My name is Anaí Novoa. I received my PhD in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. For my dissertation research–working under the mentorship of Dr. Ryan Hechinger, I investigated the interplay between parasitism and host biogeography. I am particularly interested in understanding how parasites are distributed throughout the geographical ranges of their hosts. I received my BA in Biology from UC Santa Barbara and my MS in Marine Science from the University of San Diego–working under the mentorship of Dr. Drew Talley and Dr. Theresa Sinicrope-Talley, where I conducted a spatial and temporal assessment of bivalve community changes in southern California and northern Baja California estuaries.
During the PhD program I was deeply involved in efforts to foster a welcoming campus environment at Scripps as a Community Engagement Fellow. My dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion is grounded within my intersectional identity as a neurodivergent woman of color belonging to an immigrant working-class community. I fully embody my sustained commitment to build a more equitable and inclusive climate for all minoritized groups in higher education and the marine sciences.
I was raised in City Heights, a San Diego community known for its ethnic diversity. My experiences as a first-generation Mexican-American and first-generation college student have shaped the kind of scientist and aspiring professor I am working to become. I am deeply committed to fostering minority student participation with opportunities and exposure in academia. During my free time, I love to spend time with my family (cooking Mexican dishes and laughing), playing with my pitbull (Kylo Renaldo Novoa-Rosales), mentoring students from my community (as part of Ocean Discovery Institute’s programming), and practicing martial arts.