JESSIE CASTANIER

Jessie officially joined the Marine Genomics Lab in Fall 2021. Her research focuses on molecular and morphologic identification of tropical marine ornamental fish eggs and early larvae. Jessie began monitoring animals and life support systems in the Water Quality Department at the Texas State Aquarium in 2016, and she currently maintains the horticultural collection at the aquarium.

Jessie earned her B.S. in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry, from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2014. She volunteered as an undergraduate with the Center for Coastal Studies, documenting the efficacy of exclusion devices on crab traps for diamondback terrapins. Her research interests include larval fish culture, live feeds, diseases and parasites, and wildlife rehabilitation.