, Fabiola is a Ph.D. Candidate in the UPR Río Piedras Biology Department specializing in Coral Diseases. Fabiola is also a biology professor at Ana G. Méndez University and an associated scientist in the local NGO Sociedad Ambiente Marino, Inc. where she has worked in coral reef restoration for the past eight years. Fabiola’s research interests include coral reef conservation, restoration, and anthropogenic effects on coral physiology, immunology, demography, microbiome, and coral diseases. She is presently researching Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease demographic dynamics in Puerto Rico with the aim of developing informed coral management strategies.